Institute
Intel student honored as role model by Athena program
Since middle school, Christine Longnecker’s goal has been to “help get the bad guys off the street.” Along the way, she’s emerged as a role model for young women.
CHRISTINE LONGNECKER
Longnecker, a junior intelligence studies major at Mercyhurst College, was one of four Erie candidates recently nominated for the local Athena Young Professional Award, which goes to a person who serves as a role model to young women and contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others. Although she did not win, just being recognized is an honor, said intelligence studies faculty Shelly Freyn, who nominated her.
“In her course work and studies, Christine takes the initiative to go above and beyond,” Freyn said. “Intelligence studies is a rigorous program and, even with working several jobs and participating in multiple extracurricular activities, she maintains a 4.0 GPA.”
Last summer, she worked as an analyst for the Center for Intelligence Research, Analysis and Training (CIRAT) at Mercyhurst, providing analytical products to various organizations. Through Mercyhurst, she has also worked on intelligence projects focused on crime analysis at the local level and cyber-security at the national level.
Her passion for horses is a vehicle by which she has given back to her community, volunteering at the Therapeutic Riding Equestrian Center (TREC), where she teaches the disabled to ride. From 2008 to 2010, she also ran a horse show, The Ultimate Cowboy Race, raising more than $2,000 annually for TREC. She is a member of the United States Pony Club, through which she teaches young girls to ride and care for animals.
Longnecker has earned the designation of “Distinguished Expert Marksman” (with .22 caliber rifles) and is one of seven in the Erie area, only three being female, to achieve the distinction. She also shoots AR-15s competitively as well and, in this male-dominated sport, her success has empowered more women to participate.
As Longnecker continues her studies at Mercyhurst, she looks forward to a career in law enforcement, one day working for the
FBI
or similar agency.
Alumni and Professional Development Conference - July 8-12, 2012
We will be hosting a series of keynote speakers, panelists, student work, and more. Please check the Conference Updates page to the left for the most up-to-date information on the conference.
