College Community Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, presented more than 180 awards to individual students, student organizations, and faculty members and staff during the college’s 48th Annual Honors and Awards Convocation. Student Affairs coordinates this annual effort to recognize members of the Penn State Behrend community for their outstanding efforts in student life, athletics, academics, and special service to the college.
Faculty and staff members, including Dr. Jack Burke, chancellor, Dr. Robert Light, senior associate dean for research, graduate studies and outreach, Dr. David Christiansen, associate dean for undergraduate studies and academic administration, and Dr. Ken Miller, director of Student Affairs, presented recipients with their awards.
Two student leaders served as the event’s featured speakers. Erin Kennedy, a senior from Ellwood City, Pa., and president of Penn State Behrend’s Student Government Association, gave the ceremony’s welcoming remarks. Robert Scalise, a sophomore from Warren, Pa., and president of Lambda Sigma Honor Society, offered closing remarks.
STUDENT LIFE AWARDS
Most Outstanding Student Organization Officer: Samantha C. Yong
Most Outstanding Student Organization Member: Raymond P. Wolkan
Most Outstanding Student Organization President: Syed Ammar Hussain and Debra D. Workman
Best Student Organization Advisor: Lindsey M. Hopkins Hall, coordinator of student involvement and fraternity and sorority life
Best Student Organization: The Behrend Beacon
Most Creative Program: Flash Back Fridays
Student Activities Leadership Award: Molly B. Thomas
Guy W. Wilson Award for Student Service to the College: Bradley C. Kovalcik
Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Service Award: Adell E. Coleman
Penn State Behrend Alumni Society Leadership Award: Adell E. Coleman
Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Award: Lauren K. Glacken and Brandon C. McGraw
Outstanding Greek Chapter Award: Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority
Student Government Association President’s Award: Bradley C. Kovalcik
USA Today Student Leadership Award: Molly B. Thomas and Eliska Repkova
Rose Cologne Keystone Citizen Award: Diana R. Tinlin
Eclipse Award: Danielle J. Wilson
Outstanding Adult Learner: Kristin L. McQueeney
General Anthony Wayne Excellence in Leadership Award: Elizabeth A. Pascuzzi (First Year) and Christopher Harpster (Second Year)
ATHLETIC AWARDS
Female Intramural Award: Amy Lawrence
Male Intramural Award: Herbert Brittner
Cheryl Ramsdell-Anderson Female Athlete of the Year Award: Julia M. Koman
James Frye Male Athlete of the Year Award: David L. Koerbel
John Zahniser Female Scholar-Athlete Award: Natalie J. Engel
John Zahniser Male Scholar-Athlete Award: David R. Miller
ACADEMIC AWARDS
The Penn State Behrend Writing Awards: Zhiyao Ding and Matthew J. Heid (First Year), Ryan D. Scanlon (Engineering), Cathryn E. Buonocore (Humanities), and Todd J. Eckroat (Science)
Outstanding Tutor Award: Ryan C. Williams (Engineering), Jessica C. Friday (Mathematics), Allison M. Maino (Other Subjects), and Katherine E. Knight (Writing)
Division of Undergraduate Studies: Patrick J. St Andrews (First Year), Ashley N. MacArthur (Sophomore)
NURSING PROGRAM
Academic Excellence in Nursing: Lisa M. Miller
Excellence in Professional Nursing and Caring: Debra A. Turk and Tonya D. Tuszynski
SAM AND IRENE BLACK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Accounting: Thomas C. Edwards (PICPA) and Amy L. Gevin (IMA)
Business, Liberal Arts, and Science: Nicholas T. Zbrzeznj
Economics: Kelly J. Houghton
Business Economics: William P. McAndrew
Finance: Brian C. Hammel
International Business: Michael J. Halapy
Management: Kristin J. Wisniewski
Management Information Systems: Jarrod L. Bradbury
Marketing: Kevin L. Brown
Master of Business Administration: Jennifer M. Fox
Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key: Thomas C. Edwards and Nicholas T. Zbrzeznj
Kenneth L. and Julie M. Spencer Award: Theresa M. Farrell and Justin E. Kowatch
Wall Street Journal Student Achievement: Michael D. Meabon
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award: Kristy A. McCoy
Kennedy Fiction Award: Kalie C. Weigle
The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award: Kalie C. Weigle
Outstanding Achievement in Communication and Media Studies: Raechul M. Bowser and Lauren M. Kennedy
Outstanding Creative Writing Major: Sierra E. Baril
Outstanding English Major in Professional Writing: Katherine E. Knight
Outstanding History Major: Frank E. Rand
Outstanding Political Science Major: Christopher M. Brown
Outstanding Psychology Student: James J. Hodge and Jessica R. Schubert
Outstanding Scholarly Achievement in Psychology: Amanda N. Tyler
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
Academic Excellence in Biology: Todd J. Eckroat and Natalie J. Engel
Academic Excellence in Chemistry: Todd J. Eckroat and Heather L. Sopher
Outstanding Freshman in Chemistry/American Chemical Society: Emily A. McIntyre
CRC/Outstanding Freshman: Brian M. Carlson
Academic Excellence in Computer Science: Matthew W. Ohler and Joseph A. Synowka (Senior) and Bridget M. Gutting (Sophomore)
Mathematics Competition: Landon M. Chambers, Elliott J. Epstein and Charles F. Nelatury
Academic Excellence in Mathematics: Benjamin H. Wilson
Academic Excellence in Physics: Arthur G. Russakoff
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering: Cody M. Griffin
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology: Brett R. Badowski
Electrical Engineering: Patrick M. Combes
Mechanical Engineering: Benjamin R. Wigg
Mechanical Engineering Technology: Jack C. Smail
Plastics Engineering Technology: John M. Kraynik
Software Engineering: Andrew P. Keen
Jake Boyle Memorial Award: Dustin M. Dubensky
COLLEGE ACADEMIC AWARDS
The Penn State Behrend Honors Program Award is given to students who completed at least nine honors credits while maintaining a minimum 3.2 grade-point average each semester through their sophomore year: Ahmed E. Abdalla, James S. Ahloy, Molly A. Bonavita, Brooke E. Callen, Bridget G. Cheng, Christina N. Craig, John C. Curtin, Andrew P. Double, Caitlyn A. Elser, Jacob C. Fling, Jenna L. Floro, Jesse L. Gadley, Melinda N. Geibel, Alyssa M. Gleichsner, Jesse R. Glenn, Steven J. Gresh, Eric M. Gustafson, Bridget M. Gutting, Katherine R. Halapy, Jarrett J. Hawrylak, Daniel P. Hido, Tyson S. Himes, Erik J. Johnson, Alexandra M. Johnston, Nicolas T. Kniseley, Evan M. Koser, Andrew E. Kountz, Britta M. Landfried, Michael D. Long, Kyle R. McMichael, Steven M. Monnie, Seth R. Neckers, Brianne N. Palmer, Nicole L. Payne, Brent W. Plansinis, Lisa R. Puhak, Craig W. Richards, Justin P. Schmader, Jenna L. Sellitto, Merve Sengular, Braden M. Shaffer, Sarah M. Sharrer, Leah E. Stipanovic, Nathan J. Sydlik, Joni M. Taylor, Kelly C. Thill, Yan Tong, Patrick T. Troester, Heather L. Wager, Kylee J. Weaver, Debra D. Wheeler, Nicholas F. Winarski, and Kayla M. Wright.
The President’s Freshman Award is presented to full-time undergraduate students who earned a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average in the first semester of the freshman year: Jared I. Bean, Eric A. Botts, Jean M. Delinski, Whitney S. Dewey, Matthew S. Florian, Davis J. Gigogne, Matthew J. Heid, Sarah E. Magrini, Joseph E. Paterniti, Patrick J. St Andrews, Tayler K. Stanley, Jennifer Villarroel Vargas, and Michael R. Way.
The President Sparks Award is presented annually to those undergraduate degree candidates who have earned a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year in which the award is given: Teresa S. Guerrein, Zachary F. Herd, Alexandra M. Johnston, Nancy A. Loker, Ashley N. MacArthur, Amy C. Platz, and Justin P. Schmader.
The Evan Pugh Scholar Award honors those juniors and seniors who were in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective class at the end of the fall semester of each academic year. Sascha C. Asher, Christine M. Giuliano and Tyler M. Schmidt were this year’s junior recipients. Thomas C. Edwards, Eliska Repkova and Nicholas T. Zbrzeznj were the senior recipients.
The Council of Fellows Undergraduate Student Research Award was presented to James J. Hodge and Jessica R. Schubert.
SPECIAL SERVICE AWARDS
Debra D. Workman earned the Christopher M. Geitner Award, which is presented to a Penn State Behrend student who demonstrates the extraordinary characteristics of leadership and civility as exemplified by Christopher M. Geitner. Geitner’s friends and family established this award to recognize the accomplishments of current Penn State Behrend students.
Julie A. Elkins was presented with the Ralph Dorn Hetzel Memorial Award. This award recognizes the achievements and potential of an outstanding undergraduate student who has demonstrated the qualities of responsible leadership during his or her college careers and gives promise of public spirited achievement in the future.
Joseph E. Paterniti received the Outstanding First-Year Student award, which recognizes a first-year student who demonstrates outstanding promise of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship through achievements in the first year of study.
Justin P. Schmader was presented with the Irvin H. Kochel Award. This award is presented annually to an undergraduate student who demonstrates outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship through their involvement in programs and services that positively influence fellow students and have contributed to the Penn State Behrend community.
The Thomas H. Turnbull Award, which lists outstanding service as its most important criterion, was presented to Eliska Repkova. This award is presented annually to a Penn State Behrend student who has contributed to the college community through outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
Brittany R. Barbato received the T. Reed Ferguson Award, which recognizes a junior who has demonstrated scholarship, leadership and citizenship that has impacted fellow students through academic and out-of-class involvement and gives promise of further achievement in the senior year.
Julie A. Elkins earned the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award in recognition of outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship that have been directed into student programs and services. Scholarship is a primary criterion along with a record of outstanding service to the college.
Jane D. Brady, assistant director of Admissions and Financial Aid, is the recipient of this year’s Benjamin A. Lane Outstanding Service Award. This award honors a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to Penn State Behrend as exemplified by the unparalleled devotion of Benjamin A. Lane, associate professor of English emeritus.
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, is a comprehensive residential college offering 34 bachelor’s, six associate, four pre-professional and two graduate degree programs with 22 minors to more than 4,600 students. Focused on providing a student-centered environment, Penn State Behrend connects its students to a major research and land-grant institution on a campus enriched by more than 110 clubs and organizations, 21 NCAA varsity teams and 19 intramural sports. Penn State Behrend is named in recognition of a donation by Mary Behrend, widow of Ernst Behrend, who founded the Hammermill Paper Co. in Erie in 1898. The Behrend family lived on the 400-acre Glenhill Farm, which is the core of the Penn State Behrend campus today. For more information, visit behrend.psu.edu.