Jake Hanchar (senior-biology) sure knew how to make a dramatic splash into the world of politics.

During his junior year at Bellefonte Area High School, Hanchar staged a full-fledged student body walkout in protest of what he deemed to be the "unfair" firing of the school district's superintendent.

More than 800 students spilled out the front doors behind the leadership of Hanchar in one of the largest protests in town history.

"It caused quite a stir," he said with a laugh.

The controversial event, Hanchar said, was the proverbial light bulb that went off in his mind. Politics was his calling.

Today, the 22-year-old is the regional manager of democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed Rendell's campaign office at 232 S. Allen St. The task of assembling volunteers, approaching citizens and generally spreading the good word of Rendell's campaign all fall into the senior's hands -- and he couldn't be more delighted.

"I like to coordinate the efforts of different groups," he said. "I just want to get people involved and the students involved."

Hanchar began his political career at age 16 by tooling around Centre County, performing various "grunt work" for area politicians. It was in this bouncing around that Hanchar met Centre County Commissioner Scott Conklin -- who at the time was also getting his feet wet in politics. The two immediately formed a solid working -- as well as personal -- relationship.

"He's a great guy," Conklin said. "He's got a lot of energy and he's very articulate."

The two complimented each other well, Hanchar said, with Conklin generating a massive grassroots following and Hanchar coordinating behind the scenes efforts. After he ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 1998 -- losing by three percentage points to Jake Corman -- Conklin captured the Centre County commissioner post in 1999.

But the height of the partnership for Hanchar came in 2001, when Conklin faced off against Bill Shuster for the 9th District's seat on the U.S. House of Representatives. Serving as campaign manager, the Penn State senior jam-packed his truck with supplies for a grueling 20,000-mile campaign journey in and around Centre County.

"The campaign just destroys you. You don't get a lot of sleep and you gain a lot of weight from eating all this junk food," he said, noting the weeks where he logged nearly 100 hours of work.

Conklin eventually fell to Shuster, but the entire experience was not lost on Hanchar.

"It was really stressful, but I learned so much," he said. "Though, if I were to do the same thing in the future, I'd have to get paid."

Besides running Rendell's campaign headquarters, Hanchar has maintained an active post on the Bellefonte Area School District Board of Directors since age 19. He is also slated to star as the wicked Governor of Ireland in Next Stage Inc.'s April production of The Clearing.

"I'm not playing your stereotypical villain," he said while feigning Dr. Evil's maniacal laugh.

Though he has gained innumerable experience in political affairs at a young age, a career in politics will have to wait for Hanchar. The biology major has received offers from Duke, Cornell and UCLA. He is intent on working as a doctor before considering a return to government, but the possibility will always remain with him.

"In some distant future, I'd like to run for senator ... maybe in Pennsylvania."