Students and Alumni Learn and Lead in Wilkes Adventure Education

College gives students an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones. Through the Wilkes Adventure Education program, that can mean scaling a mountain, spending the night in the forest or even ice skating for the first time.

Designed to offer students new experiences, WAE delivers a variety of excursions throughout the academic year in northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond. These outings are open to all students, regardless of their major or previous experience in the outdoors. All are led by Jill Price, the program’s coordinator, as well as a combination of current student leaders and returning alumni.

“WAE doesn’t have to end for students once they cross over to alumni. In fact, a tremendous amount of growth and development happens when alumni volunteer to lead trips and see the adventure from a new perspective,” said Price.

All WAE programs include elements of leadership, communication, physical challenge and an exploration of the natural world. Regardless of the activities planned, both current students and alumni agree: WAE and the adventures stay with you.

Hannah DiFresco BS ’14, MS ’16 is one of several alumni who have returned to the program in a leadership role, helping to guide current students on excursions while sharing insights they’ve learned both in the WAE program as well as what came after their studies at Wilkes.

“I’m not naturally a leader, and I remember my first trip joining as an alumni I was quite nervous. But it turned out to be a really great learning experience,” said DiFresco. After graduating from Wilkes with her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in bioengineering, DiFresco now lives in White Haven, Pennsylvania, and works as a consultant for Veeva Systems, a life sciences software company.

Grace Cadigan ’17 of Yosemite Valley, California, followed her love of the outdoors from Wilkes with a degree in biology to a future in the National Park Service.

“I never knew what I wanted to pursue after college. WAE showed me that having a career in the outdoors doing what I love was very possible,” said Cadigan. Today, she’s a United States park ranger in Yosemite National Park and recently met up with WAE students when they visited Death Valley National Park. She fondly remembers her cross-country trip to the Grand Canyon with the group.

“Being a leader for WAE was a blast. I was able to gain confidence and communication skills that I took with me into my professional life post-college,” said Cadigan. “It made me a better leader and it helped give me skills for navigating different personalities.”

Were you a WAE student? Contact Jill Price at jill.price@wilkes.edu to learn more about how you can get involved as an alumni volunteer.