UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Riley Plenge, daughter of Rob and Melanie Plenge of Washington, New Jersey, will be the Penn State College of Health and Human Development's college marshal for the August 2016 commencement ceremony, where she will receive a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. She will be escorted by faculty marshal Steffany J. Fredman, assistant professor of human development and family studies.
As an undergraduate student, Plenge interned at the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student Athletes at Penn State, and at Virginia Tech in the student athlete academic support services office, where she managed the attendance and supervision of study hall and assisted the staff with different opportunities.
Plenge served as a service team leader, mentor and Bible study leader for Cru, a campus ministry. She also served on the rules and regulations committee for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), and was a mission team member at the First Presbyterian Church in Washington, New Jersey. Additionally, she was a member of Penn State’s Triathlon Club.
She volunteered at the Pregnancy Resource Center in State College, Hope in the Hills of Warren — a community extension of Warren County Habitat for Humanity — and at Cedar Heights Church in State College.
Plenge was awarded the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society Alumni Recognition for Student Excellence Award for 2016. She was also a recipient of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington Scholarship, the Warren Hills Student Council Scholarship from Warren Hills Regional School District, the Virginia G. Rimer Memorial Scholarship, and the Washington Rotary Club Scholarship, from the Rotary Club of Washington, New Jersey.
Plenge is a 2012 graduate of Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington, New Jersey. Following graduation she will serve as an academic services assistant for the football team at the University of Kentucky. She also hopes to pursue her master's degree in sport management while at the University of Kentucky.