Penn College News

Praiseworthy students, groups honored at annual event

Monday, April 22, 2019

The 2018-19 Student Activities Awards, presented this past week in the Keystone Dining Room, honored Penn College students, their faculty/staff mentors and the campus organizations that thrive through their involvement.


Among the evening's recipients:


Student Leader of the Year
Natascha G. Santaella


New Student Leader of the Year
Serena V. Bergeron


Adviser of the Year
Carl J. Bower Jr., Horticulture Technicians Association


Outstanding Student Organization of the Year
Baja SAE
Penn College Construction Association


Most Improved Student Organization of the Year
Wildcat Online Gaming Association


Outstanding Senator of the Year
Jordan M. Scott, School of Construction & Design Technologies


Student Leader Committed to Social Justice and Diversity
Adri S. Lee


Outstanding Community Service Program of the Year
Way's Garden Scarecrows, Horticulture Technicians Association


Outstanding Philanthropy of the Year
Taco Tuesday, Omega Delta Sigma Fraternity


Outstanding Program of the Year
BJ's (Ben & Jerry's) in Your PJs
Students Tasia A. Werkmeister and Adri S. Lee


New Program of the Year
5K Silkie Run, Omega Delta Sigma Fraternity


Fraternity Member of the Year
Emily J. Jones, Omega Delta Sigma Fraternity


Fraternity New Member of the Year
Duncan C. McSain, Phi Mu Delta Fraternity


Fraternity Academic Achievement Award
Omega Delta Sigma Fraternity


Fraternity Scholar of the Year
Emily J. Jones, Omega Delta Sigma Fraternity


Penn College Community Betterment Program of the Year
Students Speak
Lynaugh H. Bobst, Ethan M. McKenzie, Brianna E. Milden, Jennifer Nicholson, Dessa D. Valisno and Alane D. Zellars-Howard


Student Leader Legacy Scholarship Recipients
Joseph F. DiBucci and Nathaniel H. Lyon


Sworn in as the 2019-20 Student Government Association Executive Board were:


Patrick C. Ferguson, president
Michael E. Highland, executive vice president
Ryan P. Farabaugh, vice president of internal relations
Katherine A. "Kat" Downes, vice president of public relations
David Eaton, vice president of financial affairs


– Photos by J.J. Boettcher, student photographer



... who marked the occasion in the company of his Phi Mu Delta brethren and (at left) adviser Brian J. Schurr, of Counseling Services.

... who marked the occasion in the company of his Phi Mu Delta brethren and (at left) adviser Brian J. Schurr, of Counseling Services.

Another of the college's active student groups, United Campus Ministry, takes its turn in the spotlight.

Another of the college's active student groups, United Campus Ministry, takes its turn in the spotlight.

Adviser Thomas E. Ask (left), professor of industrial design,  enjoys a yearend get-together with members of the Society of Inventors and Mad Scientists.

Adviser Thomas E. Ask (left), professor of industrial design, enjoys a yearend get-together with members of the Society of Inventors and Mad Scientists.

A splash of school color accents the tabletop

A splash of school color accents the tabletop

One of the newest campus organizations is the Penn College Pep Band, whose members spread school spirit through music.

One of the newest campus organizations is the Penn College Pep Band, whose members spread school spirit through music.

Capturing just one of the night's photoworthy moments

Capturing just one of the night's photoworthy moments

Representing the veterans fraternity, automotive student Andrew Placencia accepts one of the group's numerous awards from Sammie L. Davis (left), coordinator of diversity and cultural life, and Allison A. Bressler, associate director of student activities for new student program leadership.

Representing the veterans fraternity, automotive student Andrew Placencia accepts one of the group's numerous awards from Sammie L. Davis (left), coordinator of diversity and cultural life, and Allison A. Bressler, associate director of student activities for new student program leadership.

A full house applauds a campus brimming with pride and accomplishment.

A full house applauds a campus brimming with pride and accomplishment.

Omega Delta Sigma's Chet Beaver, last year's award-winning adviser, returns for Wednesday's festivities.

Omega Delta Sigma's Chet Beaver, last year's award-winning adviser, returns for Wednesday's festivities.

WOGA president Hallie S. Harriman (left), an information technology sciences-gaming and simulation major from Mifflinburg, receives an award from Shannon Skaluba, student organization and information center specialist.

WOGA president Hallie S. Harriman (left), an information technology sciences-gaming and simulation major from Mifflinburg, receives an award from Shannon Skaluba, student organization and information center specialist.

Anthony J. Pace, director of student activities, presented a number of certificates to involved campus leaders, including dental hygiene student Alaina M. Murren, of Aspers.

Anthony J. Pace, director of student activities, presented a number of certificates to involved campus leaders, including dental hygiene student Alaina M. Murren, of Aspers.

The passing of the SGA gavel from leader Everett B. Appleby (left) to Ferguson ...

The passing of the SGA gavel from leader Everett B. Appleby (left) to Ferguson ...

Student organizations were encouraged to have photos taken in front of the college's

Student organizations were encouraged to have photos taken in front of the college's "step and repeat" banners, an invitation readily accepted by the Women in Construction club. Soon-to-graduate construction management majors Juliann M. Reazor (left), of Schuylkill Haven, who was SGA's December/January "Student of the Month," and Lauren S. Herr, of Lititz, are joined by Carol A. Lugg, dean of construction and design technologies.

DiBucci accepts one of the banquet's two scholarship awards ...

DiBucci accepts one of the banquet's two scholarship awards ...

The Horticulture Technicians Association picked up community service kudos for its Halloween enhancements to Way's Garden. Faculty adviser Carl J. Bower Jr., who was not present, was also among the event's honorees.

The Horticulture Technicians Association picked up community service kudos for its Halloween enhancements to Way's Garden. Faculty adviser Carl J. Bower Jr., who was not present, was also among the event's honorees.

Some of the principals in

Some of the principals in "Students Speak!" in which four women shared empowering stories of personal triumph, commemorate their recognition for "community betterment."

Lee, of Williamsport, does double duty as the student leader most

Lee, of Williamsport, does double duty as the student leader most "Committed to Social Justice and Diversity" ...

... and (with Werkmeister) as the architects of a winning ice-cream social program. Lee majors in landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis; Werkmeister, of Altoona, is enrolled in health arts: practical nursing emphasis.

... and (with Werkmeister) as the architects of a winning ice-cream social program. Lee majors in landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis; Werkmeister, of Altoona, is enrolled in health arts: practical nursing emphasis.

Omega Delta Sigma was already well-represented by accounting student Emily J. Jones' selection as Fraternity Member of the Year and Fraternity Scholar of the Year ...

Omega Delta Sigma was already well-represented by accounting student Emily J. Jones' selection as Fraternity Member of the Year and Fraternity Scholar of the Year ...

... but the veterans organization also impressively picked up plaques for outstanding philanthropy, new program and overall academic achievement.

... but the veterans organization also impressively picked up plaques for outstanding philanthropy, new program and overall academic achievement.

Greek Life's new member of the year is Duncan C. McSain, a web and interactive media major from Westminster ...

Greek Life's new member of the year is Duncan C. McSain, a web and interactive media major from Westminster ...

Wildcat Online Gaming Association members show off their

Wildcat Online Gaming Association members show off their "most improved" plaque.

Students and advisers of 2018-19's outstanding organizations, Baja SAE and the Penn College Construction Association, stand for a joint memento.

Students and advisers of 2018-19's outstanding organizations, Baja SAE and the Penn College Construction Association, stand for a joint memento.

SGA leaders acknowledge another academic year of advocacy.

SGA leaders acknowledge another academic year of advocacy.

Chosen as the New Student Leader of the Year, Bergeron is an automotive technology management: collision repair concentration major from Lansdale.

Chosen as the New Student Leader of the Year, Bergeron is an automotive technology management: collision repair concentration major from Lansdale.

... and joins fellow members of the ConCreate Design Club that he founded.

... and joins fellow members of the ConCreate Design Club that he founded.

A 2018 baking and pastry arts alumna, Sataella – Student Leader of the Year – is an applied management student from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

A 2018 baking and pastry arts alumna, Sataella – Student Leader of the Year – is an applied management student from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

... sets up this presidential portrait.

... sets up this presidential portrait.

Jordan M. Scott, the year's top Student Government Association senator, represents the School of Construction & Design Technologies.

Jordan M. Scott, the year's top Student Government Association senator, represents the School of Construction & Design Technologies.

This year's SGA Executive Board poses for a parting (snap)shot.

This year's SGA Executive Board poses for a parting (snap)shot.

SGA luminaries team up with Student Activities employees.

SGA luminaries team up with Student Activities employees.

Representatives of the Wildcat Events Board – including adviser Trisha M. Temple, coordinator of student activities programming –  help celebrate the organization's 20th-anniversary year.

Representatives of the Wildcat Events Board – including adviser Trisha M. Temple, coordinator of student activities programming – help celebrate the organization's 20th-anniversary year.

The Wildcat logo attractively adorns the centerpiece at each table.

The Wildcat logo attractively adorns the centerpiece at each table.

Attendees sample the tasty offerings.

Attendees sample the tasty offerings.