Penn State Behrend Welcomes Largest First-Year Class, Five Sets of Twins during Freshmen Move-in
As part of the college’s largest first-year class, 1,051 new students at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will settle into their new homes today—a 28 percent increase versus last year.
Among these new students are at least 10—five sets of twins—who won’t have to look very far to find a familiar face. Mark and Michael Cancilla of Allison Park, Pa.; Arundhati and Vaidehi Bhat of Redding, Conn.; Ashley and Christopher Behn, who graduated from Fairview High School; Katherine and Samuel Weaver, who graduated from Franklin Area High School; and Allix and Lincoln Munch from Warren will be free to make new friends or explore different majors knowing they have a lifelong confidant nearby.
Even though their father Joe (’75) is a Penn State alumni, Mark and Michael Cancilla didn’t plan to attend the same school—or even Penn State.
“It just worked out that Penn State was the best school for both of us,” said Mark, who plans to follow in his dad’s footsteps and study graphic design. “Once I researched the program and the art department, Penn State was the only choice for me.”
While Mark will transfer to University Park after one semester to pursue his major of choice, Michael will remain at Penn State Behrend enrolled in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).
“I would love to stay at Penn State Behrend for all four years if I could,” Michael said. “I’ve always wanted to go to Penn State and really loved Penn State Behrend’s environment.”
The brothers opted for new roommates, but in rooms across from each other in Lawrence Hall. “It’s good that they’re not in the same room,” Joe Cancilla said of his sons’ decisions. “It will give them the opportunity to be exposed to more people, but still have the security of being there together.”
Sisters, suitemates and engineering hopefuls Arundhati and Vaidehi Bhat will arrive at Penn State Behrend from Connecticut. While the two didn’t plan to attend the same college either, they are sharing a suite in Senat Hall with two other first-year students. Senat Hall houses the freshman interest groups, which allow students the opportunity to meet a core group of others with similar interests.
“First and foremost, I wanted a university with strong engineering programs,” said Arundhati, who is interested in pursuing a double major in engineering and applied mathematics. “Penn State Behrend has good majors and small classes, which means more attention from professors. That was important to me—I didn’t want to be lost.”
Vaidehi, who is undecided between industrial and software engineering, agreed. “I applied to schools that had strong engineering, math and science programs,” she said. “Penn State has really good engineering programs overall. After visiting Penn State Behrend, I knew it was the best place for me.”
Ashley Behn, who hopes to study elementary education or nutrition, opted to attend Penn State Behrend in lieu of the University Park campus.
“Coming from Fairview, I decided that Penn State Behrend would be easier to adjust to—it’s just a better choice for me,” she said. Ashley will enjoy off-campus living in the new apartments immediately opposite campus, but with her sister Jennifer, who is a junior at the college. Brother Christopher won’t be far away though. “He plans to live with friends in a nearby house,” Ashley added.
Likewise, Katherine and Samuel Weaver will be in separate, but neighboring, residence halls and not too far away from home.
“Even though I was accepted at the Penn State University Park campus, Penn State Behrend is close enough to home, but not too close,” explained Katherine, who is assigned to Perry Hall while her twin brother will be in Niagara. Both have enrolled in DUS, with Samuel “leaning toward business” and Katherine still undecided.
Although they didn’t intend to attend college together either, the siblings are taking a practical approach to their situation. “It will be nice,” Samuel noted. “We’ll only need one car.”
Allix and Lincoln Munch, who graduated from Warren Area High School, are the lone twins who planned to attend college together and close to home.
“We visited each of the schools in Erie and the surrounding area because we knew we wanted to stay close by,” said Allix. “We liked Penn State Behrend the best.
“Lincoln hopes to major in accounting and I’m still undecided,” continued Allix, “but we plan to stay at Penn State Behrend for all four years and graduate from here.”
The sisters also wanted to be roommates and, thanks to supplemental housing, are able to share their first-year experience with each other and two additional freshmen in a four-person room in Niagara Hall.
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, offers 31 baccalaureate, five associate, four pre-professional and two graduate degree programs with 21 minors to more than 3,700 students. Focused on providing a student-centered environment, Penn State Behrend is the link that connects its students to a major research and land-grant institution on a campus enriched by more than 90 clubs and organizations, 21 NCAA varsity teams, 19 intramural sports and modern facilities. Visit www.pserie.psu.edu for more information.