Academics

Graduates celebrated at Penn State DuBois commencement

Joyce Fairman congratulated 2019 graduates during her commencement address on Friday evening, May 3, at Penn State DuBois. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

DUBOIS, Pa. — Members of the Penn State DuBois class of 2019 officially joined the Penn State alumni community on Friday evening, May 3, as commencement ceremonies were celebrated in the campus gymnasium. Chancellor M. Scott McBride presided over the ceremonies, with Professor Arshad Khan serving as faculty marshal. Special guest speaker Joyce Fairman provided the commencement address. Music for the ceremony was provided by the Penn State School of Music Graduate Brass Quintet. Academic achievement awards were presented to Makayla Whaling, for associate degrees, and to Kyle Bear, for baccalaureate degrees.

Fairman, a philanthropist, businesswoman and community leader, is a longtime supporter of Penn State DuBois. She serves as a member of the Penn State DuBois advisory board, the DuBois Educational Foundation, and co-chairs the campus’ current capital campaign, "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence." With her support, in 2013 the Fairman Family Foundation largely funded the renovation of the Alan R. Fairman House at Penn State DuBois, named in honor of Joyce’s late husband, giving the former residential home new life as a center for the campus Honors Scholars Program. The Fairman Family Foundation also has sponsored the Best Robotics competition for middle and high school students, which is held on campus each fall, and established the Fairman Family Trustee Scholarship at Penn State DuBois.

With her high level of involvement at Penn State DuBois, Fairman knows well the challenges students can face while earning a degree. 

“I would like to congratulate all of you on an extraordinary accomplishment,” Fairman told the graduates during her address. “Many of you had full- or part-time jobs while attending school. Or took care of families. Or played collegiate sports. All of you worked very hard for this day. A lot of sacrifices economically and socially.”

Fairman went on to share personal stories about herself, her late husband, and life. She shared insight on the importance of support like she received as an undergraduate, and urged the class of 2019 to remember those that supported them.

“I was very grateful for the grants and scholarships I received. They made the difference in my life and allowed me to graduate,” Fairman said. “Last year I attended the Penn State DuBois scholarship luncheon and heard directly from the students who received my family’s scholarship and what a difference it made to their lives. Powerful stuff. When you are able, you can give back to your high school, or your university and mentor students, or help financially support students so they can achieve their educational goals.”

In addition to her philanthropy and involvement at Penn State DuBois, Fairman also serves as a member of the Penn Highlands DuBois Board of Directors, and the Council of Trustees for Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she is treasurer and chair of the Enrollment Management Committee. Additionally, she is treasurer of the St. Catherine Church Fundraising Committee, and treasurer of the Association of Women Investors Organization. Formerly she served as a board member for the DuBois Area YMCA, DuBois United Way, and the DuBois Public Library.

Fairman earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she also earned an MBA. Fairman is self-employed in the oil and gas production industry as part owner of Fairman Corp., works as the accounting manager for DuBois Dermatology and Cosmetics, and serves as president of the board of the Fairman Family Foundation. Previously she served for 20 years as accounting and systems manager at Atlas Pressed Metals. She has two children, Derek Fairman, and wife Lindsay; and Lisa Fairman Pfingstler, and husband Jude.  She has seven grandchildren: Tyler, Reed, Avery, Zachary, Emma, Xavier and Jordan.

Penn State DuBois' 2019 graduates are:

Graduate School - Black School of Business

Degree of Master of Administration

Business Administration

  • Raymond Serafini, Brockway

University College

Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Administration of Justice

  • Melody Young, Duke Center

Degree of Bachelor of Science

Administration of Justice

  • Jamie Long, Brookville

 Business

  • Caleb Dugan, Lanse
  • Brandon Gettig, Bellefonte
  • Shane Haberberger, Saint Marys
  • Taylor Hepler, Falls Creek
  • Daniel Hinton, Saint Marys
  • Alexander Jaggi, DuBois
  • Jacob McLaughlin*, Brookville
  • Jamie Turner, Luthersburg
  • Kristen Williams, Sugar Grove

Human Development and Family Studies

  • Austin Amacher*, Ridgway
  • Garrett Brown, DuBois
  • Sierra Hanes (Cum Laude), Grampian
  • Bryce Hanley, Beech Creek
  • Raven Ingram, Brookville
  • Samantha Miller, Woodland
  • Lamanda Perry, Clearfield
  • Thomas Plummer*, Shippenville
  • Olivia Reitz*, Summerville
  • Jodalynn Warholak*, Clearfield

Information Sciences and Technology

  • Ethan Clark, Grampian
  • Kevin Decker, Curwensville
  • Jeffrey Gasbarre, DuBois
  • Matthew Roy, DuBois

College of Engineering

Degree of Bachelor of Engineering

Engineering

  • Kyle Bear (Cum Laude), DuBois
  • Brandon Cressley, Rochester Mills
  • Andrew Serafini, Brockway
  • Tyler Young, Punxsutawney

University College

Degree of Associate in Arts

Letters, Arts and Sciences

  • Zachary Shifter, DuBois

Degree of Associate in Science

Business Administration

  • Natalie Dewyer (Cum Laude), DuBois
  • Zachary Pomeroy (Cum Laude), DuBois
  • Stephen Rutherford, DuBois
  • Garret Weaver, Punxsutawney

Human Development and Family Studies

  • Cody McClintick, Falls Creek

Information Sciences and Technology

  • Zachary Jones, Anita
  • Hannah Pletcher, DuBois

Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Kaylee Beck, Brockway
  • Ryan Blochberger, Brookville
  • Jenessa Ceprish, Allport
  • Nathan Halowell, Falls Creek
  • Dana Huber (Summa Cum Laude), Sprankle Mills
  • Rebecca Maine (Magna Cum Laude), Pittsburgh
  • Caleb Smith, Punxsutawney
  • Destinee Smith, Ridgway

College of Agricultural Sciences

Degree of Associate in Science

Wildlife Technology

  • Steven Abrahamson, Wilcox
  • Katelyn Blystone, Smicksburg
  • Hope Bridge, Punxsutawney
  • Emily Byron, Genesee
  • Casey Grove, Williamsburg
  • Nicholas Harris, Phoenixville
  • Jeremiah Irvin, Johnstown
  • Tyler Kauffman, Mahaffey
  • Lance Pennington, Anita
  • Morgan Silvis, Tionesta
  • Ryan Spencer, Clearfield
  • Makayla Whaling (Summa Cum Laude), Luthersburg
  • Paul Wheaton, Sykesville
  • Ryan Witham, Ebensburg
  • Jacob Wolfe, Sunburya

College of Engineering

Degree of Associate in Engineering Technology

Mechanical Engineering Technology

  • Matthew Agosti, Penfield
  • William Brumbaugh, Adrian
  • Brandon Cressley*, Rochester Mills
  • Kristal Gross, Rew
  • Michael Kessler, Rimersburg
  • Dylan Kriner (Cum Laude), DuBois
  • Nathaniel McGary, Big Run
  • Joseph Pyke, Grampian
  • Bernard Rauckhorst, Grampian
  • Tyler Young*, Punxsutawney

*Indicates summer graduate

Last Updated May 6, 2019