Monday, April 22, 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 Communications
- Student Excellence in English
- Student Excellence in History
- Student Excellence in Multi-Disciplinary Studies
- Altoona College Business Student Award (B.S.)
- Excellence in Accounting
- Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology
- 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 Mathematics Student Award
University Academic Achievement Awards
- President’s Freshman Awards
- President Sparks Awards
- Evan Pugh Scholar Awards for Seniors
Student Life Awards
- Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Recognition Award
- Outstanding Veteran Student Recognition Award
- Excellence in Academic Advising Award
- Student Organization of the Year Award
- Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award
- Blue & White Society Award
- Penn State Altoona Alumni Society Student Award for Outstanding Service
- Club Sports Leadership Award
- Butterfield and McHale Business Student Award
- Student Activities Leadership Award
- Outstanding Achievement in Programming Award
- Student Organization President Award
- Outstanding International Student Award
- Lion’s Pride Award
- Servant Leader Award
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award
- Excellence in Classroom Teaching Award
- Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry Living the Values Award
- Baccalaureate Degree Award
- Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award
Closing Remarks
Dr. Ron Darbeau, Chancellor
Penn State Altoona Academic Awards
Fine Arts Award
This award, sponsored by Ms. Margaret Sheridan, is given to any student who has earned 45 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.
Recipient: Maggie Parks
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.
Recipient: Makenzie Kunkle
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.
Recipients: Tehya Dibert and Cara Groome
Kenneth M. Kuhn Memorial Award for Music
This endowed award, established by Mrs. Shirley Kuhn and friends of Kenneth Kuhn, recognizes more or more students who are enrolled in music classes and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Emmett Hibbs
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 theme arts, dance, or voice (linked to campus theatrical, dance or vocal productions or to related senior projects in Integrative Arts) and were nominated by the faculty member(s) teaching these courses.
Recipients: Makenzie Arone, Adria Rose Schmidt, Clarissa Styer, and Audrey Wawyronic
Lizka 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 member(s) teaching these courses.
Recipients: Emera Gregor, Kathryn Maille, Makenna Port, and 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.
Recipient: Nicholas Graziano
Student Excellence in English
This award recognizes a student who majors in English and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Kathryn Maille
Student Excellence in History
This award recognizes a student who majors in History and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Sydney Brown
Student Excellence in Multidisciplinary Studies
This award recognizes a student who majors in Multidisciplinary Studies and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Elijah King
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.
Recipient: Lainie Heuston
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. Such traits may be 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.
Recipient: Maggie Erickson Boyer
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.
Recipient: Nathanial Moore
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.
Recipient: Jason Wiker
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, Information Technology, and Security and Risk Analysis. The recipient is chosen based on academic excellence as well as contributions to the program and peers.
Recipient: Taylor Pelissero
Excellence in Criminal Justice
The Excellence in Criminal Justice award recognizes a highly qualified and committed criminal justice student who has acheived not only academic excellence, but has made significant contributions to the college, university and community.
Recipient: Jazzmine McCauley
Excellence in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
This award is given to a graduating student who has acheived 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.
Recipient: Emily Perry
Excellence in Human Development and Family Studies
This award is given to a graduating student who embodies both academic excellence and taking compassionate perspectives.
Recipient: Anna Dick
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.
Recipient: Audrianna Barnes
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.
Recipient: Jamie Emerick
Excellence in Psychology
This award recognizes a student who majors in Psychology and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Travis Saylor
Outstanding Environmental Studies Student Award
This award recognizes a student who majors in Environmental Studies and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Sara Hyde
Outstanding Mathematics Student Award
This award is given to a graduating student in Mathematics who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.
Recipient: Philip Chamberlin
Student Life Awards
Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Recognition Award
This award is in recognition of academic commitment and achievement, demonstrated leadership skills, and triumph over personal challenges that this non-traditional student has accomplished toward reaching their academic goals.
Recipient: Rebecca Reeder
Outstanding Veteran Student Recognition Award
This award, established in fall 2014 by the award selection sub-committee of the Adult Recruitment and Retention Committee recognizes student veterans who are involved in activities both on campus and in the local community who make a difference in the lives of other student veterans of the US Armed Forces while still meeting their own academic responsibilities.
Recipient: Ketan Arbuckle
Excellence in Academic Advising Award
This award recognizes any faculty or staff person who exhibits performance above and beyond established expectations for an academic advisor. The recipient is nominated by any Penn State Altoona student and is selected by a vote of the entire Student Senate.
Recipient: Adam Plucinski
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.
Recipient: Campus Activities Board
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.
Recipient: Nathan Kruis
Blue and White Society Award
Awarded to a student who demonstrates performance going above and beyond in support of their respective student organization for the benefit of Penn State Altoona while maintaining a 3.0 GPA and fulfilling all semester requirements.
Recipient: Methmi Muthugala
Penn State Altoona Alumni Society Student Award for Outstanding Service
Established by the Penn State Altoona Alumni Society, this award recognizes a student who has significantly contributed to Penn State Altoona by volunteering talent, time, and resources on behalf of the institution.
Recipient: Chirasvi Gowada
Club Sports Leadership Award
This award recognizes an individual or student organization that have made a conscious and consistent effort to positively influence fellow students, the campus, and the community by representing Penn State Altoona through their involvement in Club Sports program.
Recipient: Maxwell Frearson
Butterfield and McHale Business Student Award
2018 Alumni Bill Butterfield and Logan McHale established this scholarship award in gratitude to Penn State Altoona and to pay that gratitude forward to current students. Junior and senior business students who are also involved in co-curricular activities are eligible to receive this award.
Recipients: Geoffrey Biddle and Zachary Rudisill
Student Activities Leadership Award
These awards recognize first- and second-year students who are actively involved in student organizations, volunteer efforts and/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.
Recipients: Kadyn Carey and Adam Dotts
Outstanding Achievement in Programming Award
This award is presented to a student organization that has sponsored or co-sponsored a successful program which was open to the campus. Events to be considered may include service, educational, diversity and social programs, which enhance the quality of campus life.
Recipient: Campus Activities Board
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.
Recipient: Olivia Sharrow
Outstanding International Student Award
This award recognizes an international student who is actively involved
in student organizations, volunteer efforts, and/or the community. Individuals chosen have contributed significantly to enhancing student life.
Recipient: Parth Raval
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.
Recipients: Arch Ackley, Geoffrey Biddle, and Jarrett Gardner
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.
Recipient: Caroline Baum
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.
Recipients: Makaylah D. Bangura and Jessica Welsh
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.
Recipient: Shahub Tossi
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.
Recipient: Sean Kelly
Baccalaureate Degree Award
This award is given to the baccalaureate degree student with the highest cumulative grade-point average, with the highest number of credit hours.
Recipient: Leah Tippett
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.
Recipient: Ziwei Lin
