CAMERAN COSTELLO: Continuing a Legacy

CAMERAN COSTELLO: Continuing a Legacy

When Cameran Costello, from West Chester, Pennsylvania, came to Wilkes, she thought she knew her future. Costello initially began as an engineering major but soon realized that her heart was not fully in it. Instead of feeling lost, she found clarity. Specifically, she discovered that her love of math, physics and teaching was a path she wanted to pursue, and one that Wilkes could help her follow. Costello set for herself the ambitious goal of triple majoring in secondary education, math and physics, with a minor in music, for good measure.

"In high school, I attended multiple Wilkes open houses, and every visit felt like Wilkes was already my home," she says.

Studying hard at Wilkes is nothing new for Costello's family. Her journey is just the latest in a long family legacy of Colonels. Her father, Robert Costello '97, received his bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, and her mother, Amy (Beardsworth) Costello '98, MS '25, earned her bachelor's degree in music and a master's degree in education. Costello also has numerous aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles and a cousin who are all alumni.

It was her family's legacy that inspired her to keep the tradition alive. "My family has been telling me about Wilkes for as long as I can remember," says Costello. "Wilkes works" is a phrase they have long expressed. All her family members who attended Wilkes often reminisce about their favorite professors and the small school environment that made them feel like they could form deep connections with their professors. "My family is very proud and excited that I am attending their alma mater, and they love to hear my stories about it," she says.

Now, already in her junior year, Costello keeps herself busy with a host of extracurriculars when she is not studying. She plays the flute and piccolo in the Wilkes' Civic and Pep Bands, and is involved in Kappa Kappa Psi. She serves as secretary and historian of the fraternity, where next year she will assume the role of vice president of membership. "I'm excited to teach about our fraternity to new members," Costello says.

Costello is also a mentor and small group coordinator for the Wilkes University Honors Program. This summer, she will be going on a trip with the honors program to Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort in Florida that provides free vacations to children with chronic illnesses and their families.

When she is not playing her instruments or planning and mentoring for the honors program, she takes the time to engage with students in the local community, recently attending a robotics night at a high school and hosting a science activity with her peers. She is president of the We're Empowered by Science (WEBS) Club at Wilkes, where they host monthly science labs for sixth grade students and attend local STEM nights. She is also a group leader for the University's WEBS annual summer camp, dedicated to empowering young people from across northeastern Pennsylvania through hands-on STEM experiences. Costello helps to coordinate the activities as well as plan and execute year-long fundraising for the WEBS camp. Students entering grades 7-12 can dive into the world of STEM, exploring through interactive labs, real-world experiments and fun educational activities led by professors and students. This summer, the camp will run from Sunday, July 19 - Friday, July 24. Registration is now open.

It was through WEBS that Costello first met Debra Chapman '81, MS '84, faculty of practice in the Biology Department, and founder of WEBS. Costello looks to Chapman as one of her mentors. "She's always been so supportive and helpful. I consider her a role model because not only is she such a great teacher, but she also leads with kindness. She inspires me," says Costello.

Chapman cherishes the mentoring relationship she has formed with Costello and is equally inspired by her. "Cameran is truly one of the most organized, responsible and creative students I have had the pleasure of working with during my 45 years at Wilkes University," says Chapman. "She has led the WEBS Club with enthusiasm and dedication, spearheading numerous fundraisers, all while successfully balancing a challenging course load, a wide range of extracurricular activities and meaningful volunteer work. Her energy, commitment and positive impact on those around her make her a genuine inspiration."

Given her wide-ranging scholarly pursuits and extracurriculars, it makes sense that Costello has formed other mentoring relationships across campus. Among those mentors are Joel Graham, assistant professor of music, and Del Lucent '03, associate professor of math, physics and computer science.

"I have known Dr. Graham ever since my first day at Wilkes as my band director, Kappa Kappa Psi sponsor and former Music Theory professor. Dr. Graham is a very talented musician and professor who is dedicated, kind and has always believed in my abilities as a musician," says Costello. Lucent acts as Costello's academic adviser and is guiding her through her senior project, which is titled "Teaching Special and General Relativity." "Dr. Lucent has supported me all throughout this project, offered excellent advice and served as a role model through his own research and teaching methods," she says.

Costello continues to move forward with the support of her mentors. And even though she isn't sure where the path will lead her in the future, she will remember Chapman's calm presence and kind leadership, assuring her that everything will work out. There are two things Costello is certain of: when she graduates, she is still going to be playing her instruments, and she will be rolling up her sleeves to begin her professional career in teaching. Ideally, she hopes to teach high school students in AP-level math and physics.

In a few years, when she has transitioned from Wilkes student to alumna, Costello will add to her family's legacy and prove to be another meaningful example of what her family has always believed: Wilkes works.