People who will shape the world: Schreyer Class of 2009
5/21/2009
During the Schreyer Honors College’s spring Medals Ceremony at Penn State’s University Park campus, the 351 graduating Scholars were recognized for the following accomplishments:
- 97% of the class graduated with a grade point average of 3.50 or higher
- 65% of the class graduated with a GPA of 3.80 or higher
- 3.82 is the average GPA of the class
- 77 graduated with two majors
- 11 graduated with three majors
- 19 graduated through the Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate program having earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees
- 11 Scholars were recognized by their respective academic colleges to serve as student marshals – Kate Elizabeth Ascah (Education), Simran Grover (Business), Katharine Kauffman (Arts & Architecture), Benjamin P. Karchner (Information Sciences & Technology), Jason Mitchell Kostelnik (Earth & Mineral Sciences and ROTC), Amanda Kreider (Liberal Arts), Christine M. Pennesi (Health & Human Development), Kristin V. Potts (Science), Brandon Unger (Engineering), and Clare Wagner (Agricultural Sciences)
2009 Paul Axt Prize recipient awarded to a graduating Scholar who best exemplifies “the passionate commitment to inquiry that promotes high scholarly achievement and the intellectual curiosity and daring that lead to the development and pursuit of wide-ranging interests”: Therese Jones, who earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in Astronomy and Astrophysics, a bachelor of science degree in Physics, a bachelor of arts degree in German, and a bachelor of science degree in International Studies
2009 Douglas G. and Regina C. Evans Award for Research Achievement recognizing “the graduating Schreyer Scholar who has accomplished the single, most extraordinary research achievement”: Matthew Gardner, who earned a bachelor of science degree and honors in Immunology and Infectious Disease from the College of Agricultural Sciences.
2009 Reddy Mission Award given to the graduating Schreyer Scholar “who best exemplifies the comprehensive mission of the college”: Stephanie Ohlson, who completed a bachelor of science degree and honors in Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Health and Human Development,and Herschel “Trey” Thomas III, who earned a bachelor of philosophy degree, a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science, a master of arts degree in Political Science, and graduated with honors in both Political Science and Information Sciences and Technology, having completed two separate honors theses.
Robert W. “Bear” Koehler Award for Distinguished Service named in memory of a Smeal College of Business faculty member honors “a graduating Schreyer Scholar earning a degree from the Smeal College of Business who best exemplifies the accomplishments of ‘Bear’ Koehler’s life of service at Penn State and who has achieved a distinguished record of service to the Schreyer Honors College and to Penn State”: Robert “R.J.” Cilley, who competed a major in Management with honors in Management
During the ceremony, Clay Calvert, the John and Ann Curley Professor of First Amendment Studies in the College of Communications, was presented with a Scholars medal in recognition of his years of service to the Schreyer Honors College as associate dean (2002-03) and interim dean (2005-06). Calvert will be joining the faculty of the University of Florida College of Journalism as the Joseph L. Brechner Eminent Scholar in Mass Communication later this year.
