FTG 0015 - Making the Most of Mentoring with Attorney Kathryn Pruss Zeltwanger '98 and Law Student Kathryn Czekalski '17

This episode is both for any Scholar looking into a legal career AND for Scholars – or Scholar alumni – who want to learn more on the why and how of mentoring with two alumnae who have been mentor and mentee for several years. Guest Bios: Kathryn (Kat) Pruss Zeltwanger ‘98 Lib is the Deputy General Counsel at the Armstrong Group in Butler, Pennsylvania. In that role she oversees all of the legal work for four of the company's eight operating groups, handles the employment work for all of the operating groups, manages the litigation for six of the operating groups, and manages the legal group. Before joining the Armstrong Group in 2009, Kat clerked for a Common Pleas judge in Fayette County and worked as an associate attorney in the Pittsburgh office of Fox Rothschild. Kat earned a B.A. in Letters, Arts, and Sciences, with Honors from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 1998. She also earned her JD from Pitt Law in 2004. Kat currently serves as the Vice-President of the Scholar Alumni Society. Kathryn (Kate) Czekalski ‘17 Eng is a 3L at Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, where she spent the Summer of 2021 in Dinsmore & Shohl's intellectual property practice group learning the ins and outs of patent prosecution. She will be returning to Dinsmore after graduation and the Pennsylvania bar exam. Before attending law school, she previously worked in the oil and gas industry as an engineer servicing various refineries in the Northeast US and Canada. She earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Honors in English from Penn State’s College of Engineering in 2017. She is happy to speak further about the transition from a technical field to the practice of law. Please feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn or email. Episode Specifics: In this episode, Kat and Kate share their insights and perspectives on: · Finding your community as a Scholar coming to University Park from a small high school · The importance of SHO TIME for new first-year Scholars · Majoring in one discipline, and completing a thesis in a completely different discipline · Taking a gap year – or three – between undergraduate and law school · Understanding the investment of time and money to pursue law school · Utilizing resources like career services · Beginning to form mentoring relationships · How to be a mentee and how to be a mentor · The value of mentorship for students – and for the mentor · How to set yourself up for success in law school and the importance of self-discipline from a 3L and a practicing attorney · Thinking outside the box and having a plan for using a JD · Lessons learned and finding personally meaningful balance as a lawyer or law student ----- Schreyer Honors College Links:  Website  Instagram  LinkedIn  Upcoming Events  Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!  Alumni – Learn Why and How to Volunteer  Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars  Join the Penn State Alumni Association  ----- Credits & Notes: This show is hosted, produced, and edited by Sean Goheen ‘11 Lib (Schreyer).  The artwork was created by Tom Harrington, the College’s Web Developer.  The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.  The theme music is “Conquest” by Geovane B...