December 2010 Vol. 5, No. 4
IMPACT Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose
Graduate Counseling Program offers student purpose and peace Tom Schlosser has found contentment in knowing that he is on the journey that God has made for him. As the pieces of his life fall into place, he has relinquished control to God and continues to take steps of faith.
L
ittle boys enjoy playing “Cops & Robbers” throughout freespirited, childhood days. Tom
Schlosser was no exception as he always dreamed of becoming a police officer. Today, however, instead of offering the right to remain silent to offenders, he empowers individuals to speak. Feeling an unwavering push to help others and realizing that God is the author of his story, Schlosser enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Waynesburg University. His decision has proven to be one that has brought clarity to his life’s purpose and peace to his heart. “I always knew that helping others was a part of my plan, but I began to question what that actually meant,” he said. While the responsibilities of police officers are admirable and important, Schlosser said he felt a career in counseling best fit his desire to help individuals find the peace that existed in their lives After receiving his undergraduate degree from Waynesburg University, Schlosser became a youth worker for adjudicated teens at a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to help those in need “understand what is right and choose what is best, living life to the fullest.” He spent his time divided between various roles including a big brother,
a support system and a disciplinarian,
Counseling Program in the fall of 2009.
integral part of both his academic and
among others. In doing so, he felt an
He plans to complete his degree in the
personal development.
irresistible pull to rehabilitate those who
spring of 2011.
overflowed with hurt, sadness, pain and brokenness.
“Through the program, I am gaining
“My facilitators have definitely pushed and challenged me to become better,
the knowledge and skills to help others
while at the same time encouraging me
find out who they are so that they can
and supporting me as they reveal my
I realized just how much I lived in my
paint their own picture for their life,” he
strengths and the areas I need to develop
own little world complete with blinders,”
said.
or improve,” he said. “The facilitators
“It was through these experiences that
he said. “It was almost daily that I
Students in the Counseling Program
have a variety of backgrounds and for that
witnessed a type of destruction I had
are placed in cohorts, allowing students
reason, the knowledge and experience we
never encountered before then.”
to experience the program with the same
gain in the classroom is unmatched.”
Feeling called to advance in this
classmates throughout the duration of the
Using techniques learned in class,
field, Schlosser was discouraged by the
program. For Schlosser, this has made all
Schlosser is currently completing a
realization that a master’s degree would
the difference.
600-hour internship with Gateway
be inevitable. “I just wasn’t in the mindset to go back
“You embark on this journey as a class,
Rehabilitation Center in McMurray, Pa.
and I think that adds a different level of
“I am extremely blessed to have the
to school,” he said. “It was at that point
learning and growth than if we were to
opportunity to be able to learn from those
that I had a shift in thinking about what
randomly have life-changing experiences
who work there,” he said. “They too were
my purpose was, and I really felt God was
with individuals you’ve known for just a
called to this field, and it shows through
working in my life.”
few weeks,” he said.
their passion. You don’t necessarily pick
He gave in, listened to God’s plan and enrolled in Waynesburg University’s
The facilitators within the program,
this field; it picks you.”
according to Schlosser, have been an
Students achieve third consecutive 100 percent pass rate
“W
e have high
“The 100 percent pass rate is an
Pennsylvania, 7,100 individuals tested
cutting edge of educational requirements,
expectations of our
indicator of program quality and reflects
from 84 programs with an average pass
but the department leads in making
students, and they rise
the continued efforts of the faculty to
rate of 86.59 percent. In addition to
improvements based on changes it
produce graduates with a comprehensive
testing above the state and national pass
foresees in the profession,” Darocy said.
knowledge base and strong critical
rate averages, Waynesburg University
“The professors see the potential in each
of nursing at Waynesburg University, are
thinking skills,” said Dr. Nancy Mosser,
students maintained the 100 percent
one of us. They are great mentors, always
300 percent true as indicated by the third
chair of the Department of Nursing
pass rate even after the National Council
striving for excellence, and instilling in
consecutive year of a 100 percent pass
and professor of nursing at Waynesburg
of State Boards of Nursing altered the
us the same values.”
rate on the National Council Licensure
University.
NCLEX-RN test plan in April 2010 and
to the challenge.”
The words of Dr. Terri Small, professor
Examination for Registered Nurses. This year, 39 Waynesburg University
The NCLEX is administered following graduation from a baccalaureate,
increased the test’s difficulty level. Patricia Darocy, a senior nursing
nursing graduates collaboratively
diploma or associate degree program.
student, began the nursing program in
achieved the feat, establishing the only
An individual must pass the exam in
May 2009 as a second-degree student after
baccalaureate program in the state of
order to become licensed to practice
hearing of the program’s reputation.
Pennsylvania to do so.
as a registered nurse. In the state of
“Not only is the nursing program at the