Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts recently inducted 123 students as Paterno Fellows and Schreyer Scholars, as part of an innovative landmark program offered jointly by the college and the Schreyer Honors College. In addition, the winners of the second annual Collegiate Laws of Life Essay Contest were recognized at the ceremony.
“The program started as a way to encourage more liberal arts students to pursue entry into the Schreyer Honors College, but in a few short years, it has become the path for the truly exceptional students at Penn State because it demands the most from honors students,” said Cathy Wanner, the Barry Director of the Paterno Fellows Program and professor of history and religious studies. “The program is open to any student who has the desire, talent, and discipline to excel at the highest levels. We are committed to making the Paterno Fellows program the pinnacle of honors education at Penn State.”
After their induction, Paterno Fellows continue to pursue key milestones including: a second major or enhanced minor, study abroad or internship experiences, community service, global awareness study, and a senior thesis or creative project. In return, with the help of alumni support, the college provides funding for many of these opportunities and coordinates special events with distinguished visitors and liberal arts alumni.
Wanner has developed more opportunities, such as the inaugural Paterno Fellows Visiting Scholar Program, which offers intensive interdisciplinary seminars to the Fellows. Also, there are the ongoing Lunch with Honors program and various workshops on applying for the Presidential Leadership Academy, Discovery Grants, and the Rock Ethics Institute’s new research scholarships for Fellows.
Currently, there are 379 Paterno Fellows and 335 freshman and sophomore students who aspire to become Paterno Fellows. Since 2008, when the program was launched, 241 students have graduated as Fellows. As a direct result of the Fellows program, the College of the Liberal Arts leads all academic colleges at Penn State, with over 20 percent of the total number of Schreyer Honors students.
The new Fellows also heard from Fellow graduates Lauren Perrotti, (2012) , a doctoral candidate in Spanish and linguistics, and Beth Rudoy (2013), a graduate student in educational policy, both at Penn State.
The winning Collegiate Laws of Life essays are being published on the Liberal Arts Voices website. Awards were presented to the following:
First Place: “Over the Bridge” by Elizabeth Rush, junior majoring in communication arts and sciences and Spanish, and Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar;
Second Place: “The Future of Diplomacy” by Natalie Morrissey, freshman in chemical engineering and Schreyer Scholar;
Third Place: “Elio, Elio, Elio” by Joseph Nakpil, senior in comparative literature and Russian, Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar;
Honorable Mention: “Reconciling Perspectives” by Dhiren Kapoor, junior in economics, and supply chain and information systems, Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar;
Honorable Mention: “From Immovability to Collaboration: the Human Enterprise” by Noah Lingwall, sophomore majoring in history, and global and international studies, Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar;
Honorable Mention: “@WashingtonPlusContext” by Marissa Kandziolka, freshman in economics, an aspiring Paterno Fellow.
For more information, go to: http://www.la.psu.edu/current-students/undergraduate-students/paterno-fellows