Penn State York honored the academic achievements and service of its outstanding students, faculty, and staff for the 2008 - 09 academic year during the 38th annual Academic Awards Banquet, Friday, April 24, in the Conference Center of the Main Classroom Building. More than 90 academic and service awards were presented following a 6 p.m. dinner.
Awards were presented by a variety of campus groups and several community organizations including the Rotary Club and the York County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. Highlights of the program were the presentation of the Eric A. and Josephine Walker Award, the James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Penn State York Advising Award.
The Eric A. and Josephine Walker Award, the most prestigious student award of the evening, was presented to Eric A. Hudak. This award is given annually to a full-time student who exhibits outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Each Penn State campus selects a recipient of this award. Hudak is a senior at Penn State York majoring in letters, arts, and sciences. He resides in York and will graduate in May. Hudak was recognized for his outstanding service to the campus and community through a variety of projects and for his excellent performance in the classroom.
The James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching is given to an outstanding faculty member based on nominations by students and other members of the campus community. The award is named in honor of the late James H. Burness, in recognition of his outstanding teaching and service to the campus. Burness died in December 1999. This year's recipient is Mark A. Casteel, associate professor of psychology.
Casteel received high praise from his students for his preparation for class and his enthusiasm. One student wrote, “Dr. Casteel is always prepared for class, brings enthusiasm to the classroom, and doesn’t leave explaining a concept until he feels he did his best at explaining it.” Students also praised Casteel for being fair in how he grades students and for providing them with opportunities to improve their grades. Another student wrote, “I truly believe he cares about his students and their learning success. He really deserves this award
Orsay L. Kucukemiroglu, professor of business administration, was honored as the winner of the Penn State York Advising Award. The Penn State York Advising Award, given by the campus Academic Affairs Committee, was established several years ago to recognize the importance of advising students. This committee operates separately from the teaching award committee. Kucukemiroglu received high praise for his help to students when scheduling classes. One student said, “When you have a question about your schedule or are trying to plan the future, Orsay always has an open door to welcome you in and help you with any problems you may have.” Another student wrote, “I feel as though he has made time for me and never rushed through things.” Students agreed that Kucukemiroglu is an asset to the campus.
The Penn State York Honors Program provides challenging opportunities for academically superior students. Students who complete 9 credits of honors work are recognized. Recipients are: John J. Conner, York; Jason M. Hopkins, New Freedom; Nicholas D. Huso, Parkton, Maryland; Matthew D. Ketterman, Seven Valleys; Walter M. Klahold, Seven Valleys; Saryet A. Kucukemiroglu, York; Nicole R. Lau, Dover; Ryan M. Lewis, York; Miles M. Myers, Hanover; Hunter B. Schenck, York; Xiaomeng Shi, York; and James D. Steepe, Dover.
The Evan Pugh Scholar Award is for 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. The Penn State York recipient is Audra R. Weaver, York.
The President's Freshman Award is presented annually to full-time undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 grade-point average for the first semester of their freshman year of study. Recipients are: Raquel L. Alpizar, Syracuse, New York; Kenneth Glidden, Lancaster; Joshua A. Kennedy, New Oxford; Christian L. Malehorn, Manchester; Jennifer J. Miller, York; Bryce C. Rankin, York; Kayley M. Shaver, Wrightsville; Michael A. Swann, York Haven; and Kayla A. Tamecki, Dillsburg.
The President Sparks Award is presented annually to those undergraduate candidates who have earned 4.0 (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. The President Sparks Award recipients are: Matthew L. Dunlap, Shrewsbury; Kenneth D. Patterson, Morgantown; and Xiaomeng Shi, York.
Freshman Press Chemistry Award recipient is Joshua D. Aikens, Seven Valleys. This award is presented to a freshman based on outstanding academic achievement in chemistry.
Keystone Honor Society Awards were presented to full- and part-time students with the highest grade-point average (GPA) at or above a 3.50 GPA in each associate and baccalaureate degree program offered at the campus. Part-time students meeting the requirements are eligible to receive the award one time in their major. There are also minimum requirements for the time in the degree. Honorees for the full-time students are: Michelle L. Plaza, York, associate degree in human development and family studies; Zachary L. Holoch, Spring Grove, and Alex N. Howard, Windsor, associate degree in information sciences and technology; Tyler H. Smith, York, associate degree in mechanical engineering technology; Charlotte M. Albert, Red Lion, bachelor of arts in American studies; Shuo Shi, Bradbury, California; Thomas A. Smith, Dover, and Michael E. Delp, New Freedom, bachelor of science in business; Kristen M. Bloodsworth, Red Lion, and Sandra M. Bush, York, bachelor of arts in communication arts and sciences; Garrett M. Benson, Lincoln University, and Eric S. Rohrer, Columbia, Maryland, electro-mechanical engineering technology; Timothy B. Broth, Glen Rock, and Bree C. Vance, York, bachelor of arts in English; Tamara L. Miller, York, bachelor of science in human development and family studies; Bhaskar Suryakumar, York, Natalie A. Anthony, Stewartstown, and Frances M. Hopple, York, bachelor of science in information sciences and technology; Eric A. Hudak, York, bachelor of arts in letters, arts, and sciences; and Angela M. Wenttang, Dallastown, and Nadine Chase, York, bachelor of science in science.
Honorees for the part-time Keystone Honor Society students are: Clare M. Lefevre, Stevens, associate degree in business administration; Terry L. Heim, Mt. Wolf, associate degree in electrical engineering technology; Jennifer J. Miller, York, associate degree in human development and family studies; Kathleen E. Gurley, York, associate degree in letters, arts, and sciences; Joshua M. Sheffer, Airville, associate degree in mechanical engineering technology; Angela J. Lawrence, Glen Rock, bachelor of science in business; Matthew D. Ruth, York, bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology; Gail D. Price, Lititz, bachelor of science in human development and family studies; and Carl E. Hoover, Etters, bachelor of science in information sciences and technology.
Student Government Association (SGA) Campus Service Awards were presented to Jennifer M. Bradley, Lancaster; Latashia L. Gilkes, York; Clifton O. Johnson, York; Daniel S. Hood, McSherrystown; Todd W. Gutierrez, Marietta; and Casey E. Lynch, Shrewsbury.
The Student Appreciation Award is given to faculty or staff person for outstanding service to students. The recipient was Yolanda R. Beattie, York, student aid coordinator.
Gary L. Collison Community Service Awards were presented to Elodia Barajas, York, and Daniel S. Hood, McSherrystown. The service awards were renamed this year to honor the late Gary L. Collison, professor of English and American Studies at Penn State York, whose idea it was to recognize students for their volunteer service.
The Rotary Club Award is presented to an outstanding second-year student, chosen by the faculty, for having made a significant contribution to the campus and community. Matthew C. Sutton, Etters, is the recipient .
The Manufacturers Association Award honors a second year associate or baccalaureate degree student who has displayed academic excellence in an engineering or science program. The recipient was Keith Glatfelter, York.
The Academic Achievement Award is given to a student(s) in recognition of academic accomplishments. The recipient(s) cannot have been otherwise honored with an academic award. Minimum qualifications are second year standing by spring semester of the year in which the award is presented and a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade-point average. Only Penn State credits are considered. Mary K. Ott. York, is the recipient.
The York County Chapter, Penn State Alumni Association Award is presented to a graduating associate degree senior from York County who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of scholarship, leadership, and service to the campus. Bree C. Vance, York, is the recipient.
The Computer and Information Systems (C&IS) Award is presented to the student(s) exemplifying quality customer service. The recipient is Joseph S. Chronister, York.
The Tutor of the Year Award is presented to the tutor who has made the greatest impact on students who came to the Nittany Success Center for extra help with their course work. Jason M. Hopkins, New Freedom is the award recipient.
The Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society recognizes high standards of scholarship among associate degree engineering seniors. Campus engineering faculty select the award recipients. Recipients are: Crystal G. Young, Joppa, Maryland, electrical engineering technology (2EET); David M. Gouge, New Freedom, mechanical engineering technology (2MET); and Magdalena J. Czyzykowski, York, electro-mechanical engineering technology (EMET).
Other award recipients and their awards are as follows: Anuradha N. Chhibber, York, and Latashia L. Gilkes, York, Diversity Award; Xiameng Shi, York, and Kayla A. Tamecki, Dillsburg, Edward M. Elias Award; and Jennifer L. Jennings, Red Lion, National Communication Association Student Undergraduate Research Award.