Sami Weryha Shines at Penn State Behrend

The Penn State Behrend cheerleading program has gone through some transitions to expand their programs and include more cheerleaders. The transition included creating a club competition cheer program separate from game day cheer. Some girls have elected to participate in both clubs, but many have had to choose because of time constraints in their lives. Game day cheer has had many younger cheerleaders join the program recently while most veterans have chosen competition cheer was best for them.

There is one cheerleader who has emerged as a great leader of the Behrend Lions game day cheer team despite being involved with many other causes on campus. Samanthalyn (Sami) Weryha has become a great team leader and mentor to a squad with much youth. Whether it be choreographing dances, helping organize practices, or making sure the team is on point in all of the routines, Sami has done it all despite a very difficult major and heavy involvement on the campus of Penn State Behrend.

Those who know Weryha know the kind of work ethic this young woman possesses. A typical work week for Weryha is most definitely not just forty hours. Between commitments for nursing, working at the Junker Center, cheer practice and games, and also her commitment to her sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha; Weryha is one busy girl. However, her hard work has paid off as she recently accepted a position at St. Vincent Hospital in Erie as a postpartum nurse. “This is exactly the job I hoped to get upon graduating.” Weryha explained. “I was actually out to dinner when I got a phone call that St. Vincent had hired me. I just remember bursting into tears because all of my hard work paid off in that moment. I am excited to begin my career as a nurse in a few short months.”

While Weryha has been able to manage many different commitments in her college career with little trouble, Weryha has recently ran into trouble between clinicals and Behrend basketball games. She may only have the opportunity to cheer at one more basketball game; senior night. It will be a bittersweet moment full of joy as well as tears because her cheer career of 8 years will finally conclude. Sami hopes to stay involved with Behrend cheer and cheer on future Lion cheerleaders at future basketball games.

For now, Weryha can enjoy the time she still does have as a cheerleader and also a Behrend student. She reflected on her beginning in athletics overall as a soccer player and then soon after a dancer. She took lessons at a few local studios in Erie County as Sami is a resident of Summit Township and attended Fort Leboeuf Area High School in Waterford. Her career in dance helped her realize being a cheerleader was similar to dance in a lot of aspects. As a high school freshman, Weryha decided to try out for the cheerleading team and made it onto varsity. She also decided being a part of the high school dance team rather than studio dance was the better fit for her, so she also would perform at games as a dancer. After four years of high school cheer and dance, Weryha was unsure initially whether her heart lied in dance or cheerleading. Sami decided to make the commitment to cheer after tryouts, and she has not looked back.

While joining the cheer team was planned, Weryha admits joining Alpha Sigma Alpha was a complete spontaneous decision. “It was a few days before bid day, and one of my friends asked me if I would want to join. They needed a member and I decided that I would learn more about it. After three years involved with the sorority, I could not imagine my life without some of the close friends I made. It turned out to be a great decision.” Sami also has met a great group of friends in the nursing major because all of the future nurses want to see each other succeed. “We have shared a lot of classes, gone through a lot of clinicals together, and also bonded in study sessions. The people I met in nursing truly became my family. I cannot wait to see the success all forty-five of my fellow nursing majors have in the future.” She has also been involved in the Joys of Nursing and the SNAP (Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania) over the last two years which has allowed Sami to gain experience in outreach and community related events. Sami has been able to manage many responsibilities over her career at Behrend, but she credits her strong support system for her success.

“My sister Rachel and my mom (Rita) have been key to me succeeding in nursing school. My sister has helped me tremendously because she is a great nurse and has been through exactly what I am going through presently. I owe a lot to my mom as well because she never lost hope in me even if I lost hope in myself sometimes. She has always been there to cheer me up when I am stressed or do not think I am capable of more. I owe a lot to these great women.” Sami also mentioned her father David as someone who always went the extra mile for her to succeed as well as her brother Steve for helping her choose where to attend college and for sticking by her side through these last four years. In addition to her family, Behrend cheer coach Kelli Carpinello has been helpful both in terms of teaching Sami more about cheer and providing great overall support for her. “Kelli has provided me with great opportunities and has allowed me to come to her with any problem I had. I will miss the team bonding events she hosted for our teams.”

With the Penn State Behrend nursing major set to expand later this year, Sami is excited to see the future of Behrend nursing. The move will allow for the major to increase enrollment and allow for more nurses to graduate from the university. More great nurses like Sami can now get a degree at Penn State which demonstrates truly how important of a move this is.

Samanthalyn Weryha has enjoyed great success in her three and a half years at Penn State Behrend. Many will miss the familiar face at the Junker Center desk who truly brightens everyone’s day who comes in. She has truly made a difference in a lot of different realms in her time as a college student, but now, it is time for Weryha to help mothers and newborns live better lives.