UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Members of the largest graduating class in the history of the Schreyer Honors College received Scholars medals, awarded as a symbol of academic achievement, during the college’s Medals Ceremony on May 9. The ceremony was held in Eisenhower Auditorium at University Park.
The 465-member class was presented the medals during the ceremony presided over by Penn State President Rodney A. Erickson, Executive Vice President and Provost Nicholas P. Jones, and Schreyer Honors College Dean Christian M. M. Brady.
Hallmarks of the spring 2014 graduating class included:
-- A 3.82 class average grade-point average
-- 54 percent of the graduating class has a GPA of 3.82 or higher
-- 118 graduating Scholars pursued and completed two majors
-- Six graduating Scholars pursued and completed three majors
-- One graduating Scholar wrote two honors theses
-- 39 graduating Scholars earned both bachelor and master degrees through the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Degrees
Earlier in the day, during a reception and awards ceremony hosted by the Honors College, the college presented awards to the following graduating seniors:
-- John Groh, the recipient of the 2014 Paul Axt Prize, named for the University Scholars Program’s founding director, Paul Axt, and presented in recognition of passionate inquiry, scholarly achievement and intellectual curiosity, and the Douglas G. and Regina C. Evans Research Achievement Award, which recognizes extraordinary research achievement. Groh graduated with honors in physics and earned bachelor of science degrees in physics and mathematics from the Eberly College of Science;
-- Christian Brendel, the recipient of the 2014 Reddy Mission Award, which is presented to a graduating Scholar who exemplifies the mission of the college by achieving academic excellence, building a global perspective and developing as a leader. Brendel graduated from Penn State Berks with honors in communication arts and sciences and a bachelor of arts degree in communication arts and sciences; and
-- Christina Kehoe, the recipient of the 2014 Robert W. “Bear” Koehler Award, which honors a graduating Schreyer Scholar earning a degree from the Smeal College of Business whose record of service to the Schreyer Honors College and Penn State exemplifies the life of service to Penn State of the late Koehler, who was a member of the Smeal faculty for more than 40 years. Kehoe graduated with honors with a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the Smeal College of Business.