Connor gausman

Connor Gausman delivered one of the most touching moments in the history of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College at our first in-person commencement. During closing remarks, and overcome with emotion, Connor thanked his family, friends, and the number one person who had been with him during every step of college; his mom. It was a powerful moment that every attendee could feel in their heart. But Connor’s story has not stopped there. In fact, it is still in the early stages.

A 2020 graduate of St. Marys Area High School, leaving Elk County for a large college experience was something that did not appeal to him. Instead, he was able to remain at his residence, continue working in his role at Walmart, and study for his Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree. In just two years, Gausman was an NPRC graduate and is now in the next chapter of his life.

His original plan when he originally enrolled at NPRC was to obtain his degree and look for work through the Pennsylvania Game Commission after completing the civil service examination. However, an opportunity arose in Emporium at the Cameron County Sheriff's Office he could not refuse. Today, Gausman is working as a Sheriff’s Deputy Intern.

In addition to this role, Gausman is being sponsored by his department and is both training and studying to start the process of completing his certification beginning in August to become a sheriff's deputy.
To become a sheriff's deputy, individuals must complete a physical exam, a written exam, and attend certification training in State College. Certification training lasts around 19 weeks as attendees are required to complete 760 hours.

While this path is not one that the Elk County native envisioned for himself, it is one that will allow him to make a huge impact in Cameron County and is one that he feels NPRC helped play a part in preparing him for. “My professors really helped me along the way. I learned a lot more from them because they were working or had worked in the field (of criminal justice). One professor worked in corrections, while another worked in law enforcement. When someone is in the field or is working in the area that they teach, I think it helps students a lot.”

With small class sizes and a student to instructor ratio that is around four to one, learners have the opportunity to have questions answered and material reexamined in a much more individualized manner. The small class sizes and professors' responsiveness was another attribute that Gausman thought helped make attending NPRC a great experience.

“There were times when my classmates and I would not understand something being taught and they were able to reexplain it,” he said. “Professors also welcomed us after class to stay and teach us if we were having trouble or they would make time during the week to set up a meeting if we needed the help. It was very beneficial.”

Before Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, there were fewer higher education options, especially affordable ones, in many of the communities we now serve. Due to the hard work of many, we helped Gausman receive an affordable degree right where he was. He also received the individualized support in the classroom that he was looking for and it helped him to build strong relationships with professors such as his instructors in criminal justice, Leslie Wagner and Dave Wilson.

“Leslie (Wagner) was very helpful when I first started at NPRC and taught most of my criminal justice courses. Dave Wilson came to NPRC during my last term, and he brought a lot of new aspects into the classroom that I was not expecting to learn. It has been helpful in my career. I had no issues with any of my professors and felt each of them did a great job teaching us.”

Now an NPRC alumni, Gausman is one of the institutions champions and tells others about the affordable offerings we have, communicates that our class sizes help students learn, that the professors are accommodating and professional, the sense of community is felt, and people can remain near home and do not have to travel far to receive their education.

“If someone is looking at going to school at NPRC, they have even more options now than when I was going to school there. People at NPRC care for you, want you to succeed, and want to help you get a job at a place that you want to work. Going to school at NPRC has turned out great and I am an example that it is achievable,” he said.