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After a campus visit, Patel said she knew CSC was a good fit.

“CSC gave me the opportunity to be away from home but at an affordable price,” Patel said. “To be honest, CSC advertises that it is home away from home and I think it is true. I came here and it felt like people took me right in, whether it was meeting [Dr. Lisette] Leesch on my visit or walking into Project Strive.”

She said she appreciates that she is not just a number at CSC.

“I love that my professors know me and take the time to learn about me, which gives me a family away from home,” Patel said.

While on her campus tour, Patel said Leesch, professor of Justice Studies, introduced her to Project Strive/TRiO.

“When I think of Project Strive, I think of support,” Patel said. “It was that group that I could go to when I didn’t know anyone as a freshman.”

Director of Project Strive/TRiO Jennifer Schaer said Patel has been a great addition to the program.

“Isna makes other Strive students feel at home by talking with them and asking them questions so that she can get to know them,” Schaer said. “It is an honor and a privilege to watch Isna grow and enjoy her experiences at CSC.”

Patel said she uses Project Strive/TRiO’s counseling and event services. She said her favorite Project Strive/TRiO memories are from a recent field trip to Deadwood, South Dakota. The trip was an opportunity for Patel to travel, which is something she enjoys.

Patel plans to attend law school or join the police academy after graduation.

���ϴ��¼� State College’s Project Strive/TRiO program, located in the lower level of the King Library, is an academic enrichment program committed to help students succeed. Project Strive also focuses on career exploration, cultural and social enrichment and self-awareness. To be eligible for the program, a student must be one of the following: A first generation student where neither parent has a four-year degree, meet low income status based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria, or have a documented disability. For more information, visit /projectstrive/.

—Kelsey R. Brummels, College Relations