Nontraditional Learners Inducted into Honor Societies
Three nontraditional students at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, have been inducted into two honor societies, Alpha Sigma Lambda and Beta Gamma Sigma.
Alpha Sigma Lambda is the national honor society for nontraditional learners. Inductees represent the top 10 percent of adult students and must meet Zeta Theta Chapter’s induction requirement of 30 credits earned at Penn State Behrend with a 3.5 or better cumulative grade-point average.
Beta Gamma Sigma is the international honor society for business programs accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Penn State Behrend’s Sam and Irene Black School of Business is AACSB accredited.
Sascha Asher of Erie has been inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma. He is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing in December. Asher has a 4.0 GPA.
Deborah Chiffon of Erie has been inducted into both Alpha Sigma Lambda and Beta Gamma Sigma. She is a senior studying accounting in December. Chiffon has a 3.95 GPA.
Nancy Loker of Erie has been inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda. She is a junior majoring in history. Loker has a 4.0 GPA.
Asher transferred to Penn State Behrend from Penn State Altoona in fall 2008. Of French descent, he was born in Germany and speaks four languages, French, German, English and Spanish. In 2006, Asher and his wife, Lindsey, moved to Altoona, her hometown. Asher is a member of Penn State Behrend’s Global Business and Society Association and, while at Altoona, was a member of the Society of Business Students and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Chiffon returned to Penn State Behrend in spring 2007 to pursue a degree in accounting. She has completed an internship with Hill, Barth and King LLC, certified public accountants and business consultants, and is a member of the college’s Accounting Club. Early in her career, Chiffon earned an associate degree in electrical engineering technology from the college and worked at Erie’s American Sterilizer Company (AMSCO). She and her husband, Mark, have two sons. Brad is a first-year student at Penn State Behrend and Bryan is a high school junior.
Loker returned to Penn State Behrend in fall 2006 to pursue her degree in history. She previously completed paralegal courses at the college. She is a member of the college’s History Club. Loker and her husband, Dave, an associate professor of engineering at Penn State Behrend, have two daughters. Ashley graduated in May 2009 with a B.S. in biology and Emily is a high school senior.