Penn State Behrend Community Celebrated at Annual Awards Ceremony
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, hosted its 46th Annual Honors and Awards Convocation ceremony on Sunday, April 29, in Erie Hall. Faculty and staff members, including Chancellor Jack Burke, Senior Associate Dean Robert Light and Associate Dean David Christiansen, presented more than 160 awards to individual students, student organizations, and fellow faculty and staff in five primary categories: student life, athletics, academics, special service, and faculty and staff awards.
Two student leaders served as the event’s featured speakers. Meredith Straub, president of the Student Government Association and member of Omicron Delta Kappa, welcomed attendees to the ceremony, while Robert Theuret, president of Lambda Sigma Honor Society, offered closing remarks. The ceremony was followed with a reception in the Reed Union Building’s Wintergarden for all winners.
Unless noted, all awards are listed alphabetically by recipient.
Student Life Awards
Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority: Outstanding Greek Chapter Award
Heidi L. Brackbill: Most Outstanding Student Organization Officer Award
Daniela E. Campana: USA Today Student Leadership Award
Kyle A. Chase: Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Award
Leah C. Ehrman: Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Award
Lou Ann Glontz: Outstanding Adult Learner Award
Hockey Club: Best Student Organization Award
Ilona S. Joseph: Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Service Award
Katie L. Kelecseny: Penn State Behrend Alumni Society Leadership Award
Katherine E. Knight: Most Outstanding Student Organization President Award
Lion Entertainment Board: Most Creative Program Award
Kenneth W. Middlemiss: Student Government Association President’s Award
Megan L. Miller: Student Employee of the Year Award
Giovanni J. Morganti: General Anthony Wayne Excellence in Leadership Award, First Year
Stephen R. Oyler: Student Activities Leadership Award
Margaret E. Plecenik: General Anthony Wayne Excellence in Leadership Award, Second Year
Samantha J. Pratte: Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Award
Eliska Repkova: Most Outstanding Student Organization Officer Award
Nathan C. Steele: Guy W. Wilson Award for Student Service to the College
Meredith R. Straub: Student Activities Leadership Award
Student Government Association (Thon): Distinguished Community/Campus Service Award
Molly B. Thomas: Most Outstanding Student Organization Member Award
Athletic Awards
Chick Magnets: Intramural Point System, Men’s Division
Chick Magnets: Intramural Point System, Co-ed Division
Joshua Hannold: Male Intramural Athlete of the Year
Brandith C. Kinney: Behrend Lion Spirit Award
Brittany E. Mays: Cheryl Ramsdell-Anderson Female Athlete of the Year Award
Daniel G. Mitchell: James Frye Male Athlete of the Year Award
Karla P. Murray: Herb Lauffer Sportsmanship/Leadership Award
Paige A. Payer: John Zahniser Female Scholar-Athlete Award
Joshua W. Serafini: John Zahniser Male Scholar-Athlete Award
Elaine Voltz: Female Intramural Athlete of the Year
In addition, Keith C. Cerroni is the recipient of this year’s Richard Dill Outstanding Service Award, which is given annually to the person who has provided outstanding service as a volunteer to the Penn State Behrend athletics program.
Academic Awards
Filho Leandro Azevedo: Outstanding Tutor Award, Mathematics
Danielle N. Brown: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Junior
Brandon H. Bruner: President’s Freshman Award
Brandon M. Carangi: President’s Freshman Award
Emily K. Giering: Division of Undergraduate Studies Award, First-Year
Jordan T. Gilmore: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Senior
Christine M. Giuliano: President’s Freshman Award
Jamie M. Iesue: Division of Undergraduate Studies Award, Sophomore
Matthew D. Jackel: The Behrend College Writing Award, Science
Jason A. Kinsel: President’s Freshman Award
Alicia M. Klinvex: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Junior
Thomas J. Kronenberger: The Behrend College Writing Award, Engineering
Daniel B. Kubacki: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Senior
Robert E. Magoon: President’s Freshman Award
Allison M. Maino: President’s Freshman Award
Manal S. Malik: President’s Freshman Award
Kyle C. Markwardt: The Behrend College Writing Award, First-Year
Christopher B. Meals: The Behrend College Writing Award, First-Year
Sean M. Mihlo: The Behrend College Writing Award, Humanities
Paige A. Payer: Penn State Behrend Future Teacher Award
Krista Pugliano: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Senior
Eliska Repkova: President’s Freshman Award
Torrey R. Schmidt: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Junior
Jeffrey A. Schneider: Division of Undergraduate Studies Award, First-Year
Erika L. Segear: Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Junior
William C. Senneway: Outstanding Tutor Award, Other Subjects
Joseph W. Shaffer: Evan Pugh Scholar, Junior and Outstanding Tutor Award, Engineering
William J. Shields: Outstanding Tutor Award, Writing
Michael W. Skrzypczyk: The Behrend College Writing Award, Business
Christopher A. Suprock: Undergraduate Student Research Award
Joseph A. Synowka: Division of Undergraduate Studies Award, Sophomore
Lisa N. Wagner: Penn State Behrend Future Teacher Award
Kala R. Wolfe: Undergraduate Student Research Award
The Sam and Irene Black School of Business
Lou Ann Glontz: Business, Liberal Arts, and Science Award
Michelle M. Kosko: General Business Award
Laura E. Martin: Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Accounting Award and Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award
Adam G. Marshall: Management Award
Elizabeth Mayoglou: Master of Business Administration Award
Ashley D. McFarland: International Business Award
Benso Ogura: Economics Award
Jason C. Pflueger: Economics Award
Linda C. Phillips: Management Information Systems Award
Daniel A. Poland: Management Information Systems Award
Krista Pugliano: Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key Award and Finance Award
Julianne M. Samella: Management Award
Michael W. Skrzypczyk: Business Economics Award
Amanda M. Vinson: Marketing Award
Jessica M. Walters: Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Accounting Award
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Elizabeth L. Bross: The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award, First Place
Sarah J. Davis: General Arts and Sciences Award
Keith T. Doak: Julia A. Rebman Fiction Award, First Place
Patrick E. Doyle: Julia A. Rebman Fiction Award, Second Place
Christopher R. Engelhardt: Outstanding Scholarly Achievement in Psychology Award
Brian C. Forfa: Outstanding History Major Award and Outstanding Political Science Major Award
Jordan T. Gilmore: Outstanding Achievement in Communication and Media Studies Award
Allison M. Gray: Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award, First Place
Gordon J. Greene: Ernest E. and Bernice C. Fryer Family Psychology Award
Raleigh S. Lee: Clarence A. Smith and Eugenie Baumann Smith Creative Writing Fellowship Award; The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award, Second Place; and Outstanding English Major Award, Creative Writing
Elizabeth A. Long: Outstanding English Major, Literature
Sean M. Mihlo: Outstanding English Major, Professional Writing
Benjamin C. Morris: Corey N. Farrell Creative Writing Award and Julia A. Rebman Fiction Award, Third Place
Melinda S. Oravitz: Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award, Third Place
Paige A. Payer: Outstanding Achievement in Communication and Media Studies Award
Nathan W. Roggenkamp: Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award, Second Place
Elizabeth R. Sansone: Outstanding Psychology Student Award
Jessica L. Storm: Corey N. Farrell Creative Writing Award and The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award, Third Place
School of Science
Charles A. Barr: Physics Award
Amy J. Brem: Mathematics Competition Award
Ryan N. Buzzanca: Computer Science Award, Senior
Matthew D. Jackel: Chemistry Award
Melanie A. Keefer: Mathematics Award, Undergraduate
Gregory S. Lutz: Computer Science Award, Senior
David R. Miller: Computer Science Award, Sophomore
James Pander: Outstanding Freshman in Chemistry/American Chemical Society Award
Dennis A. Paskorz: Mathematics Competition Award
Joseph F. Pleso: Mathematics Competition Award
Erin R. Rodgers: Biology Award
Tyler M. Schmidt: CRC/Outstanding Freshman Award
Jeremy D. Sopko: Mathematics Competition Award
Jesse M. Stimpson: Mathematics Competition Award
Malorie B. Winters: Mathematics Award, Senior
School of Engineering
Michael M. Berrier: Software Engineering Award
Joel M. Carr: Plastics Engineering Technology Award, Four-Year Program
Kevin E. Heiderman: Electrical Engineering Technology Award, Four-Year Program
David B. Irvin: Mechanical Engineering Award
Dane M. Klaproth: Electrical Engineering Technology Award, Two-Year Program
Thomas J. Kronenberger: Mechanical Engineering Award
Daniel B. Kubacki: Electrical Engineering Award
Brad A. Minman: Mechanical Engineering Technology Award, Four-Year Program
Philip A. Tullai: Computer Engineering Award
The Penn State Behrend Honors Program awarded students who completed at least nine honors credits while maintaining a minimum 3.2 grade-point average each semester through their sophomore year. Recipients include: Richard L. Anderson, Jennifer L. Bailey, Krystle A. Bell, Raechul M. Bowser, Jarrod L. Bradbury, Ashley R. Bressler, Kimberly V. Chapman, Patrick M. Combes, Ariel L. Denman, Natalie J. Engel, Brittanie A. Everhart, Devin M. Faulhaber, Jennifer L. Ferguson, Jessica C. Friday, Michael J. Halapy, Michael J. Horning, Ashraf Khalifa, Adam M. Laubham, Harold R. Lilly, William P. McAndrew, Timothy A. McNeal, David R. Miller, Matthew W. Ohler, Wesley A. Salandro, Kaylynn M. Smith, and Heather L. Sopher.
Special Service Awards
(Listed in order presented)
Elizabeth C. Warheit 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.
Katherine E. Knight and Samantha C. Yong were each presented with the Irvin H. Kochel Award. The 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 college community.
The Thomas H. Turnbull Award, which lists outstanding service as its the most important criterion, was presented to Stephen R. Oyler. 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.
Co-recipients Katie L. Kelecseny and Grant P. Reschenthaler were awarded 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.
Brian C. Forfa was the recipient of 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.
The John W. Oswald Award was presented to Daniel B. Kubacki and Karla P. Murray. This University award was established by the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Leadership Society to recognize a graduating senior who has provided outstanding leadership in at least one of several areas of student leadership activity at Penn State.
Faculty and Staff Awards
(Listed in order presented)
John T. Roth, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, earned the Council of Fellows Faculty Research Award. This award was established in 1982 and recognizes a faculty member who truly fills the role of an inspired, dedicated researcher at Penn State Behrend.
Mary Beth Pinto, associate professor of marketing and director of the Center for Credit and Consumer Research, was presented with the Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award, which recognizes a faculty member who most truly serves the college, community and an academic profession.
Brian Young, assistant professor of engineering, was awarded the Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award. Established in 1969, the award recognizes a faculty member who most truly fills the role of inspired and committed teacher.
Rod L. Troester, associate professor of speech communication, earned the Guy W. Wilson Award for Excellence in Academic Advising by a Penn State Behrend faculty member.
Kenneth P. Miller, director of Student Affairs, was presented with the Benjamin A. Lane Outstanding Service Award. The 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.
Miller also was presented with the Best Student Organization Advisor Award, honoring a club advisor who supports the organization through regular attendance at meetings and organization-sponsored events, consistently helpful advice to the officers and its members, and service to the organization.
For more information about Penn State Behrend, visit www.behrend.psu.edu.