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Megan Tucker

Background
Megan has enjoyed singing and music since eighth grade when, she recalls, groups of students would write operas for class that would combine children's stories and classic literature.  She continues to write music and perform with her guitar.

Why IUP
Megan chose IUP for the wide variety of programs, the safe campus compared to others of its size, the location - it is far from her hometown, and the size (not too big, not too small).

Megan says that she came here as "agnostically atheist."  Through her pursuit of her degree in Religious Studies, however, she gained an appreciation of other cultures, ideas, and religions.  She says that she doesn't subscribe to any one religion, but she feels that she is leaving IUP with a greater understanding of religion.

School Stuff
Originally, she said she planned to major in Dietetics and minor in Art.  However, the art department was "almost too good" and she didn't want to focus that deeply on studio art.  The Dietetics major didn't focus on food in the way that she wanted, since her interests lie mostly in cooking.  In the summers, she works at a family-owned business, Timberlock Rustic Resorts.  It's a valuable experience for her.  She plans to go to a culinary arts school after graduating from IUP.

For now, Religious Studies provides her with a broadly based education in the many different religions of the world.  This is something that she feels is often missing in public schools.  She found the Religious Studies major simply by taking some courses and feeling that it fit her best.  The department's field trips, such as those to the Buddhist monasteries, were "totally cool."

Cool Profs:

• Dr. Stuart Chandler of Religious Studies
• Dr. Laurence Kruckman of Anthropology
• Dr. Wendy Elcesser of Chemistry
• Dr. Heather Powers of Research Writing

The professors were labeled "cool" either by their encouragement for student to "think outside the box" or their ability to create a good learning environment.

Things You Do
She loves to sing and play the guitar.  You can see her and other artists do their thing behind the microphone at weekly events known as Open Mic Nights.  They are located in the Hadley Union Building and at the Commonplace Coffeehouse in University Square.

She was the president of the Outing Club at IUP, which is a student organization that does many outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, skiing, whitewater rafting, bouldering, and more.  Also, she started the Oak Grove Dharma Circle, a student Buddhist organization.  Through this club and the help of others, she helps to arrange for speakers to come to the university (Drepung Loseling Monastery monks, October 2003) and educate others about Buddhism.

A favorite activity, she said, was doing a food drive for a nutrition class.  "I stood at Wal-Mart for hours and got sunburned, but it was worth it."  The ICCAP food drive helps around 1,300 needing families in Indiana County, she said.

Around Here
"Lots of opportunities exist around here, but you don't always see them.  If you're interested in something, pursue it."

Megan said Whites Woods is a great place to go hiking.  It has many trails that range from easy to difficult, and she loves to go mountain biking there.  Megan also enjoys the local farmers market, where she shops for fresh fruits and vegetables.  It takes place downtown on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer and fall.