UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Gregory Milbourne has been named the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences student marshal and Katherine Ann Maisel has been named the college’s engineering honor marshal. They will be recognized during the college’s spring 2015 commencement ceremony, scheduled for 8 p.m. May 8 in the Pegula Ice Arena.
Milbourne selected Donna Peuquet, professor of geography and director of undergraduate programs, to escort him as the college’s faculty marshal and Maisel selected Russell Johns, professor of petroleum and natural gas engineering, to escort her as the college’s assistant faculty marshal.
Five graduating seniors – one representing each of the college’s five departments – have been selected to serve as department student marshals. They are:
-- Jacob Aaron Borst: John and Willie Leone Family of Energy and Mineral Engineering;
-- Marina Lauren Burka: Department of Geography;
-- Molly Rose Cain: Department of Geosciences;
-- Jennifer G. Destefano: Department of Materials Science and Engineering
-- Matthew Douglas Fourney: Department of Meteorology
Milbourne is graduating with highest distinction, earning a 4.0 grade-point average. He will receive a bachelor of science degree in geography (geographic information systems option) and minors in both Spanish and information sciences and technology.
Millbourne received numerous academic merit scholarships and awards in his four years as an undergraduate student. He served as an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Geography, conducting research with faculty on various sponsored projects. He also completed a summer internship with Esri, a leading geographic information systems (GIS) software company, where he developed and deployed demonstrations of Esri technologies for the utilities and telecom industries.
Milbourne’s interests and experience extend beyond the classroom. He served as a Bible study leader for the Penn State Navigators, a Christian campus ministry organization and also participated in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), representing the Navigators.
Milbourne will begin his professional career as a GIS analyst with Dewberry, a full service design firm headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.
Maisel is graduating as a Schreyer Scholar with an honors degree and with highest distinction. She will receive a bachelor of science degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering and a minor in energy business and finance.
Maisel excelled both academically and professionally during her undergraduate career. She was selected as a rising sophomore for inclusion in the University’s Presidential Leadership Academy and she completed two internships with ConocoPhillips, a multinational energy corporation. She worked as a reservoir engineer for ConocoPhillips in Houston and proposed a facilities strategy for salt water disposal that provided an estimated savings of $7 million for the company.
Maisel served as vice president of the Penn State student chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and was instrumental in bringing energy experts to campus to teach short courses on a variety of energy topics.
After graduation, Maisel will be will working as a reservoir engineer for Range Resources, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. She will be located at Range Resources’ Pittsburgh office.