Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m.
Wolf Kuhn Theatre, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts
Program Order
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Dr. Ron Darbeau, Chancellor
Penn State Altoona Academic Awards
- Fine Arts Award
- Zoller Art Award
- Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award for Visual Arts
- Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award for Music
- Liszka Award for Theatre Arts, Dance, or Voice
- Liszka Award for English
- Student Excellence in English
- Student Excellence in Communications
- Student Excellence in History
- Student Excellence in Multi-Disciplinary Studies
- Altoona College Business Student Award (B.S.)
- Excellence in Accounting
- Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Outstanding Undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering
- Academic Excellence in Mechanical Engineering
- Excellence in Rail Transportation Engineering
- Excellence in Information Sciences and Technology
- Excellence in Criminal Justice
- Excellence in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
- Excellence in Human Development and Family Studies
- Excellence in Kinesiology
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
- Excellence in Psychology
- Outstanding Environmental Studies Student Award
- Outstanding Biology Student Award
University Academic Achievement Awards
- President’s Freshman Awards
- President Sparks Awards
- Evan Pugh Scholar Awards for Jeniors
- Evan Pugh Scholar Awards for Seniors
Student Life Awards
- Excellence in Academic Advising Award
- Student Organization of the Year Award
- Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award
- Student Activities Leadership Award
- Student Organization President Award
- Lion’s Pride Award
- Outstanding International Student Award
- Servant Leader Award
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award
- Excellence in Classroom Teaching Award
- Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry Living the Values Award
- Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award
Closing Remarks
Dr. Ron Darbeau, Chancellor
Academic Awards
Fine Arts Award
This award, sponsored by Ms. Margaret Sheridan, is given to any student who has earned forty-five credits or more, who has demonstrated excellence in all course work, with a minimum 3.5 grade-point average in fine arts. The recipients are nominated by members of the art faculty.
- Grace Brown
- Sophie Replogle
Zoller Art Award
This award, sponsored by the late Mrs. Lucille Zoller, is given to a first-year student who has achieved excellence in all course work and demonstrated potential in the art field with a minimum 3.5 grade-point average earned in all art courses. The recipient is nominated and selected by the art faculty.
- Rebecca Matous
Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award for Visual Arts
This endowed award, established by Mrs. Shirley Kuhn and friends of Kenneth Kuhn, recognizes a student who is a visual arts major and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in visual arts at Penn State Altoona.
- Kai Deline
Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award for Music
This endowed award, established by Mrs. Shirley Kuhn and friends of Kenneth Kuhn, recognizes one or more students who are enrolled in music classes and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Long-Yang Li
Liszka Award for Theatre Arts, Dance, or Voice
This award, sponsored by Thomas and Marlene Liszka, recognizes students who were enrolled during the preceding spring, summer, or fall semesters in theatre arts, dance, or voice (linked to campus theatrical, dance or vocal productions) and were nominated by the faculty members teaching these courses.
- Sarah Christofer
- Nia Hubbard
- Isabella Tibado
Liszka Award for English
This award, sponsored by Thomas and Marlene Liszka, recognizes students who were enrolled during the preceding spring, summer, or fall semesters in English (at the 200-level or above, excluding ENGL 202) and were nominated by the faculty members teaching these courses.
- Sidney Garcia
- Travis Saylor
- ENGL 209 Student Editors:
- Taylor Bango
- Sophia Girol
- Khloe Hanlon
- Katyayani Kumar
- Liyani Mary
- Emma Moniz
- Aeryal Palazzi
- Parth Raval
- Rebecca Reeder
- Jay Schmidt
- Kate Yoder
Student Excellence in English
This award recognizes a student who majors in English and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Emera Gregor
- Travis Saylor
Student Excellence in Communications
This award recognizes a student who majors in Communications and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Sydney Barnett
Student Excellence in History
This award recognizes a student who majors in History and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Kathryn Maille
Student Excellence in Multi-Disciplinary Studies
This award recognizes a student who majors in Multidisciplinary Studies and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Makaylah Bangura
Altoona College Business Student Award (B.S.)
This award recognizes a student from the Bachelor of Science Degree in Business at Altoona. Award recipients have demonstrated outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
- Forrest A. Schwinn
Excellence in Accounting
This award recognizes a student graduating from the Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting at Penn State Altoona who has demonstrated a high-level of academic achievement typically coupled with evidence of traits that are not simply academic. These may include traits of personality or character, such as creativity, leadership, or citizenship. They may be demonstrated through employment, or participation in athletics, the arts, or other collegial or community activities. The accounting faculty selects one award recipient annually.
- Jeremy Alden Conrad
Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology Award
This award recognizes a student who majors in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Casey Hess
Outstanding Undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering
This award recognizes a student in Mechanical Engineering who has exemplified outstanding character and quality in the areas of leadership, curricular and co-curricular achievement, public service, and service to the major. The recipient of this award has been selected by the mechanical engineering faculty.
- Ketan Arbuckle
Academic Excellence in Mechanical Engineering
This award recognizes a student in Mechanical Engineering who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and has the highest cumulative GPA among graduating students.
- Riley Dibert
Excellence in Rail Transportation Engineering
This award recognizes a student who majors in Rail Transportation Engineering and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Nihal Wadkar
Excellence in Information Sciences and Technology
This award recognizes a student who majors in any of the Penn State Altoona IST related majors including Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations, Information Technology, and Security and Risk Analysis. The recipient is chosen based on academic excellence as well as contributions to the program and peers.
- Jonathan Bush
Excellence in Criminal Justice
The Excellence in Criminal Justice award recognizes a highly qualified and committed criminal justice student who has achieved not only academic excellence, but has made significant contributions to the college, university and community.
- Skyler Madtes
Excellence in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
This award is given to a graduating student who has achieved excellence in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Recipients are chosen by the education faculty considering traits such as integrity, perseverance, and ability to meet high standards of excellence.
- Madison Coleman
Excellence in Human Development and Family Studies
This award is given to a graduating student who embodies both academic excellence and taking compassionate perspectives.
- Christina Nahas
Excellence in Kinesiology
This award is given to a graduating student who exemplifies academic excellence in Kinesiology. This student is selected by the kinesiology faculty considering traits such as commitment to learning, dedicated work ethic, and contributions to the field of kinesiology within the classroom, across the university and in the community.
- Anthony Soucy
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
This award is given to a graduating student who has earned a high level of academic achievement in Nursing, with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade-point average. The recipient is nominated and selected by the nursing faculty.
- Ashley VanGilder
Excellence in Psychology
This award recognizes a student who majors in Psychology and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
- Layna Henry
Outstanding Environmental Studies Student Award
This award recognizes a student who majors in Environmental Studies at Penn State Altoona, and who has achieved academic excellence and has demonstrated a commitment to environmental conservation through impactful work on inter-disciplinary or community-based projects.
- Anthony Lubold
Outstanding Biology Student Award
This award recognizes a graduating Biology student that has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement as well as high quality participation in leadership, research, community service, or other extracurricular activities.
- Joseph Levri
Achievement Awards
President's Freshman Award
This award is presented annually to undergraduate degree candidates and provisional students who have earned a 4.00 (A) cumulative grade-point average based on at least twelve graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have not exceeded thirty-five total credits earned. (College Board advanced placement credits are not counted in the total credits earned for purposes of this award.)
- Ryan Amaral
- Lauren Anderson
- Allison Black
- Madeline Boser
- Joshua Bueno
- Austin Burk
- Sela Cameron
- Emalee Cavender
- Jacob Ceglar
- Jonathan Chismar
- Lael Choi
- Zachary Clement
- Justin Contreras
- Lauren Davidson
- Angelina Dong
- Benjamin Dotts
- Madelynn Fielder
- Rylee Fleck
- Brady Garcea
- Chase Geoghegan
- Evan George
- Derek Gilmore
- Khloe Hanlon
- Michael Hansen
- Abigail Hayes
- Xandria Hernandez
- Shannon Hicks
- Daniel Hock
- Owen Hoover
- Riley Jandora
- Araya Keller
- Madison Kennedy
- Raquel Kennedy
- Conner Kirsch
- Connor Lindsey
- Calli Manno
- Bridget Martin
- Jesse Mboya
- Riley Miller
- Kendra Pfeffer
- Meda Pulaski
- Madison Riva
- Olivia Sardenberg
- Caitlyn Shade
- Vincent Simparosa
- Ian Simpson
- Joshua Smith
- Frankie Stricker
- Isaac Swope
- Zayden Tamashiro
- Lauren Thompson
- Roger Vas
- Yijin Wang
- Patrick Warfield
- Alyssa Watson
- Kelis Wellings
- Yunmo Zhao
- Gabriella Zupancic
President Sparks Award
This award is presented annually to those undergraduate degree candidates who have earned a 4.00 (A) cumulative grade-point average based on at least thirty-six graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have not exceeded fifty-nine total credits earned. (College Board advanced placement credits are not counted in the total credits earned for purposes of this award.)
- Caitlin Blessel
- Samuel Carmel
- Coby Dawson
- Hephzibah Dominic
- Emma Fraundorfer
- Ved Hitali
- Minjoo Kim
- Arden McKendree
- Jingjing Niu
- Kiara Shepler
- Lia Simanski
- Lilah Touboul
- Sven Walsberg
- Jacob Wolfe
- Kate Yoder
Evan Pugh Scholar Award for Juniors and Seniors
Evan Pugh scholars are those juniors and seniors who are in the upper .5 percent of their respective classes and have completed at least forty-eight graded Penn State credits at the end of the fall semester of the academic year in which the award is given. Credits where Alternative Grades were selected do not count in the graded credits total. Candidates are eligible if they have been full-time Penn State undergraduate students for at least four semesters prior to selection. The juniors this year have cumulative grade-point averages of 3.99 and above. The seniors this year have cumulative grade-point averages of 4.00 and above.
Juniors
- Abigail Barger
- Alawnia Diehl
- Skylarr Mitchell
Seniors
- Doak Hoenstine
- Stevie Hoover
- Elle McGregor
- Kyle Rennell
- Thomas Scanlon
Student Life Awards
Excellence in Academic Advising Award
This award recognizes any faculty or staff member who exhibits performance above and beyond established expectations for an academic adviser. The recipient is nominated by any Penn State Altoona student and is selected by a vote of the entire Student Senate.
- Sophie Brenneman
Student Organization of the Year Award
This award recognizes a student organization which has exhibited outstanding campus and community service as well as excellence in programming. The recipient organization may be nominated by any Penn State Altoona student and is selected by a vote of the entire Student Senate.
- Student Nurse Association of PA, Altoona Chapter
Student Organization Adviser of the Year Award
This award recognizes any student organization adviser who exhibits outstanding service to an organization. The recipient is nominated by any member of a Penn State Altoona student organization and is selected by a vote of the entire Student Senate.
- Donna Pearlman
Student Activities Leadership Award
These awards recognize first- and second-year students who are actively involved in student organizations, volunteer efforts, or the community. These individuals have made a conscious and consistent effort to positively influence fellow students, promote involvement to students and have contributed significantly to enhancing student life. Through their leadership, the students have displayed pride in being a part of Penn State Altoona and tried to instill the same pride among fellow students. Recipients may only receive this honor once.
- Leah Ben-Nany
Student Organization President Award
This award is presented to an organization president based on outstanding leadership within the organization, achievements while in office, and serving as a role model and motivating force within the organization.
- Arch Ackley
Lion's Pride Award
Presented to members of the campus community who have made ongoing efforts to enhance the student experience. This award not only celebrates the recipients’ individual achievements but recognizes their efforts to reinforce the importance of student well-being and engagement.
- Michael Balmforth
- Travis Saylor
Outstanding International Student Award
This award recognizes an international student who is actively involved
in student organizations, volunteer efforts, or the community. Individuals chosen have contributed significantly to enhancing student life.
- Long-Yang Li
Servant Leader Award
This award recognizes an individual who has provided exemplary leadership in the area of volunteerism and philanthropy benefiting the campus, surrounding communities, or community agency.
- Rev. Dr. Michelle Bodle
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award
This award recognizes a student, student organization, faculty, or staff member who has demonstrated through deed and activities, their commitment to perpetuate the goals and ideals communicated by
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Zaria Williams
- Peggy Duffie
Excellence in Classroom Teaching Award
This award recognizes any faculty or staff person who exhibits innovation and creativity in classroom teaching methods and techniques. The recipient may be nominated by any Penn State Altoona student and is selected by a vote of the entire Student Senate.
- Gary Weisel
Lori J. Bechtel- Wherry Living the Values Award
This award is given to a member of the Penn State Altoona community who has brought the values of Penn State of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence, and community to life. This person consistently embodies these ideals even in the face of adversity. The person who receives this award has provided a lasting impact on the Penn State Altoona community which calls others to strive to do better.
- Erin McConnell
Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award
This award recognizes students from throughout the entire University whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship have been directed into student programs and services. All Penn State Altoona students of sophomore standing and above are eligible. Scholarship is a primary criterion for selection, in tandem with a record of outstanding service to the campus.
- Arch Ackley
