Shanda Kelsch balancing NPRC education, non-profit work, and motherhood
ST. MARYS – This chapter of life for Northern Pennsylvania Regional College student and Elk County resident Shanda Kelsch is busy, to say the least. Between focusing on her coursework, working to grow and improve her nonprofit organization called Women Empowering Women, or being a mom of six children, it has unquestionably been heavy at points.
Despite a full plate, Kelsch continues getting closer to the goals she set for herself. One of which is to finish up her Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree. Kelsch attends courses on a part-time basis at the Community Education Center in St. Marys and has particularly enjoyed the small class sizes and the genuine relationship she can build with peers and instructors.
“When I’ve had challenges in my personal life, my instructors have been more than supportive to me. They truly get that we all have a life outside of being a college student. Each of them has also been willing to help you with the goals that you want to achieve,” Kelsch said.
Kelsch decided back in 2019 that she wanted something more; something different. She had always had an interest in the legal and political worlds, but life had not previously allowed for the opportunity to study in these fields in Elk County. What truly changed was not just the introduction of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College to the area, but also her involvement with Toastmasters International.
Becoming a member of the local Toastmasters club in Elk County was life changing for her. It took Kelsch little time to begin dedicating herself to becoming an improved public speaker. She began competing in the Toastmasters Speech Contests in 2019 and by the end of the 202122 competition year, she had advanced all the way to the regional level and finished second overall. This after advancing through the club, area, division, and district levels.
Though she is not competing presently, her involvement in Toastmaster’s through the last several years pushed her to become an award-winning speaker, start the Women Empowering Women organization, and head to college.
The Women Empowering Women organization stemmed from one of her projects when she first began with Toastmasters. The project was to develop a nonprofit idea to improve lives in the area. Seeing there were few women-only organizations that supported personal and professional development in Elk County, she built an organization that would change that.
“It started as a special project idea out of Toastmasters and my interest and passion for it grew from there,” she said. “Our organization is open to women from all over the region and the mission is to help women build relationships, support each other’s successes, develop their networks, and blossom into being the best selves that they can be.”
In addition to her non-profit work, Kelsch is continuing her path to earn her associate degree on a part-time basis. The experience of being a criminal justice student has been both enlightening and inspiring for her. She has particularly enjoyed both her criminal law and criminal procedure classes taught by NPRC Instructor of
Criminal Justice Dave Wilson. Wilson said of Kelsch, “She was one of the first students in our piloted criminal law course and she went above and beyond when presenting to the panel. She created a PowerPoint and was so detailed when sharing each one of the elements of the crime fit and how she applied each one to the charges that she brought forth. It doesn’t just stop there; she goes above and beyond in all her classes. She’s a student I can always expect to have their work done and be prepared.”
The criminal law course allowed Kelsch and her classmates the opportunity to learn how to write criminal charge documents, apply for search warrants, and follow through on a criminal case to understand each aspect of the process. The criminal procedure case teaches students how to file criminal charges and argue this criminal case in a court setting.
These opportunities are unique to NPRC and are the classroombased experiences possible because of small class sizes and having innovative professionals that lead the classroom experience. These student experiences were recognized at a national level when presented by instructor Dave Wilson in Phoenix, Arizona at the 2023 Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN) National Conference.
“What I’ve really loved is instructors can spot students’ talents and can more closely interact with and mentor students,” said Kelsch of the NPRC classroom experience. “It creates an environment that we can take time in learning and most students can learn in a way that’s best to them.”
Attending NPRC has also introduced her to a small group of women who have been impactful not just in her academic journey, but in her life. Her two previous advisors, known as student engagement specialists, Monica Schloder and Lori Sabatose, as well as Educational Representative for Elk and Cameron Counties Jodi Guisto have become important go-to people in her life. Each of them has aided in her academic pursuits and nonprofit work in one way or another.
“They’ve each been great supporters to me. When I’m having a tough day, I know those ladies each have my back and will continue to be some of the biggest supporters in all that I do,” Kelsch said.
Shanda Kelsch was once unsure about earning a degree, becoming a public speaker, and even operating her own non-profit organization. But today, this hard-working mom has built an incredible network of people from around the region and looks forward to the day she completes her criminal justice degree.
“The NPRC staff made me not so fearful quickly when I came to school. There has been nothing but respect from everyone towards me and especially understanding about my outside life. I know it will be a moment that fills me with great pride when I finish my degree. To maintain my life, run a non-profit, get an education, and not have to leave the area has been amazing for me. I know that I have set an example for my children and grandchildren that no matter when or what you have going on, you can do anything you set your mind to,” she said.