Academics

Penn State York athlete is a top performer on the court and in the classroom

Logan Steckel decided to attend Penn State York because he wanted to play basketball. He makes no apologies for basing his decision on a sport, but Steckel not only had outstanding success on the basketball court, he also excelled in the classroom. Thanks to a successful internship experience, he graduates Friday, May 8, with a job at a local company. Steckel will receive a bachelor of arts in communications arts and sciences, with a minor in business, during York’s commencement at 6 p.m. in the Pullo Family performing Arts Center on campus. The event is free and open to the public.

After a meeting with Parrish Petry, Penn State York’s basketball coach, Steckel decided that attending the local campus was the right thing to do. Steckel, who attended Red Lion Christian, holds the title for being the top scorer for high school basketball players in York and Adams counties.  

“Parrish Petry was the driving force in my decision to come to Penn State York,” Steckel said. “He said he had big plans for me in the program.”  

Big plans are an understatement. Even though Steckel did not play basketball during his freshman year at York due to some injuries, in his sophomore year he hit the court and for three straight years played outstanding basketball. He led the team to three Penn State University Athletic Association (USCAA) Championships along with grabbing a variety of other accolades. In just three years, he was able to score more than 1,000 points in his college career, an accomplishment few players achieve.

“Logan has had one of the best basketball careers in school history,” said Petry. “He leaves as the all-time leading scorer, most three-pointers made, a three-time All-Conference performer, PSUAC conference Player of the Year and a two-time United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-American. His teams have won an unprecedented three consecutive PSUAC conference titles,” noted Petry.

Steckel is more than a great basketball player, in Petry’s own words, “Perhaps even more impressive, Logan has accomplished all of this with grace and humility while being a tremendous role model for younger players and perfect citizen representing his family and Penn State York proudly.”

While in school, Steckel worked several jobs and continued to excel in the classroom and on the basketball court.  One of his fondest memories at Penn State York, outside of winning the PSUAC championship three times, is working on his internship application with Joe Downing, associate professor of communication arts and sciences.

“He was so helpful throughout the process of critiquing my cover letter and resume, and making me send thank you notes to the people I interviewed with,” he said. I know I just mentioned Dr. Downing, but all of the staff were very helpful throughout my college experience. I have made friends with some of the staff, and I would not trade my college experience for anything else.”

Downing had good things to say about Steckel too.

“Logan always has worked multiple jobs while he was a student,” said Downing. “He’s a gracious young man, and a leader on and off the basketball court.”

Steckel landed an internship with the York-based Fastenal, North America’s largest fastener distributor and one of the world’s most efficient suppliers of original equipment manufacturer; maintenance, repair and operations; and construction products. He has been doing sales support all spring semester, teaming up with a sales representative, and plans to take a full-time position with the company after graduation. He also hopes to go on to graduate school.

At the academic awards program in April, Steckel was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the honor society of the National Communication Association that recognizes, fosters and rewards outstanding scholastic achievement while stimulating interest in the communication discipline. All persons considered for membership must exhibit high standards of personal and professional character and support the purposes of the honor society.

There will be plenty of people cheering Steckel on at commencement, including his parents, grandmother, friends and lots of other family.

Keith D. Noll, Class of 1987, senior vice president, WellSpan Health, and president, York Hospital, is the commencement speaker. He grew up in York, Pennsylvania, and actually started his work for York Hospital as a teenager back in high school when he cut the grass there. While in college, he continued his work at the hospital as a nurse’s aide. Little did he know back then, that he would go on to become the senior vice president of WellSpan Health and president of WellSpan York Hospital.

Noll leads all of the activities of the York Hospital for WellSpan Health, and is responsible for the 570-bed tertiary care hospital with Magnet designation containing a Level 1 trauma center, a Level 3 NICU and a 130-physician medical residency program. The hospital generates $1 billion in revenue annually. Noll has served in this position since 2011, and during that time proposed and developed a $48 million project to reconstruct the emergency department for the York Hospital and York County.

After starting his career at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, he moved back home to York in 1998, and has been with WellSpan Health ever since, working in a variety of roles.

A graduate of Dallastown High School, Noll began his college education at Penn State York before moving on to University Park to complete a degree in health planning and administration, graduating with honors in 1987. Noll then went on to complete a graduate degree in hospital and health care administration at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with honors in 1989.

In addition to his work at the hospital, Noll volunteers his time as the chair-elect of the United Way of York County, on the collegiate council of York College, as the chair of the Quality Committee for the Children’s Home of York, but most importantly, as a member of the Penn State York Advisory Board, which he joined in 2013.

He resides in York.

In addition to Noll, commencement speakers include the following students: a top graduating senior in Penn State York’s baccalaureate programs, Jennifer A. Beaverson, bachelor of science in human development and family studies, with highest distinction, of York; a top associate degree graduate, Michael Culbreth, associate degree in information sciences and technology, and a Graham Fellow, of New Freedom; and a top master’s degree graduate, Sarah Elizabeth Kuhn, master of education in teaching and curriculum, of York.

Penn State York will award five master of education in teaching and curriculum degrees; 63 baccalaureate degrees; four bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences; two bachelor of arts in English; 20 bachelor of science in business; six bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; 14 bachelor of science in human development and family studies; 13 bachelor of science in information sciences and technology; and four bachelor of science in science. The campus will also award 10 associate degrees: four in business administration; one in electrical engineering technology; two in human development and family studies; two in information sciences and technology; and one in mechanical engineering technology.    

Eight students who completed their work at another Penn State location will return to York to receive a degree during the ceremony.

For those who cannot attend the event, Penn State York’s commencement can be viewed on Comcast cable Channel 18 or streaming live on the campus website.

Logan P. Steckel, No. 24,  graduates from Penn State York Friday, May 8, and takes fond memories with him, from both on and off the basketball court. Steckel has earned a bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences, with a minor in business.  Credit: Barbara Dennis / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated May 7, 2015