Six graduating students – the recipients of collegewide commencement awards – were celebrated Friday night during the Excellence in Student Leadership and Service Awards Ceremony, held in Pennsylvania College of Technology's Le Jeune Chef Restaurant.
"Our primary goal is to place our graduates in the most competitive position for long-term success," President Michael J. Reed said in welcoming the honorees and their well-wishers. "We worked you unapologetically hard to help you hit this milestone, and we hope you take the time to savor this moment."
The ensuing evening delivered much that was satisfying, and not just the meal prepared and served in the college's fine dining restaurant. Testimonials from faculty and staff painted remarkable portraits of the students' tenacity, advocacy, focus, selfless involvement on and off campus, dedication to their studies, and helpfulness to others.
"You have astonished us with your academic achievements, and amazed us with your contributions to your fellow classmates and community members," Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management and associate provost, told the students in introducing the awards. "The impact of your leadership is more far reaching than you are likely aware, and for these reasons, you stand out above your peers. By the end of the evening, I suspect that everyone here will share the same sense of pride that we all feel in this group of outstanding students."
Four awards were presented by Nesli Alp, vice president for academic affairs/provost, and two were presented by Reed. Shelley L. Moore, senior director for the Center for Career Design, also addressed the group, welcoming the soon-to-be grads into the 65,559-member Penn College Alumni Association and urging them to stay involved as alumni mentors and by returning to campus for various events.
"Your advocacy of Penn College in your personal and professional networks means a great deal to us," she said, "and will help encourage future Wildcats to consider an education with us – thereby continuing to add to the alumni family."
The collegewide awards and their Fall 2022 recipients are:
Lewis H. Bardo Memorial Award
Presented to graduates who exemplify the ideals of Lewis H. Bardo (devotion to duty, helpfulness to others, friendliness and high ideals)
Shaqira Sharae Rebecca Drummond, Williamsport, business administration: marketing concentration (introduced by Gayle M. Kielwein, coordinator of student engagement operations); and Alexander Trzecki, Galeton, accounting (introduced by Timothy J. Mallery, assistant director of residence life and housing operations).
Academic Vice President and Provost's Award
Presented for scholastic achievement and service
Rebecca Erin High, Willow Street, applied management (introduced by Kyle W. Kern, LEAP adviser); and Tyler J. Walling, Williamsport, network administration & engineering technology and information technology: network & user support. Walling was accompanied by David A. Becker and Allen Heimbach (from left in bottom photo), assistant professors of computer information technology
Board of Directors' Award
Presented for achievement under exceptional conditions
Samar Alquraish, Williamsport, nursing (introduced by Lizze R. Winters, coordinator of career programming)
President's Award
Presented for leadership and service to the college
Ashlee C. Felix-Taveras, Williamsport, human services & restorative justice (introduced by Meghan R. Delsite Coleman, assistant director of student engagement
(A complete list of all of the Fall 2022's commencement awards, epitomizing excellence throughout the college's academic programs, has also been posted to PCToday.
Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday