UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Varied interests and studies are often the hallmark of a liberal arts student. As this year’s German and Slavic languages and literatures student marshal, Celeste Belknap has created success in more specific areas of importance to her: music and Russian culture. Belknap will graduate on May 4 with bachelor of arts degrees in Russian and music with an emphasis in violin performance, along with a minor in psychology.
The Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar has made her Penn State education an in-depth experience. Though her majors relate to Russian and music, she has related her experiences outside the classroom to them, as well.
In summer 2017, Belknap visited the nation of her studies on a fellowship that took her to St. Petersburg. In summer 2018, Belknap received a grant that allowed her to perform research in Moscow. Using these experiences, she crafted an honors thesis on a Soviet-period composer.
“These experiences helped me gain a nuanced understanding of Russian life and will help me in my research on the challenges faced by Russian women composers in the era of Stalin,” Belknap said.
This research led Belknap to receive many honors and awards. The latest of these was the 2019 Paul Axt Award, which is given to a Schreyer Scholar who exemplifies the passionate commitment to inquiry that promotes high scholarly achievement and the intellectual curiosity and daring that lead to the development and pursuit of wide-ranging interests.
Belknap also received the 2018-19 Marjorie Jane Brewster Memorial Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship given by the Penn State School of Music. This scholarship supports one year of graduate study at any accredited institution of higher learning or conservatory of the student’s choice. Belknap will spend the coming year as a master of arts student in Penn State’s School of Music after spending the summer in Moscow, where she will conduct archival research.
Though her field of study is extremely focused, Belknap also applied herself in varied organizations throughout her time at Penn State. She belonged to the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, danced in THON, served on the executive board of her THON organization, and served as instrumental ambassador for the Performing Arts Council.
All of these rounded out Belknap’s experience and shaped her as a person and as a student. In these experiences, Belknap found an opportunity to challenge herself and expand her point of view.
When asked her advice for other undergraduate students, Belknap said, “Take full advantage of your liberal arts education. Don’t just accept what you are told. Learn everything you can, challenge yourself to consider different viewpoints, and feel free to interpret established ideas from your own fresh perspective.”
In her future, Belknap looks forward to translating both her perspective and specific knowledge to further explore the passions she has found as an undergraduate student.
This is the fourth in a series of stories on the 22 student marshals representing the College of the Liberal Arts at the spring 2019 commencement ceremony.