York College Student Meets with President as Part of Easter Egg Hunt Challenge
An Easter egg hunt assignment became an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between a York College nursing student and the institution's president.
In a unique twist on a Spring tradition, York College junior nursing major Sydney Yohe sat down for a one-on-one conversation with President Dr. Thomas Burns on Wednesday, April 16, as part of an Easter Egg Hunt Challenge hosted by faculty within the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions.
The creative challenge asked students to find hidden eggs containing various educational tasks—ranging from making informational TikToks about classroom topics to engaging with different parts of campus. But Sydney drew perhaps the boldest assignment: “Set up a meeting with the President.”
“I was actually excited when I saw that task. I love talking to people and thought, what a great opportunity to meet you and have a real conversation,” she said while sitting with Dr. Burns in the Miller Administration Building.
True to her outgoing nature, Sydney reached out to the President’s Office the very next day—and Dr. Burns didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation.
“I’m always eager to meet with students,” said Dr. Burns. “This was a fun and creative way to show that my door is open, and I hope students know that they are always welcome to reach out. I love hearing what they think.”
Sydney and Dr. Burns ended up talking for about 45 minutes, covering everything from the rigor of nursing classes and the supportiveness of faculty, to campus life, dining options, and even the new drink choices at Chick-fil-A.
“She’s a fantastic representative of our student body—curious, engaged, and thoughtful,” Dr. Burns said. “These conversations give me insight into the student experience and help me explain the ‘why’ behind decisions we make on campus.”
Sydney, who began her York College journey in fall 2020, says she has witnessed many changes over the past four years. She says the support of her professors has made a big difference.
“I’ve really appreciated how helpful the faculty have been throughout my time here,” she said. “Being able to share that with you, Dr. Burns, —and hear directly from you about how decisions are made—it’s a really cool experience.”
For Dr. Burns, the meeting was more than just a friendly chat—it was a reminder of why student feedback matters.
“I hope this helps students see that I truly value their voices,” he said. “All they have to do is ask.”
