Penn State’s Surprising People

Video posted November 27, 2012 in News by Jennifer Swales, Alyse Horn and Mara Ticcino

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Life in a college town can be full of surprises -- and surprising people.

Ben Hamby works full-time and is a Penn State AgroEcology student. What many don't know is that he lost his job at 18 and was homeless for three years.

Sierra Chapin is a senior graduating in May and six months pregnant. She recalls how she broke the news to her boyfriend, Jon.

Mat Lee of King of Prussia, Pa., is a self-taught beatboxer who has honed his talent andon a journey that has lead him to national fame.

About the Contributors

Mara Ticcino's photo

Mara Ticcino

Senior / Visual Communication

Mara Ticcino is a senior majoring in Visual Communication with a minor in English. She is The Daily Collegian’s Photo Editor and has been published in The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.), The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pa.) and on ESPN.com. Her dreams include pursuing a career in photojournalism and multimedia with a newspaper.
Alyse M. Horn's photo

Alyse M. Horn

2013 Graduate / Journalism

I am a senior graduating in December and have focused on the study of print journalism during my time at Penn State. I am currently the Venues Editor at Penn State’s student run newspaper The Daily Collegian, and have also held other various reporting and editing positions at the paper. Venues magazine is a weekly magazine that comes out every Thursday, giving students the low down on the local bar scene for the upcoming week.
I am skilled in using InDesign, Hindenburg, Adobe Photoshop and Soundslides plus. I have taken communication classes at Penn State that have help me understand these programs and worked with them intently while at The Collegian. I have also blogged for American Universities International Program while I studied abroad in New Zealand.