Spring 2018 Grads: Becca Erdman
Programs completed at APU:
Outdoor Studies Major & Psychology Minor with a Wilderness Therapy Concentration
Project Title and what it entails?
Expedition Yukon: An Exploratory Study on Stress and Coping Mechanisms During Extended Time in the Wilderness
For my Senior Project I completed a 54-day expedition paddling the Yukon River and collected daily psychological data of stress and coping mechanisms used. It was an awesome experience!
Hometown:
Wausau, Wisconsin
Favorite classes at APU? Why?
I thoroughly enjoyed my combination of Outdoor Studies and Psychology degrees! I took so many amazing classes it’s hard to choose but some of my favorites would have to be:
Climbing Systems with Eeva Latosuo
Recreation and Public Land Management with Eeva Latosuo
Wilderness First Responder with Deb Ajango
Adventure Therapy with Randy Dowd
I loved all of these classes because of the great content and incredibly knowledgeable professors!
What is your favorite APU memory?
One of my favorite overall memories of APU would have to be eating in the cafeteria and just talking to all of the students and characters there everyday. Specifically, Jake Behnke.
What is going to be your next adventure post-APU?
I am working in the mountains in Colorado over the summer and then will come back to Alaska in the fall and take it from there! Hopefully grad school sometime in the future.
Any words of wisdom for students working on completing their degrees?
Pet every dog you see.
If you don’t like dogs, then I guess I would say to not be afraid to try every new thing at APU! I learned a lot by just trying new things when I got here.
