Monday, April 27, 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 English
  • Liszka Award in Theatrical Arts/Performance
  • 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 Award
  • Academic Excellence in Mechanical Engineering
  • Excellence in Rail Transportation Engineering
  • Excellence in Information Sciences and Technology
  • Excellence in Criminal Justice Award
  • Excellence in Elementary and Early Childhood Education
  • Excellence in Kinesiology
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
  • Excellence in Psychology
  • Outstanding Biology Student Award
  • Outstanding Environmental Studies Student Award

University Academic Achievement Awards

  • President’s Freshman Awards
  • President Sparks Awards
  • Evan Pugh Scholar Awards for Juniors
  • Evan Pugh Scholar Awards for Seniors

Student Life Awards

  • Adult Learner Recognition Award
  • Student Veteran Recognition Award
  • First-generation College Student Recognition Award
  • Penn State Altoona Blue and White Society Award for Outstanding Service
  • Penn State Altoona Alumni Society Student Award for Outstanding Service
  • Excellence in Academic Advising Award
  • Student Organization of the Year Award
  • Student Activities Leadership Award
  • SOAR 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
  • 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.

  • Joanna Harlow
  • Taylor Wheeler

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.

  • Tehya Dibert

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.

  • Makenzie Kunkle
  • Sophie Replogle

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.

  • Ian Betterson

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.

  • Paige McCusker
  • Arden McKendree

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.

  • Layna Henry
  • Maxwell Iacono
  • Charlie Popson
  • Cristina Rodriguez

Student Excellence in Communications

This award recognizes a student who majors in Communications and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.

  • Alawnia Diehl
  • Adam Dotts

Student Excellence in English

This award recognizes a student who majors in English and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.

  • Hollie Ann Keller

Student Excellence in History

This award recognizes a student who majors in History and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.

  • Owen Smithmyer

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.

  • Hollie Keller

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.

  • Kiersten Baker

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.

  • Madeline Elizabeth Gooch

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.

  • Blane Davidson

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.

  • Mohamed Alkaabi

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.

  • Thomas Scanlon

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.

  • Destiny Barber

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.

  • Devlin Glenn

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.

  • Lilian Zeigler

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.

  • Brandon Cherry

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.

  • Emily Greenland

Excellence in Psychology

This award recognizes a student who majors in Psychology and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at Penn State Altoona.

  • Long-Yang Li

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.

  • Alexis Dell Vendala Weitzel

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.

  • Falyn Verner

University Academic 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.)

  • Eunice N. Arce
  • Cassidy Beauton
  • Gracelynn S. Beckenbaugh
  • Mia Blake
  • Juliet M. Bowers Condon
  • Ava E. Cabell
  • Qitao Chen
  • Macy Cherry
  • RaeAnn S. Claycomb
  • Carter J. Clippinger
  • James A. Cornell
  • Lin Deng
  • Allison G. Fiore
  • Bryce Y. Grove
  • Emma G. Haagen
  • Avah R. Harber
  • Sophie G. Harlacher
  • Brianna A. Helton
  • Timothy L. Keefer
  • Kyleigh W. Knapp
  • Morgan S. Leary
  • Justin Liao
  • Clark T. Lundgren
  • Ashley N. McAleer
  • Ronghui Mi
  • Jacob P. Miller
  • Adji Arame Ngom
  • Samantha O’Keefe
  • Anatoly E. Odievich
  • Isaac M. Pramuk
  • Jacob D. Prasinos
  • Emily M. Proctor
  • Christian D. Reigh
  • Ryan R. Reighard
  • John Reilly
  • Caleb D. Stouffer
  • Emma L. Swanger
  • Riley P. Taylor
  • Kira M. Trexler
  • Jayden M. Ulmer
  • Elias Urich
  • Kadence Weis
  • Ava G. Weld
  • Emmalyn L. Wingert
  • Weilin Ye

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.)

  • Ryan Amaral
  • Allison N. Black
  • Emalee G. Cavender
  • Jacob A. Ceglar
  • Benjamin M. Dotts
  • Brady M. Garcea
  • Chase M. Geoghegan
  • Evan P. George
  • Michael J. Hansen
  • Abigail M. Hayes
  • Owen J. Hoover
  • Riley E. Jandora
  • Madison A. Kennedy
  • Conner M. Kirsch
  • Calli D. Manno
  • Jesse J. Mboya
  • Rebekah G. Miller
  • Riley J. Miller
  • Joshua P. Smith
  • Patrick H. Warfield

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

  • Coby M. Dawson
  • Emma L. Fraundorfer
  • Arden K. McKendree
  • Jacob S. Wolfe

Seniors

  • Abigail G. Barger
  • Caitlin R. Blessel
  • Austin L. Burk
  • Alawnia M. Diehl
  • Skylarr D. Mitchell
  • Lia A. Simanski

Student Life Awards

Adult Learner Recognition Award

This award recognizes the academic commitment and achievement, demonstrated leadership skills, and triumph over personal challenges a nontraditional student has accomplished toward realizing their academic goals.

  • Skylarr Mitchell

Student Veteran Recognition Award

This award, established in the fall of 2014 by the award selection sub-committee of the Adult Recruitment and Retention Committee, recognizes a student veteran who is involved in activities both on campus and in the local community that make a difference in the lives of other student veterans of the US Armed Forces while still meeting academic responsibilities.

  • David Rosendale

First Generation College Student Recognition Award

First-generation college students have a unique perspective and unique challenges while working toward their goals. This award recognizes the academic commitment, demonstrated leadership skills, and progress this student has accomplished toward realizing their academic goals.

  • Vendala Weitzel

Penn State Altoona Blue and White Society Award for Outstanding Service

Student must demonstrate performance going above and beyond in support of their respective student organization for the benefit of Penn State Altoona.

  • Dylan Valiga

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 their talent, time, and resources on behalf of the institution.

  • Joseph Kramer

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.

  • Deborah Hommer

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.

  • Altoona Benefiting THON

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.

  • Jonathan Chismar
  • Jake Yohn

Student Organization and Activities (SOAR) Award

These awards recognize outstanding third- and fourth-year student leaders who demonstrate sustained and meaningful engagement in student organizations, volunteer initiatives, and the broader community. Recipients have shown a strong and consistent commitment to positively influencing their peers, fostering a culture of community, and have made significant contributions to the enrichment of student life. Through exemplary leadership and dedication, these individuals embody a deep sense of pride in being part of Penn State Altoona and have inspired that same pride within the campus community.

  • Michael Balmforth
  • Ember Brown
  • Mikaella Posada

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.

  • Altoona Benefiting THON Basket Bingo

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.

  • Neya Kratzer
  • Noah Meckes

Outstanding Internaional 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.

  • Aastha Kumar

Lion's Pride Award

This award is 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.

  • Abby Marian
  • Long-Yang Li
  • Lia Simanski

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.

  • Lexiann Colaianni

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.

  • Lissette Green
  • Billie Lewis

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.

  • Joan Krug

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.

  • Jared Frederick

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.

  • Layna Henry