Community-college transfer thrives at Alvernia before graduating at age 18

Envision entering college as a 16-year-old. Actually, imagine transferring from taking classes at your local community college and living at home during COVID to a school away from home as a full-time student at age 16. That’s what Cora Cox did when she enrolled at Alvernia University.
 

She can’t complain about the process though. Despite some of the horror stories you may hear from students transferring from one college to another, Cox said Alvernia made it easy. It was part of the reason she chose to be a Golden Wolf.

"The transfer process here was amazing," said Cox, 18. "Alvernia has many different opportunities for you and a lot of different support options. And without them, I wouldn't know where I would be today. I am so grateful and I just can't recommend it enough to come to Alvernia."
 

Cox started small when it came to getting involved, taking baby steps so to speak by attending campus events and networking – meeting people. But once she feels comfortable, Cox goes big.
 

“I like to accelerate. That’s how I roll,” she explained.

In her second year, she joined the Society for Human Resources Management, as well as Lambda Sigma Lambda Honor Society, for which she’d later serve as president. In addition, she helped a friend in a management role of sorts with the Friends of Animals Club. More recently, Cox joined the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society.

She also grew closer with the professors teaching within her major and grabbed the opportunity to become an O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Fellow of Management, a role she said gave her the foothold to narrow her interests in her field of interest through hands-on learning experiences.

“I enjoyed the real-world scenarios and putting what I learned in the classroom into practice,” said Cox.

Cox was chosen to speak at Alvernia's 2024 Commencement at Santander Arena in May. But her involvement with Alvernia didn't end after she received her diploma. She traveled to the Dominican Republic with the Alternative Breaks program, leaving at 3 a.m. the very next morning, to teach elementary students for a week. Not long after that, she’ll take some time to travel with family to Europe, with plans to see London, Paris and Amsterdam. Then in June, Cox is headed to Puerto Rico to spend time with roommates she met through her Academic Internship Program arranged by Alvernia.

In the experience, Cox served as a legislative intern with the House of Representatives at the Washington Center. The opportunity was another she will never forget and one she says was a formative moment in her Alvernia career.

Before summer closes, Cox has more fun planned, and then it will be time to move into her new digs before starting at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, where she’ll work to earn her MBA and play for the National Field Hockey League Team.

For the student considering Alvernia, Cox can’t recommend it more highly.

“With every major, there are many hands-on opportunities, and diverse ones," she said. "No matter what, there is something there for you and someone is willing to help.”