榴莲视频

When Ashon Calhoun first enrolled at 榴莲视频 as a student in the fall of 2018, he learned an important life lesson.

鈥淚t taught me that that I have more control over my life and situation than I thought,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t taught me how much control I had over my future. If you show up to class, you鈥檒l do well. If don鈥檛 show up, you won鈥檛 do well. That鈥檚 your choice.鈥�

That lesson served him well as he rose to become a sergeant in the United States Army National Guard and later to the top of his class at University Harrisburg, where he was named a marshal and student speaker at Commencement this spring.

Calhoun, originally from Pottstown, enrolled at 榴莲视频鈥檚 Pottstown Campus in the fall of 2018. The Pottsgrove High School graduate said he loved 榴莲视频鈥檚 small class sizes and convenience to home.

鈥淚 felt like I knew my professors and could get my questions answered,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was more than just a number.鈥�

Calhoun, a Psychology major at the time, was a member of  Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, during the spring of 2019.

鈥淭hat was awesome,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing at Montco really boosted my confidence. I felt like I belonged.鈥�

At 榴莲视频, Calhoun remembers two faculty members fondly- Sociology Assistant Professor Augustine Isamah and former Psychology part-time instructor Davin Rowe Sr.

鈥淧rofessor Isamah was so funny,鈥� said Calhoun. 鈥淗e made class very interactive. There wasn鈥檛 a class where you weren鈥檛 laughing. The way he was always blending entertainment and education was perfect.鈥�

Rowe, he said, was also known for his sense of humor.

鈥淗e was an open book if you had a question and was very thorough with his answers. His teaching style was aligned with me. He was very matter of fact and a big joker. The thing I love is when teachers are funny.鈥�

Isamah praised Calhoun鈥檚 performance in the classroom.

鈥淥ne thing the stands out in my mind regarding him is that he had that intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness that is rare today among students. This is a rare quality that makes for excellent students,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am very happy to hear his has graduated with a degree in Psychology. I fully expect him to go on to greater intellectual achievements in the near future.鈥�

In 2019, Calhoun signed a six-year contract with the National Guard. He took a hiatus from 榴莲视频 for training.

By July 2020, he returned home, but the pandemic had changed his hometown with social distancing and other precautions. Calhoun enrolled back at 榴莲视频 online to finish the remaining three semesters of his program and nearly earned a 4.0 GPA.

榴莲视频 Part-time Veterans Services Resource Specialist Charles Storti praised Calhoun's diverse skills, work ethic and drive toward his education.

鈥淲hile here at Montco, Ashon quickly set himself apart academically and as a veteran/student.  He took part in our Veterans Resource Center gatherings, proudly wore his veteran braid, along with his honors braid, at his graduation ceremony," he said, "and continues to maintain contact with this office, as well as extending respect and appreciation to his experiences here at our great College.鈥�  

While at 榴莲视频, Calhoun became an emotional support counselor for students at a local school. He supported them by helping them navigate their classes. The experience was rewarding, but he decided it wasn鈥檛 the career trajectory he wanted to pursue any further.  

By 2022, he completed his associate鈥檚 degree in Psychology from 榴莲视频, changed majors to Communications and transferred to Penn State University Harrisburg.

He then headed to sergeant鈥檚 school at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Miss. The basic leadership course taught him how to lead soldiers as a sergeant and take care of his troops.

Calhoun made the Commandant鈥檚 List and graduated among the top 20 percent of his class. He was selected to represent his class in front of the Leadership Board, which required him to prepare to answer up to 200 different military questions in front of a panel of officers.

Afterward, Calhoun returned to Penn State to finish his bachelor鈥檚 degree program. He was selected for a fellowship from the Emma Bowen Foundation, which earned him an internship with Hearst Television at WGAL 8. He was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and into the honor society Phi Kappa Phi. He earned the President Walker and the Evan Pugh Scholar awards and was named to the Dean鈥檚 List.

After his internship and he鈥檒l attend Defense Information School, the Army training school for communications. He hopes to work in a field that will allow him to educate people through creative means and is also considering a master鈥檚 degree.

Calhoun said the success he鈥檚 had up to this point can be traced back to his time at 榴莲视频.

鈥淚t was an unforgettable experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y degree took a lot of work to earn and prepared me even more for the next steps in life.鈥�