UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Holly Lamp came to Penn State thinking she would follow a different career path than the one her father had forged as an accountant. Accounting 211, however, altered the course she had plotted.
The Penn State Smeal College of Business named Lamp as the student marshal for fall 2016. She led the college’s procession of graduates during the Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Ceremony on Dec. 17 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Lamp graduated with a 3.98 GPA after earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Smeal’s Integrated Master of Accounting Program.
“When I first came to Smeal, I thought I was interested in being a marketing major. However, one of the Smeal required entry-to-major classes is Accounting 211. I really enjoyed that class and knew that was what I wanted to continue studying. Interestingly, my dad is an accountant, but he didn’t steer me into any particular major,” Lamp said.
Lamp has accepted a position in the tax department of PwC in New York.
The Syosset, New York, native has received the President’s Freshman Award, the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, and the G. Kenneth Nelson Scholarship. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and is an active member of the Penn State Equestrian Team.
“I have been horseback riding since I was 7 years old. Picking a school with a good equestrian team was extremely important for me. The team at Penn State is a great team and has been a fantastic experience for me,” she said.
“We all need to take breaks and balance our time. This was an important lesson for me to learn in college. Without breaks, we simply burn out. Horseback riding has always been necessary for me to clear my mind and return to my work in a more productive manner.”
Lamp will be escorted by faculty marshal Edward Babcock, instructor in accounting and the director of the Integrated MAcc Program.
“Ed Babcock has not only been an inspirational teacher to me, but also an inspirational mentor and adviser. His class was my first challenging experience in the MAcc program,” she said. “He taught me not only to work hard, but also that it is OK to take breaks. He is the main reason why I am where I am today.”