Samantha Scherrer will graduate on Aug. 10 and serve as the student marshal for the College of the Liberal Arts during summer commencement exercises at the Bryce Jordan Center. A Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, Scherrer will graduate with bachelor of science degrees in economics and marketing and a minor in English. She will be escorted by faculty marshal Pitchayapon Tantihkarnchana, assistant teaching professor of economics.
"My liberal arts education has equipped me with the ability to understand people and myself in a broader social context,” said Scherrer. “My courses fostered the development of my intellectual fearlessness by teaching me how to think, rather than what to think."
This summer, Scherrer studied abroad in The Netherlands through the Department of Sociology and Criminology. Her course work was focused around crimes against humanity, and she learned about the Netherland's progressive social programs to curtail human trafficking and prison reform.
“I chose the program more so than the location because I was interested in the subject matter,” said Scherrer. “I wanted to have these lessons and experiences because I think it makes you a better and more culturally aware human. After my time in The Netherlands, I definitely want to explore human rights work, whether it be with my career or through volunteering.”
During her time at Penn State, Scherrer was a research assistant for the Smeal College of Business Behavioral Research Lab, completed a Commercial Leadership Program internship at GE Healthcare, and was a finance associate at UPMC. She was also an account executive for The Daily Collegian and the community chair for the Schreyer Honors College Student Council. In addition, Scherrer was active in THON. She served as the president of Futures FTK and danced in THON 2018.
After graduation, Scherrer will begin a two-year rotational program with GE Healthcare's Commercial Leadership Program.