Four University faculty members have received the 2014 Faculty Scholar Medals for Outstanding Achievement. They are Eric Feigelson, professor of astronomy and astrophysics and of statistics in the Eberly College of Science, the physical sciences medal; Eric Hayot, distinguished professor of comparative literature and Asian studies in the College of the Liberal Arts, the arts and humanities medal; Joan Richtsmeier, distinguished professor of anthropology in the College of the Liberal Arts, the life and health sciences medal, and Karl Zimmerer, professor of geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the social and behavioral sciences medal. Established in 1980, the award recognizes scholarly or creative excellence represented by a single contribution or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. A committee of peers reviews nominations and selects candidates.

Lynette Kvasny, associate professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology; Laura Rotunno, associate professor of English at Penn State Altoona, and Jennifer Wood, associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State New Kensington, have received the Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching and have been named 2014 Penn State Teaching Fellows. The Penn State Alumni Association, in conjunction with undergraduate and graduate governing bodies, established the award in 1985. It honors distinguished teaching and provides encouragement and incentive for excellence in teaching. Recipients are expected to share their talents and expertise with others throughout the University system during the year following the award presentation.

John Gamble Jr., distinguished professor of political science and international law at Penn State Behrend, and Martin Trethewey, Arthur L. Glenn Professor of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering, are recipients of the 2014 Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among tenured faculty who have been employed full time for at least five years with undergraduate teaching as a major portion of their duties. Milton S. Eisenhower, brother of former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as president of Penn State from 1950 to 1956.

The PROSPER Project, a collaboration between the College of Health and Human Development and Cooperative Extension, has received the 2013 Penn State Award for Community Engagement and Scholarship. The award recognizes a project that best exemplifies Penn State as an “engaged institution,” which the Kellogg Commission defines as an institution that has redesigned teaching, research, and extension and service functions to become even more sympathetically and productively involved with its communities.

Steve Sampsell, director of college relations and senior lecturer in journalism in the College of Communications, is the 2014 recipient of the Barash Award for Human Service. Created in 1975 by the family of the late Sy Barash, the award honors a full-time member of the faculty or staff or student body on the University Park campus who, apart from his or her regular duties, has contributed the most to human causes, public service activities and organizations, or the welfare of fellow humans.

Yuefeng Xie, professor of environmental engineering at Penn State Harrisburg, has received the 2014 Faculty Outreach Award. The award honors faculty who have positively and substantially affected individuals, organizations or communities through problem solving or development as a result of extending their scholarship.

Timothy Radio, Division of Undergraduate Studies programs coordinator at Penn State Mont Alto, and Robert Rioux, Friedrich G. Helfferich Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering, have been selected to receive the 2014 Penn State Excellence in Advising Award.
The award, established by the former Undergraduate Student Government’s Academic Assembly and sponsored by each college, annually honors one full-time professional adviser and one full-time faculty member from any Penn State location who have at least two years of advising experience. Selection criteria are based on excellence in general advising, academic and career guidance, enthusiasm and assistance in decision making, and goal setting.