Fourteen undergraduate students from the College of Engineering will serve as student marshals for the college's spring commencement ceremony on May 12. Chosen for their academic achievement and contributions to college life, the students represent each major within the college, as well as the Penn State Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program.
Aerospace engineering
Adam Edward Goss will receive a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering. He has chosen Edward C. Smith, professor of aerospace engineering, to be his faculty escort. Goss is the son of Kathy and Calvin Goss of Port Matilda. He is a 2002 graduate of Tyrone Area High School. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Goss was the recipient of the Aero Pioneers Class of 1944 Scholarship, the Mary Ilgen Memorial Scholarship, the All-American Scholar Award and the President's Freshman Award. His extracurricular activities included membership in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Sigma Gamma Tau Aerospace Honor Society and the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society. Following graduation, Goss will be employed by Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He also will attend graduate school.
Agricultural and biological engineering
Erik M. Vranich will receive a bachelor of science degree in agricultural and biological engineering. He has chosen Albert R. Jarrett, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, to be his faculty escort. Vranich is the son of Terry and Michael Vranich of Hooversville. He is a 2002 graduate of Conemaugh Township Area High School in Davidsville. Vranich's extracurricular activities included serving as an Ag Advocate for the College of Agricultural Sciences. He was a member of the Penn State Fly-Fishing Club, where he held the office of president, the Penn State Archery Club, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Alpha Epsilon Agricultural and Biological Engineering Honor Society. He also was a resident of EARTH House, a special-interest dormitory for students interested in agricultural and environmental issues, and served as a farm show representative for the College of Agricultural Sciences. Following graduation, Vranich will join William F. Hill and Associates Inc.
Architectural engineering
Steven T. Puchek will receive a bachelor of architectural engineering degree. He has chosen Louis F. Geschwindner Jr., professor emeritus of architectural engineering, to be his faculty escort. Puchek is the son of Nancy and John Puchek of Elm Grove, Wis. He is a 2001 graduate of Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wis. During his undergraduate career, Puchek was the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Lithonia Besal Fund Scholarship, the Lite Control Scholarship, the Ewing Cole Cherry Brott Scholarship, the CH2M Hill Scholarship, the Borda Fernsler Scholarship and the Wisconsin Energies Scholarship. Puchek's extracurricular activities included the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, where he held the offices of president and secretary; the Phi Alpha Epsilon National Architectural Engineering Honor Society, where he held the office of president; the Phi Eta Sigma First-Year Honor Society; the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; the Golden Key International Honour Society; and the Illuminating Engineering Society. He was a member of the Penn State Crew Team and participated in intramural football and softball. His volunteer activities included Habitat for Humanity. Following graduation, Puchek will join James Posey Associates in Baltimore as an electrical engineer.
Bioengineering
Kevin Shah will receive a bachelor of science degree in bioengineering. He has chosen Michael J. Eppihimer, associate professor of bioengineering, to be his faculty escort. Shah is the son of P.J. and Ila Shah of Ebensburg. He is a 2002 graduate of Central Cambria High School. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Shah was named a Leonhard Honors Scholar in the College of Engineering. His extracurricular activities included membership on the Distinguished Speaker Series Committee and the Schreyer Honors College Student Council, where he held the office of vice president. He also served as a Lion Ambassador, participated in the Merck Engineering and Technology Fellowship Program and completed an engineering internship with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Following graduation, Shah will attend medical school.
Chemical engineering
Diana M. Bower will receive a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. She has chosen Themis Matsoukas, associate professor of chemical engineering, to be her faculty escort. Bower is the daughter of Kathy Wright of Breinigsville and Michael Bower of Allentown. She is a 2002 graduate of Parkland High School in Allentown. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Bower was an Evan Pugh Scholar. Her extracurricular activities included the Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honor Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Vole Ballet Club. She also was a member of the House Blend Acoustic Performance Group and participated in the Merck Engineering and Technology Fellowship Program. Following graduation, Bower will pursue a doctoral degree in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Civil engineering
Lauren B. Webber will receive a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. She has chosen Patrick M. Reed, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, to be her faculty escort. Webber is the daughter of Ellen and Jim Webber of New London. She is a 2002 graduate of Avon Grove High School in West Grove. During her undergraduate career, Webber was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, the American Society of Civil Engineers Scholarship, the Dixon Scholarship in Engineering, the Helen Fiedler Heckert Scholarship, the Patrick J. Dixon Scholarship and the Women in Engineering Program Outstanding Facilitator Award. Her extracurricular activities included the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society; the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society, where she held the office of vice president; the American Society of Civil Engineers, where she held the office of vice president; and Engineers for a Sustainable World, where she held the office of vice president. She also served as a facilitator and mentor for the Women in Engineering Program, participated in intramural volleyball and the Penn State Outing Club and volunteered at the Center for Sustainability. Following graduation, Webber will join Langan Engineering and Environmental Services in New Haven, Conn.
Computer engineering
Tian Liang will receive a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering. She has chosen Padma Raghavan, professor of computer science and engineering, to be her faculty escort. Liang is the daughter of Qihong Liang and Weihui Wang of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. She is a 2002 graduate of Gateway Senior High School in Monroeville. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Liang was the recipient of the Evan Pugh Scholar Award. Her extracurricular activities included the Penn State Shotokan Karate-do Club, where she held the office of vice president. Following graduation, Liang will pursue a doctoral degree at Penn State.
Computer science
Cheryl Jerozal will receive a bachelor of science degree in computer science. She has chosen Anand Sivasubramaniam, professor of computer science and engineering, to be her faculty escort. Jerozal is the daughter of Gena Jerozal and John Jerozal, both of St. Augustine, Fla. She is a 2002 graduate of St. Joseph Academy in St. Augustine. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Jerozal was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, the President's Freshman Award, the Lockheed Martin Engineering Scholars Award and the Paul Morrow Endowed Scholarship. While a student at Penn State, she participated in National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Oklahoma. Her extracurricular activities included the Penn State Association for Computing Machinery Team, the Google Engineering Workshop and the GE Student Leaders Conference. She was a member of the Penn State Math Club, where she held the office of treasurer and Webmaster. She also was a member of the Penn State Student Red Cross Club and worked as a research assistance in the psychology department. Her community activities included volunteering as a tutor for elementary, high school and college students. Following graduation, Jerozal plans to join AmeriCorps, where she will help individuals and nonprofit organizations learn about and use technology.
Electrical engineering
Michael E. Marx will receive bachelor of science degrees in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering with a minor in economics. He has chosen Jeffrey L. Schiano, associate professor of electrical engineering, to be his faculty escort. Marx is the son of Becky and Curtis Marx of Macungie. He is a 2002 graduate of Emmaus High School in Emmaus. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Marx was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence. His extracurricular activities included the Acoustical Engineering Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Penn State Robotics Club, the Penn State Tennis Club and the Penn State Fencing Club. He also participated in intramural volleyball, football and soccer. Following graduation, Marx will join Northrop Grumman in Baltimore.
Engineering science
Benjamin Ross will receive a bachelor of science degree in engineering science. He has chosen Akhlesh Lakhtakia, distinguished professor of engineering science and mechanics, to be his faculty escort. Ross is the son of Judy and Dan Ross of Allentown. He is a 2002 graduate of Parkland High School in Allentown. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Ross was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the John W. Oswald Award, the Paul Morrow Endowed Scholarship, the Richard McNitt Scholarship, the Gerald Boyles Scholarship and the Undergraduate Discovery Grant. His extracurricular activities included the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, the Golden Key International Honour Society, the Society of Engineering Science and the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society. Following graduation, Ross will spend the summer conducting research at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He will return to Penn State in the fall to pursue at master of science degree in engineering science.
Industrial engineering
Katrina Hoch will receive a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering. She has chosen Robert C. Voigt, professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, to be her faculty escort. Hoch is the daughter of Dori and Frank Hoch of Blandon. She is a 2002 graduate of Fleetwood Area High School in Fleetwood. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Hoch was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, the President Sparks Award, the President's Freshman Award, the Harold and Inge Marcus Scholarship and the Invitrogen Honors Scholarship. Her extracurricular activities included the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble, where she played the oboe. She was the winner of the 2003 Maximum PC/CompUSA Coolest Case Mod Contest. Her community activities included the Berks County Science Olympiad. Following graduation, Hoch will join FLSmidth as a customer services engineer.
Mechanical engineering
Jamie Ingram will receive a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He has chosen Matthew Mench, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, to be his faculty escort. Ingram is the son of Bonnie and Galen Ingram of Muncy. He is a 2002 graduate of Hughesville High School in Hughesville. Ingram was the recipient of the Evan Pugh Scholar Award and the Patrick J. Dixon Scholarship. His extracurricular activities included the Penn State Christian Student Fellowship, where he served as a Bible study leader; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, where he chaired the design competition committed; and Engineers for a Sustainable World. He also participated in intramural soccer, volleyball and football. Following graduation, Ingram will join MPR Associates in Alexandria, Va.
Nuclear engineering
Andrew S. Bielen will receive a bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering. He has chosen Yousry Azmy, professor of nuclear engineering, to be his faculty escort. Bielen is the son of Joyce and George Bielen of Danville. He is a 2002 graduate of Danville Area High School. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Bielen was the recipient of several awards and scholarships, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, the Astronaut Scholarship, the American Nuclear Society Angelo F. Bisesti Scholarship, the James Bricker Memorial Scholarship and the Merck Scholarship. His extracurricular activities included the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, the Alpha Nu Sigma Nuclear Engineering Honor Society and the American Nuclear Society, where he held the office of vice president. He served as a mentor for the Engineering Mentorship Program and worked as a teaching intern in nuclear engineering. He was a member of Penn State Catholic Campus Ministry, Men Seeking God. Following graduation, Bielen will pursue a graduate degree in nuclear engineering at Penn State.
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
Peter C. Vaiana will receive a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree, both in aerospace engineering. He has chosen Col. David B. Heininger, professor of aerospace studies, to be his faculty escort. Vaiana is the son of Doris and Jerry Vaiana of Fairfax Station, Va. He is a 2001 graduate of Lake Braddock High School in Burke, Va. A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Vaiana participated in the Penn State Air Force ROTC. His extracurricular activities included the Arnold Air Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Penn State Crew Team and THON, where he participated as a dancer. Following graduation, Vaiana will enter a pilot training program in Texas.