Graduating Scholars reflect on their Penn State and Schreyer Honors College experiences
5/21/2009
You might want to pull out a world atlas when listening to Sean Lobar talk about his travels during his years as a Schreyer Scholar. On his way toward graduating as a double major with degrees in Life Sciences and International Studies, Sean studied abroad in Jordan and Peru and held internships with the U.S. State Department.
On Friday (May 15), Sean was one of 351 Schreyer Scholars recognized during the Schreyer Honors College’s Medals Ceremony at University Park. The ceremony precedes commencement exercises at Penn State’s University Park campus and awards the Scholars medal to students who have successfully completed the Honors College’s academic requirements. Among the college’s requirements is the completion of a thesis prior to graduation.
Below are just a few of the stories of members of the Schreyer Honors College’s spring 2009 graduating class.
Sean Lobar
Majors: Life Sciences and International Studies
Minors: Spanish and Middle Eastern Studies
Thesis: Jordan’s Water Shortage: Water Harvesting and Other Policy Approaches to Mitigate the Crisis
Next step: Duke University School of Law
“Building a global perspective” is one of the cornerstones of the Schreyer Honors College’s mission. Given Sean’s travels for study and research, that global perspective gave him a world-class introduction to issues spanning borders and cultures. His experiences abroad in the summer of 2008 formed the basis of his thesis on Jordan’s water crisis.
In addition to his travels, Sean feels that his fellow classmates had a great impact on his time here at Penn State.
“Everyone is constantly doing awesome things, which inspired me to work hard,” Sean said.
Ryan Limor
Majors: Finance and Economics
Thesis: The Impact of Soccer on Financial Markets
Next step: Bank of America
If you think the upheaval on Wall Street in the spring and fall of 2008 would have little impact on a college student in central Pennsylvania, think again. In 2008, as president of the Nittany Lion Fund, a $5 million investment fund managed by students in Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, Ryan learned first-hand about managing in difficult times.
But he says he also learned that the caliber of the people surrounding you, in good times and bad, is what leads to success. In looking ahead, Ryan said it is fellow students who pushed him to achieve, the sense of community he experienced in the Honors College and in Smeal, and his friends that he will miss after graduating.
When asked what his favorite memory was during his time at Penn State, Ryan responded by saying: “I cannot tell you what has been my favorite moment thus far but I can tell you what it's going to be. Walking on the stage and receiving my Schreyer medal has been something I've been looking forward to for a long time. It’s the acknowledgement of hard work and will be the culmination of everything I have achieved in my career at Penn State.”
Jonathan Lichkus
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Thesis: Assessing Health Disparities: Investigating the Relationship Between Perceived and Biological Stress Across Racial/Ethnic Groups
Next step: Boston University School of Medicine
For some students, a particular class or faculty member is the impetus for a career choice.
For Jonathan, it was a student organization. But this was no fluffy extracurricular club. GlobeMed, a medical relief organization whose Penn State chapter was founded by Schreyer Scholar alumna Liz Francis ’08, introduced Jonathan to his life’s work.
“Liz was the one who got me involved in GlobeMed, which introduced me to the subject of my future career,” Jonathon said, who studied abroad in South Africa in 2008.
Jonathan’s college experience was greatly influenced by living with fellow honors students in Atherton Hall.
“The friends I made in Atherton during my freshman year were mostly all in my major, and we remained friends throughout my college career,” he said. “We even formed a flag football team together.”
Jenna Shedd
Major: Health Policy and Administration
Thesis: Medical Tourism: Worthwhile Bargain or Risky Business?
Next step: University of Minnesota Law School
Talk about getting it right from the start. The way Jenna tells it, from day one, the Schreyer Honors College made Penn State feel much smaller and more personalized for her.
“The connections that I made with honors professors and advisers were invaluable,” she said. “They were not only mentors, but also helped me outside the classroom with internship endeavors.”
Jenna is excited about her future but notes: “I’m really going to miss the Penn State environment. Everyone just loves it here.”
Compiled by Casey Sharbaugh ’11 Com, College Relations Intern, Schreyer Honors College
