Having recently graduated, Abby Brown ‘26 reflects on her time at college and how her roles as soccer captain and a Civil Engineering student shaped and prepared her for life beyond campus.
At York College of Pennsylvania, students are given the freedom to pursue their interests in both academics and athletics. They are given every possible chance to shape their college paths while receiving support at every turn. And when the time comes to graduate, many students leave prepared for the future and begin a new chapter in their lives.
For Abby Brown ‘26, a Civil Engineering major with a Sustainability and Environmental Studies minor from Sellersville, PA, York College gave her those opportunities to do what she loves while earning her degree. Her passion for soccer led to leadership experience, while her interest in engineering helped her secure internships.
As she prepares to take the next steps in her life beyond college, Abby shares how her time on campus left a lasting impact and pushed her to live without regrets.
“We’re only here once, you might as well go for it,” said Abby.
The Soccer Spirit
One of Abby’s earliest passions was soccer. At a young age, her father encouraged her to try out for a local team, and it wasn’t long before she became a devoted player on the field.
By the time she was 13, Abby was not only a player but also a mentor. The Pennridge Yellowjackets Soccer Association (PYSA) was looking for a coach for their girls’ youth soccer team, and Abby eagerly volunteered to help. Ever since then, she and the girls have remained a strong team, and Abby is grateful for the time she spent with them.
“I’ve been coaching for about 10 years now,” Abby said. “I’ve had the same 2008 girls since I was 13 years old, and it’s been an incredible experience with them. They’re graduating now this coming year…[from] high school, so it’s been fun.”
Abby continued to carry her love of the sport into college. She joined the women’s varsity soccer team, played hard, and after demonstrating strong leadership skills, she became captain.
It was a goal she had set for herself since her first-year, and achieving it was a huge accomplishment for her. For the two years she held that position, Abby once again served as a coach to her teammates and encouraged them to give their all on the field.
“I’ve always wanted to transition into a leadership role here at York College,” she said. “Our team is big on servant leadership, so I thought that was the best way I could serve my team over the past four years, and I’m very fortunate to have gotten that opportunity in this role.”
“I think it’s something that’s so important to be that second coach in the field, and to be the biggest cheerleader for other people,” Abby continued. “That’s something I always try to bring. Even when you’re not doing your best or having your worst days, I always try to be that constant.”
Thanks to the experience she gained on both soccer teams, Abby was recently able to accept a coaching job at Pennridge High School as well.
The Opportunity to do Everything
While soccer was a major influence in Abby’s college search, she also wanted to find a school with a strong engineering program. She discovered that civil engineering would allow her the flexibility to continue her sport and other interests.
“I had difficulty finding a school that blended everything together for me, especially with soccer and engineering,” Abby said. “I think York [College] has this great program that blends in this community aspect, as well as having some incredible professors and a great college experience. It had everything that I wanted and more. So the engineering realm really sold me, and the soccer was definitely a bonus.”
What stood out most to her about York College was that the College gave her the opportunity to pursue everything she wanted to do without having to sacrifice one for the other. The co-op program and amazing professors greatly appealed to her, and after touring the campus, she found it had everything she wanted.
“We’re only here once, so I decided to try and do as much as I possibly could,” Abby said. “I think York [College] had that incredible experience that I could mix everything together and do everything.”
“I think my whole life, I’ve been told that you can’t do it all - you have to veer and pick one profession or one hobby that you really enjoy. I decided that’s not something I want to do - I wanted to have all these different avenues and different stuff to do [to] keep myself busy with something I love and enjoy.”
Engineering Experience
Abby has also been interested in science since her middle school days. While she was fascinated by the many types of engineering specialties she could study, Abby especially enjoyed how civil engineering worked with water resources and involved more stationary work.
Upon entering college, Abby found she had access to many resources not only to learn more about civil engineering but also to build a broader foundation in engineering through classes and internships.
Part of York College’s engineering program is its co-op experience, which involves students gaining hands-on internship experience at companies or businesses related to their fields. They could lead to job offers or work experience to add to resumes, helping students be better prepared for the workforce as they enter their senior year.
Abby found her second co-op experience at the Career Fair, where students can network with local businesses about potential internships and jobs. She met with a representative from Pixelle Specialty Solutions, a paper mill located in Spring Grove, and was surprised to learn that the representative was a York College alum from the engineering program.
“I actually figured [my co-op] out because of an alumni that was at the table, and they recommended trying it even though it wasn’t anything that was in my comfort zone,” Abby said. “But as I went through the application process and I found out what the company was about, I ended up trying it out, and I absolutely loved the experience.”
Her time at the company was a positive experience. She learned a lot that helped shape her knowledge and instincts in her field. And thanks to her co-ops, Abby gained more experience than she anticipated.
It has even led her to employment at H&K Group, Inc., a heavy civil contracting and construction materials company that provides solutions for the Mid-Atlantic Region.
The Community Impact
Overall, Abby felt she had an amazing experience at York College, filled with growth and opportunities to succeed and lead. Campus life was exciting for her, and she accomplished so much during her time in college.
And now, thanks to her experiences, she is prepared for her future work and ready to take the next steps in her career, applying what she learned in the classroom to the workforce.
“I was able to play soccer here, I was able to participate in a great engineering program, and I [graduated] with a degree there, as well as [tried] different activities I never thought I would be able to put myself into,” Abby said.
“Looking back now that I’m graduating and going over my four years here, I’ve loved almost every bit of it. I’ve loved the soccer community, [and] I’ve loved the engineering community as well. I think both of those are a stark contrast to each other, and I’ve made so many good friends through the athletic program as well as through the engineering program. I think that has been the thing that I’ve loved the most.”
Abby’s hard work has led her to a successful college experience. Thanks to York College, she cannot wait to take her next steps and succeed in whatever she sets her mind to.
