Last summer, twelve Rowan College at Burlington County students signed up to become student models for the college. Over a few weeks, they participated in several photoshoots both in the studio and around the campus and became the face of the college and its brand. You’ll see their faces all over campus, on benches, posters, banners, and flyers, and they even pop up on the promotional video on the college website’s homepage.
Each student is a proud Baron, eager to represent the school they know so well. And they all have a fantastic story to tell; here are the first two.
Madelynn Schaber
A people person through and through, Madelynn Schaber took quickly to life at Rowan College at Burlington County. The first time she stepped on campus, she was immediately struck with the “community feel.” She knew she had found a special place when she was strolling through the Quad one day, and a group of bystanders invited her to join their game.
Her affinity for interpersonal communication even extends to her studies. Schaber is a psychology 3+1 student studying the human mind, functions, and behavior to fulfill her dream of becoming a child psychologist. Last fall, she finished an internship at Bancroft, where she worked with children with autism, mental and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and neurological conditions and monitored how they interacted with each other.
“I love helping people, and I just love interacting with them,” Schaber said. “It’s so much fun.”
Schaber has created multiple rapports at the college by working and participating in clubs. As a peer mentor, she works at the front desk, helping people sign in. As president of the Student Government Association, she advocates for students’ voices on campus, letting them have a say in campus events, programs, policies, and more. A member of the Psychology club, she organized a drive to collect personal items for women in need at a women’s center.
Along the way, she’s inherited a trusted band of friends.
“I have a few. I’m very well-known– a little too well-known,” Schaber joked.
RCBC has been a helpful guide along the way. In Schaber's first meeting with advising services, they helped her plan her entire college career. She knows she can always rely on the tutoring center when she’s struggling in class; it helped her immensely in math, which she says is not her strongest subject.
Schaber advises those considering RCBC to research it and ask other students about their experiences. It’s been a fruitful endeavor for her.
Jamir Laster
Rowan College at Burlington County student Jamir Laster would have never got to call himself a Baron if it weren’t for his girlfriend; after dating while she attended college classes, she encouraged him to apply.
“‘Who knows what might happen from this?’” Laster asked himself.
After taking that leap, Laster graduated with an associate degree in inclusive education in May 2024 (the degree he dedicated to her). Now finishing out his bachelor’s degree by taking Rowan University classes as a 3+1 student, Laster hopes he can ultimately “be as supportive, as enthusiastic about learning as possible” so that “his spirit rubs off on them [students] and makes them want to learn.”
His own teacher, the late RCBC professor Dr. Leisa Karanjia, i nstilled in him that desire to lead the next generation. Laster fondly remembers a class exercise in which Dr. Karanjia knew every student’s name after only one pass around.
“I would like to carry out her legacy as best as I can,” Laster said.
Jamir put his education to work during a teaching internship in the fall. As part of the internship, he was sent to Howard Yocum Elementary School in Maple Shade and shadowed a kindergarten teacher. He watched the students work, and during prep periods, he asked questions that he said were answered thoughtfully by a seasoned teacher.
Outside the classroom, Laster is part of Brothers Achieving Excellence (BRAVE), connecting with resources for male students of color and music club, where he can show off his affinity for music with jam sessions. He is also an Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) scholar and works as a peer mentor with students with disabilities.
Being a part of RCBC has helped Laster change from high school. RCBC has urged him to be more hard-working, a far cry from his high school self who wasn’t reaching his full potential.
“The environment there is so different from high school. Everybody’s very encouraging and very supportive. Pretty much anywhere you go, you can make friends, and people are willing to help you and support you in whatever your desires are.”
