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.

Mark Luellen, director of alumni relations and development in the College of the Liberal Arts, is the winner of the 2014 McKay Donkin Award. Established in 1969 in honor of the late McKay Donkin, who served as vice president and treasurer of the University from 1957 to 1968, the award is presented to a full-time member of the faculty or staff or to a retiree who has contributed most to the “economic, physical, mental or social welfare of the faculty” of the University. The contribution should be for duties or services above and beyond the recipient’s regularly assigned duties.

Mark Brennan, professor of leadership and community development in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and Jane Reese, assistant coordinator of the Penn State Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, are recipients of the 2014 W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award. Established in 1995, the award recognizes faculty and staff members who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of the University. It is named for the late deputy vice president for international programs.

Each year, Penn State honors several members of its faculty and staff for the highest levels of academic excellence, outstanding leadership and meritorious service. The 2014 Faculty/Staff Award recipients — 33 outstanding University employees and one program — reach across campuses, colleges and administrative units and exemplify best practices and achievements among Penn Staters reflecting the University's mission of teaching, research and service.

LuAnn Demi, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program director at Penn State DuBois, is the recipient of the 2014 Undergraduate Program Leadership Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership benefiting a Penn State undergraduate degree program. Specifically, it recognizes those individuals who have major responsibilities for the delivery of undergraduate education within a unit and who are providing leadership that has transformed or revitalized the undergraduate program in some way.

Lynn Sebulsky, administrative support assistant in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of the Liberal Arts, has been honored with the 2014 Support Staff Award. The award recognizes the overall high-quality performance of a full-time member of the support staff with at least five years of active service in fulfilling the mission of the University and of his or her college or administrative unit. It also recognizes dedicated focus to customer service, commitment to quality improvement, outstanding skills and abilities, teamwork and professionalism.

Mary Beahm, senior director for recruitment and compensation in the Office of Human Resources, has been named the 2014 Staff Excellence Award winner. Established in 1993, the award recognizes the consistently outstanding performance of a staff member who has demonstrated and practiced the philosophy of continuous quality improvement, team spirit, managerial excellence in the performance of assigned duties and leadership in establishing a quality service orientation, so as to benefit his or her unit and the University.