Academic award recipients, scholarship winners and university scholars were recognized for their achievements on Wednesday, April 27 at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Student Awards Ceremony. Michael Krajsa, instructor in business at Penn State Lehigh Valley and recipient of the 2015 Teaching Excellence Award, was the keynote speaker. For images from this event, visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/psulehighvalley/albums/72157665502177114.
Students honored for outstanding achievement included:
Eric A. and Josephine Walker Award: Linda Habrukovich (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This honor recognizes a student who has completed two full years at a Commonwealth Campus and whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of his or her campus and, hence, to the reputation of the University as a whole.
Evan Pugh Scholar Award: Linda Habrukovich (Allentown, Pennsylvania); Crystal Ball (Quakertown, Pennsylvania)
The Evan Pugh Scholars are those juniors and seniors who are in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective classes and have completed at least 48 graded Penn State credits at the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible if they have been full-time undergraduate students for at least four semesters prior to selection.
Rose Cologne Keystone Citizen Award: Eric Oh (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
This award recognizes Penn State students who have made valuable contributions in the areas of service and volunteerism to Penn State and local communities as demonstrated by their ongoing involvement and efforts to engage and lead students in volunteer service.
2016 President’s Freshman Award: Nada Abouomar (Wescosville, Pa.); Samuel Azzalina (Easton, Pa.); Cathleen Baker (Allentown, Pa.); Hannah Daly (Quakertown, Pa.); Eli Gough (Germansville, Pa.); Denise Hassick (Emmaus, Pa.); Erica Hughes (Fogelsville, Pa.); Jonathan Meyer (Quakertown, Pa.); Irfan Mobin (Orefield, Pa.); Naseeba Saeed (Allentown, Pa.); Ellen Sherman (Emmaus, Pa.); Ruiqi Shi (Easton, Pa.); Kashdeep Singh (Easton, Pa.); Marena Trauger (Allentown, Pa.); Simon Wachholz (Nazareth, Pa.).
This award is presented annually to undergraduate degree candidates and provisional students who have earned a 4.00 (A) cumulative grade point average based on at least 12 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have not exceeded 35 total credits earned.
2016 President Sparks Award: Patricia McGlynn (Fogelsville, Pennsylvania); Gabrielle Podgorska (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania); Aaron Young (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This award is presented annually to those undergraduate degree candidates who have earned a 4.00 (A) cumulative grade point average based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year the award is given. Candidates are eligible for this award if they have not exceeded 59 total credits earned.
Alexandria Downing Outstanding Student in Sociology Award: Nicholas Pappas (Albrightsville, Pennsylvania); Emily Roxberry (Schnecksville, Pennsylvania).
This award is presented to the student who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance and promise in the field of sociology. Special consideration is given to those who have presented papers at professional conferences, have published in a sociology journal, or whose work has furthered Penn State’s promise in the area of outreach scholarship.
English Department Award for Exceptional Achievement in Expository Writing: First Place - Nada Abouomar (Wescosville, Pennsylvania); Second Place - Mahbub Ali (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania).
This award is presented to a student whose writing demonstrates sophisticated analysis or interpretation of literature and/or exceptional master of voice, content, and form.
Excellence in Public Speaking Award: Samuel Ajamu (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania)
Recognizing the importance of effective communication in the world, this award is conferred upon the student who demonstrates excellence in public communication. Criteria for selection include excellence in researching and presenting a speech as part of a Penn State Lehigh Valley course.
First-Year Chemistry Achievement Award: Marena Trauger (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This award is presented to a first-year student for outstanding academic achievement in all four lecture and laboratory courses in chemistry.
Mathematical Excellence Award: Derrick Rice (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This award is presented to a student completing his or her sophomore year who has demonstrated excellence in the Calculus and Differential Equations series of courses and who has evinced an appreciation for the depth, power, and beauty of mathematics.
Outstanding Art Student Award: Leonardo Motolese (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This award recognizes a student whose work demonstrates excellence in a variety of media in art projects done in courses offered at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Outstanding Engineering Student Award: Kimi Phan (Emmaus, Pennsylvania)
The award is presented to an engineering student began his or her undergraduate studies at Penn State Lehigh Valley and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in all engineering courses.
IST Achievement Award: Kevin Mitra (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania)
The award is presented to a Penn State Lehigh Valley campus student who has achieved a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.67, has earned at least 60 cumulative credits in the Information Sciences and Technology program by the end of his/her fifth semester, and has demonstrated outstanding leadership and academic achievement.
Outstanding Student in Corporate Communication Award: Alexandra Lynn (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
This award is granted to a graduating Corporate Communication student who has achieved one of the highest GPAs in the major and demonstrated outstanding academic performance and contribution to campus and community welfare.
Outstanding Spanish Language Student Award: Emily Heacock (Perkasie, Pennsylvania)
This award is given to a student who has earned an A in at least three semesters of Spanish at our campus, has been an active member in classes and activities organized to promote Hispanic culture, and has shown a serious interest in pursuing language studies (minor or major in Spanish) or a major in Latin American Studies.
Outstanding Student in Biology Award: Habib Yazgi (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This award is recognizes a sophomore majoring in biology who has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above and displays a strong ability for scientific writing scholarship and a talent for research. He or she also demonstrates initiative, independence, and the ability to design and carry out experiments while providing service to the department.
Outstanding Marketing/Management Award: Dillon Treon (Bath, Pennsylvania)
This award is presented to a senior in the marketing management option who has demonstrated outstanding achievement.
Outstanding Student in Psychology Award: Corinne Boyce (Bath, Pennsylvania)
This award is presented to a junior or senior who has demonstrated outstanding performance in the major.
Outstanding Student in Rehabilitation and Human Services Award: Linda Habrukovich (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
This award is presented to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding performance in the major.
Outstanding Tutor Award: Samuel Ajamu (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania)
This award is given to the individual who displays excellence in tutoring in the Learning and/or Writing Center. Professional and peer tutors are eligible for this award. Special consideration is given to individuals based upon length of service, number of students served, and feedback from students, faculty, and staff.
Highest Cumulative Average by College (3.5 or higher):
Agricultural Sciences: Mehakdeep Wahla (Northampton, Pennsylvania)
Business Administration: Nada Abouomar (Wescosville, Pa.); Samuel Azzalina (Easton, Pa.); Kashdeep Singh (Easton, Pa.); Ruiqi Shi (Easton, Pa.); Patricia McGlynn (Fogelsville, Pa.); Eric Oh (Bethlehem, Pa.); Aaron Young (Allentown, Pa.); Kimberly Hoogenboom (Macungie, Pa.); Joseph Sohara (Bethlehem, Pa.).
Communications & Corporate Communication: Lauren Newhard (Macungie, Pennsylvania); Elise Yardley (Macungie, Pennsylvania); Shannon Johnson (Coopersburg, Pennsylvania); Shanon Ortiz (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
Division of Undergraduate Studies: Erica Hughes (Fogelsville, Pa.); Ellen Sherman (Emmaus, Pa.); Marena Trauger (Allentown, Pa.); Kyle McCoach (Telford, Pa.).
Earth and Mineral Science: Cathleen Baker (Allentown, Pa.); Kevin Casey (Macungie, Pa.); Simon Wachholz (Nazareth, Pa.).
Education: Crystal Ball (Quakertown, Pa.) Marissa Pearson (Kutztown, Pa.); Madeline Henderson (Macungie, Pa.); Gabrielle Herczeg (Schnecksville, Pa.).
Pennsylvania Eli Gough (Germansville, Pa.); Irfan Mobin (Orefield, Pa.); James Mellen (Schnecksville, Pa.); Brandon Smith (Emmaus, Pa.).
Health and Human Development & Health Policy and Administration: Hannah Daly (Quakertown, Pa.) Stephanie Bernal (Allentown, Pa.)
Information Sciences and Technology: Kristen Swantek (Nazareth, Pa.); Isaiah Shade (Bethlehem, Pa.); Justin Sommer, (Whitehall, Pa.); Kevin Mitra (Breinigsville, Pa.).
Liberal Arts: Lisa Cifres (Bethlehem, Pa.); Naseeba Saeed (Allentown, Pa.).
Penn State Lehigh Valley Programs: Paige L. Allen (Red Hill, Pa.); Linda Habrukovich (Allentown, Pa.); Paula Marek (Allentown, Pa.);
Science: Habib Yazgi (Allentown, Pa.); Jonathan Meyer (Quakertown, Pa.).