Today’s student experience is often enhanced by opportunities that differ from those even recent alumni remember, opportunities that can also increase employment options or prepare students for further study. As you read about Sam Wisel, you can see how. With a major tailored to his interest in nonprofit management and experiences beyond the classroom that have shaped his direction, this new graduate is emblematic of how students are earning meaningful degrees and arming themselves with experiences that set them apart even before they set foot in the workplace beyond college. The National Science Foundation-funded research in Iceland is another example, with students able to engage in hands-on field experience and gain an understanding of the entire scientific process, creating a competitive edge with regard to research experience. And what better way to prepare students than having them learn from faculty like Stephen Gorin (Social Work), featured here in the Faculty Forum, who is a leading figure in his field and involved with national conversations about critical issues.

The wonderful story of collaboration and problem-solving that was part of a public mural course developed through a partnership with the Northern Forest Heritage Park illustrates how beneficial today’s learning can be, not just for students, but for partners and communities as well. It is no wonder that the student team who created the Berlin murals has been recognized among New Hampshire’s top “Young Preservationists” and by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance with a 2012 Preservation Achievement Award for outstanding education and advocacy. In many ways, this is the epitome of student success: learning well through experience and being recognized for the value of the outcome. But for PSU, too, this is success, to deliver an experience like no other for students, and one that has immeasurable value as students prepare for the world beyond college.