Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

Testimonials

The HPRC played a large role in my personal growth. Through the HPRC, I was able to meet like-minded students and engage in a community of collaboration and support. I am very grateful for my experience in the HPRC as I have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of service opportunities as well as build life-long connections. – Robby Priestap, 2024/2025 Community Builder 

Being a member and a part of the student board has been extremely beneficial for me as a student starting with no friends to creating relationships with the whole floor. The HPRC has given me the resources and numerous opportunities to grow my resume and move forward to graduate school with confidence. – Jake Burton, 2024/2025 Treasurer 

 I transferred into the HPRC my sophomore year after being in a different living learning community my freshman year. I had no idea what to expect when joining. However, I have found my people within this community that has without a doubt has made me a better student, mentor, provider, and person. I would not have had the opportunities and success that I have had without the HPRC. – Lauren Revord, 2024/2025 Peer Mentor 

 The HPRC is more than a place to live, it’s home. Applying to the HPRC was the best decision I made when coming to CMU. It opened so many doors for me! Through the CLASS point system, I felt a true sense of purpose and making the most of my college experience. Everything we did was intentional on shaping us as future health professionals. My experience in the HPRC helped me develop leadership skills I need to be an excellent candidate for graduate school. Because of my involvements with the HPRC I got accepted to the number two graduate program for audiology in the country!  Thank you to my mentors and friends in the HPRC for supporting my educational journey. However, the HPRC is not just professional development and leadership experience, but a place where I found my lifelong friends at CMU in the HPRC. Being a part of such a tight knit community has been my favorite part of my college experience. I love my HPRC family so much and am proud of all the hard work they put into making the world a better place. Lots of love to everyone in the HPRC past, present and future! Happy 25 years of a great living learning community that truly makes a difference in students’ lives. – Katelyn Darbyshire, 2022-2024 Peer Mentor 

History write-up by Pat and Mark Cwiek

"In 1998, Residence Life at CMU invited the existing colleges to explore the development of what was then referred to as "Living and Learning Communities." Two colleges stepped up at that time to develop the concept: the nascent Herbert H. and Grace A. College of Health Professions, under the leadership of Founding Dean Stephen Kopp, and what was then called the College of Science and Technology under the leadership of Dean. 

The first class of 58 health-related students entered in Fall of 1999, and these students all lived together on one floor of Emmons Hall.  Pat Cwiek was hired in 1999 to teach a new course, HPS 101 (a health professions survey course), and to serve as the official "Liaison" between Dean Kopp's office and the health students living together at Emmons.  Pat and the students in this new program were encouraged to take the lead in helping to set goals and better define the vision and mission.  Dean Kopp in 1999-2000 approved Pat and several interested students to visit Michigan State University to tour established residential colleges on the East Lansing campus.  After the tour, and after much brainstorming between Dean Kopp, Associate Dean Linda Stanford, Pat and several student leaders, Pat received permission to use the name of "Health Professions Residential College" and she was named the Director of this program in 2000 - a position she has held to this day. 

To those who knew him, Dean Kopp is remembered with fondness as a visionary, energetic and inspiring leader.  Steve did not necessarily have it "all figured out" with the HPRC, but he set a vision of a living-learning community where students would develop professional behaviors as early as possible in their collegiate careers, to optimize their chances of success in their chosen healthcare professions.  Pat has stayed true to this vision, and the stories from her "kids" from over the years (including physicians, physical therapists, physician assistants, audiologists, health administrators, speech pathologists, etc.) are alive and evident within the social media Facebook pages that HPRC alums still connect.  There are many success stories out there! 

When Steve Kopp left CMU, he went on to become the Provost of Ohio University, and then later he became the President of Marshall University.  Pat and I stayed in touch with Steve and his wife, Jane, over the years, and we were deeply shocked and saddened when Steve succumbed to a heart attack while actively serving at Marshall in 2014.  In 2010, Steve was very kind and gracious in sending a video tribute to the HPRC at CMU related to the 10-year Anniversary of the HPRC program in 2009.  You can view Steve's video tribute here.