Cheyenne Avellino graduated from Egg Harbor Township High School in 2021 and first heard about GMercyU during the recruiting process when Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Shannon Algeo reached out about touring campus.
Today, Cheyenne is a dual-sport athlete on both the Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse teams. She is also a member of the Education Outreach club.
“My favorite part about GMercyU would have to be my teammates (both of them). They really push me to be the best possible version of myself. They have also taught me things about myself that I really didn’t know,” Cheyenne said.
Experience in Education
Upon entering GMercyU, Cheyenne was a Biology major with a pre-med track. After her first semester she decided Biology was not right for her, so she switched to Education Studies since she always wanted to work with kids. In fall 2023, she will transition into Early Education and Special Education.
My experience in the program so far has been very positive. The entire faculty has been so supportive and really spend time with us to achieve our goals. My advisor Marianne Boyd has been super helpful and keen on helping me get back on track so I can graduate with the rest of my class.
In her time so far, Cheyenne has participated in TAP, the Teacher Apprentice Program, shadowing a teacher once a week to learn new strategies and how to manage a classroom.
“This program teaches us stuff that no textbook can. Personally, it made me fall in love with the idea of teaching and it’s really what drew me into the program. It gives us more experience before we are off to student teaching!” Cheyenne said.
Why GMercyU?
“I would recommend GMercyU to a prospective student because here at GMercyU, you are not just a number but a person. You get to know your professors on a personal level, and they care about your success. It has tons of great resources for you to use at any point in time. Personally, I love the library. It gives me a quiet place to get stuff done,” Cheyenne said.
Life as a Student-Athlete
Being a student-athlete can be difficult. Cheyenne received a lot of support from her coaches and teammates, helping her get back on track. Her academic coach taught her how to manage her time, from completing homework to fulfilling her athletic responsibilities to having free time.
“If you ask my coach, she’ll tell you that I’m a completely different person this year due to me finally not being so stressed out all the time. I am so thankful for everyone who took the time to help me out,” Cheyenne said.
Post-Graduation
While Cheyenne still has a couple more years to go, she hopes to land a job as a teacher once she graduates. She also wishes to return to graduate school to obtain her master’s degree.
“I just love being able to shape young minds,” Cheyenne said.
