Honor society induction celebrates trailblazers

The Penn College chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students held its charting ceremony and first induction of new members on Saturday in Penn's Inn. Forty-seven Penn College students were inducted as their family members and other guests looked on.

Kaysey L. Beury, coordinator of student success solutions and co-adviser of the chapter, welcomed the gathering and introduced Penn College President Michael J. Reed, who formally accepted the charter of the Lambda Xi Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha. Guest speaker for the event was Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Ashlie Crosson, a first-generation college student who is an English teacher at Mifflin County High School.

"Obviously an honor society induction is always special, but this afternoon is particularly meaningful because every single one of you represents something even larger than academic achievement — you represent resilience, determination and the strength to carve your own path forward," Crosson said. "I know this from experience. Just like all of you, I am a first-generation college graduate. I get what it feels like to step into places no one in your family has stepped into before. There’s pride, of course, but there’s also pressure — the pressure of carrying not just your own hopes but often your family’s hopes as well. And there's uncertainty, because you're figuring things out without a blueprint. ... But what I’ve learned — and what you are all living proof of — is that while being the first can be challenging, it also makes you a trailblazer. You're not just walking a path; you’re building one. And today, that path has led you to this deserving moment of recognition."

Crosson lauded the extensive range of the students' fields of study, noting they are all essential jobs. "They lead you to careers that are tangible, valuable and deeply needed. And they are professions that, frankly, I — and many others — depend on every day," she commented. "You are taking on roles that are critical to the way our communities function and thrive. You’re not just learning trades; you are becoming the people who will keep homes warm, heal the sick, care for families, design solutions and build the future. Your work is indispensable. It is vital. It is, quite literally, the backbone of our society."

The ceremony included the history and principles of Alpha Alpha Alpha ("Tri-Alpha" for short). Following an initiation pledge, students signed the chapter's registry and received certificates and pins. Graduating students also received their cords.

Chapter officers for the 2025-26 academic year, Savanna Duvall, president, and Teagan Harzinski, vice president, were recognized and offered brief closing comments, noting that next year, the organization will admit Penn College faculty and staff who are first-generation students.

The new inductees are:

Monique Anderson-Parker, human services & restorative justice; Rebecca Baker, emergency management & homeland security; Tori Baskin, nursing; Ellen Buckley, industrial design; Matthew Byrnes, engineering design technology; Katheryn Cline, human services & restorative justice; Kristy Creasy, nursing; Kylie Crowell, surgical technology; Diwash Dahal, network administration & engineering technology; Hailey Debrody, nursing; Savanna Duvall, physical therapist assistant; Kelli Eichenlaub, business administration; Summer Froseth, nursing; Elvis Garcia, heating, ventilation & air conditioning engineering technology; Andrew Graham, network administration & engineering technology; Teagan Harzinski, biomedical sciences; Connor Hecei, automotive technology management; automotive technology concentration; Alex Hernandez, construction management; Madison Jade Herriman, nursing; Michael Joseph Hoysock IV, architecture; Anika Huynh, nursing; Joshua Kafka, biomedical sciences; Victoria Kennedy, nursing; Caitlyn Kleinfelter, nursing; Nichole Lauver, surgical technology; Kenneth Lees, building construction technology; Lisa Lenig, healthcare leadership & administration; Timothy Maguschak, construction management; Kevin B. Mayson, building automation engineering technology; Sarah Miles, dental hygiene; Robert Miller, automation engineering technology: mechatronics; Lucus Mulhorn, software development & information management; Msara Paul, dental hygiene; Iyanna Porter, pre-physician assistant studies; Emmalee Preston, manufacturing engineering technology; Donald Rager, network administration & engineering technology; Lauren Rodland, human services & restorative justice; Abagail Root, physician assistant studies; Gage Rotz, network administration & engineering technology; Kaylee Rupert, biomedical sciences; Marley Showers, nursing; Conrad Smith, applied management; Zachary Tallman, welding & fabrication engineering technology; Ashley Torres, graphic design; Emma Turner, culinary arts technology; Yvonne Undahl, business management; and Jennifer Williams, nursing: nursing education concentration.