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Alumni guide MCHS students on college path

By Greg Williams 5 min read

LEWISTOWN -- What started nearly a decade ago as three students at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown offering to "come back and answer questions" has grown into one of the school's most influential traditions -- a student-driven college forum that now draws dozens of alumni and fills classrooms with teenagers eager for real-world advice.

This year, the MCHS Alumni Student Forum drew 60 to 75 students per session and welcomed 27 graduates currently enrolled in colleges across the region and beyond. The turnout marks the largest group yet, nearly doubling last year's 17 participants. In total, 31 alumni were invited, and all but four made it home to take part.

For Rebecca ConnerMiller, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics instructor who oversees the event, the growth has been both steady and deeply meaningful.

"Seven or eight years ago, I had a small group of three students who said, 'When we go off to college, can we come back and answer questions for your classes?'" ConnerMiller recalled. "After they left, five or six more kids immediately asked if they could do the same when they graduated. I told them, 'Sure -- give me your email address.' And that's really how it all started."

From that moment, the list grew -- from three, to seven, to nine,

to 12. Now, with 27 alumni returning this year, the forum has become a signature event that blends practical advice, mentorship and the kind of candid conversation students rarely get from brochures or campus tours.

A program built on real voices

The forum's strength lies in its authenticity. The alumni represent a wide range of majors and institutions, though engineering remains a strong thread -- a natural reflection of ConnerMiller's own background and the pathway many of her former students pursue.

But the diversity of experience is what makes the event so valuable. Students hear from peers attending large universities, small private colleges, technical schools, and specialized programs. They learn what campus life is really like, what academic challenges to expect, and how to navigate everything from meal plans to parking permits.

"We let them ask any school-appropriate question," ConnerMiller said. "Things to do on campus, how to find academic success, what classes to take, what the dorms are like, how much money you need each week, whether you're allowed to leave campus -- you name it. You can tell these are the things they're stressed about."

Some questions are practical. Some are personal. All are honest. And the answers matter.

Full-circle moments

One of the most powerful parts of the forum is watching former students return to help the next wave -- and seeing the ripple effect unfold in real time.

This year, one college student reached out on her own over Thanksgiving break.

"She emailed me and said, 'I don't know if you remember me, but I was in your class. If you haven't held the forum yet, may I please come back? I want to help someone else like they helped me.' That was awesome," ConnerMiller said.

Others have become regulars. One alumnus just completed his sixth forum. After earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Penn State, he recently entered a Ph.D. program -- and continues to return each year to share what he's learned.

There are also moments when inspiration comes full circle. Current students sometimes choose their college or major based on what they heard at a previous forum. Later, they return as alumni and sit beside the very student who once inspired them.

"It's like, here's the kid who went first, and here's the kid they inspired -- now both of them are up there inspiring someone else," ConnerMiller said. "That's pretty cool."

A growing tradition

The forum has become so valuable that interest is spreading. This year, another teacher, Aimee Seitz, reached out to learn about the process. Together, she and ConnerMiller proposed a larger spring-break forum to Mifflin County High School Principal Kelly Campagna, who approved the idea pending scheduling.

Even during the pandemic, the tradition held strong. When schools shut down, the forum moved online rather than skipping a year.

"That was our only virtual one," ConnerMiller said. "But we weren't going to miss it."

A lifeline for students

For many students, the forum provides something no website or campus tour can match: a direct line to someone from their hometown who is living the exact experience they're preparing for.

That connection is especially meaningful for students heading to Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, a popular destination for the school's technical education program. Each year, three to six Penn College students return, offering incoming freshmen a built-in support network before they even arrive on campus.

"They share phone numbers, emails -- everything," ConnerMiller said. "It's really special."

A tradition rooted in community

What started as a small act of generosity from three students has become a tradition that now shapes dozens of futures each year. And with more alumni eager to return, the Student Forum continues to grow -- not because it's required, but because former students remember how much it helped them.

"It's powerful," ConnerMiller said. "You can't beat hearing from someone who's in the same program you want to go into, at the same school you're planning to attend. That's invaluable."

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