UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six accomplished seniors will celebrate the culmination of their collegiate involvement and success by representing the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications as student marshals for the Class of 2020.
The honorees include one overall student marshal, and one for each of the Bellisario College’s five majors.
Overall: Talia Chiariello
Chiariello will graduate with a degree in journalism and a minor in digital media trends and analytics.
Her broadcasting experience is vast, including her role as producer and host of “Talia Talks,” her own talk show on The Lion 90.7FM, where she discusses a wide variety of topics with a wider variety of people.
Chiariello, a Long Island native, has most recently completed internships with “The Jenny McCarthy Show” and Hits 1 in Hollywood for SiriusXM and Pandora, following a previous internship with ABC 7 News in New York City.
On campus, she has worked on “Centre County Report,” the award-winning student newscast, as a news anchor for PSNtv and as a host for 46LIVE, the livestream of the Penn State Dance Marathon. She has additional experience as a content creator for State of Mind and anchor and writer for CommRadio.
Chiariello is a Bunton-Waller Fellow, Provost Scholarship Recipient and an Evan Pugh Scholar Award Recipient.
Advertising/Public Relations: Anthony Colucci
Colucci, a Schreyer Honors Scholar and Paterno Fellow, will also graduate with a degree in psychology.
Colucci served as managing editor for Onward State, where his work has been cited by ESPN, Fox News, USA Today and Yahoo! Sports. He previously held roles as news editor and social media manager for the online publication.
He has gained valuable public relations experience through internships with IBM, Signify, and Munich Reinsurance America Inc. Colucci is also the founder, serving as a freelance writer and social media consultant, for Anjo Communications.
Colucci has been recognized as a recipient of the President’s Freshman Award, winner of the Go Freelance! Challenge and is the recipient of a full academic scholarship through the D&J Sherwin Professorship from the College of the Liberal Arts. He also served on the Bellisario College’s Student Leadership Cabinet.
Colucci has accepted a full-time position after commencement working with the communications team at IBM, where he completed an internship.
Film-Video: Katie Gergel
Gergel is a Schreyer Honors Scholar and one of 10 inaugural Bellisario Fellows. She will also graduate with a degree in political science and a minor in Spanish.
During her time at Penn State, Gergel has completed internships in digital marketing with Discovery Communications and in digital media production for the Smithsonian Channel. She also participated in the Hollywood Program, where she was a creative marketing intern for Disney Channels Worldwide at Disney-ABC Television Group.
Gergel’s campus experiences have included work as a videographer, editor and producer for CommAgency, and a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy.
She has been recognized as a recipient of the President’s Freshman Award and a distinguished finalist for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. She also served as one of three student representatives on the Bellisario College’s Alumni Society Board.
Journalism: Allison Rambler
Rambler, a photojournalist and Evan Pugh Scholar, will also graduate with a minor in theatre.
Rambler’s involvement includes serving as a member of the photography team for Night to Shine, a prom event for young adults with special needs, and as a staff writer and photographer for Onward State and Panorama. Additionally, she was a social media chair for PSNtv.
Her communications experience spans beyond just photography, with internships in content marketing for Hayman Studio and social media marketing for JDK Group Catering and Events. For two years she was also a contributing editor and critic for BroadwayWorld.com’s central Pennsylvania region.
Rambler served as the historian for No Refund Theatre on campus and is a recipient of the President’s Freshman Award.
Media Studies: Leah Kochenour
Kochenour will also graduate with a degree in Spanish.
A senior project manager for The Daily Collegian, Kochenour’s experience includes roles as assistant creative manager and creative specialist for the student-run publication. In addition to her extracurricular involvement, she has served as a teaching assistant for three courses — a first-year seminar about building your media brand, introduction to telecommunications, and introductory psychology.
Kochenour completed a social media and marketing internship with Estadt Psychological services. She studied abroad in Madrid in summer 2019.
Telecommunications: Ethan Zerbe
Zerbe, a Schreyer Honors Scholar, will also graduate with a minor in digital media trends and analytics.
During his time on campus, Zerbe worked for Penn State Athletics as a director, technical director, camera operator and graphics operator. He was also senior technical director of 46LIVE and a member of CommAgency’s live streaming division.
Zerbe was director and technical director for “Centre County Report” and served as secretary of the Telecommunications Club. Off campus, he completed internships at QVC and Little League International.
He is also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, orders from the state government, and recommendations from global public health organizations, Penn State will hold its spring 2020 commencement ceremony via livestream on May 9. The virtual ceremony will recognize all Penn State undergraduate students and all graduate students in the Penn State Graduate School.