Recognized Excellence Awards
The Schreyer Honors College presents a handful of awards to Scholars each year to recognize their academic achievements and contributions to society.

Scholar Awards
The Paul Axt Prize
Awarded to a graduating Schreyer Scholar who exemplifies those attributes which Dr. Paul Axt, founding director of the University Scholars Program, fostered through the honors program: 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. Established by the University in recognition of Dr. Axt’s distinguished service.
2023
- Coltrane Conner '23 Eng
2022
- Jocelyn Krieger '22 BUS, LIB
2021
- Hope Bodenschatz '21 Lib, EMS
- Jocelyn Bodenschatz '21 Lib, EMS
2020
- Sapol Raadnui '20 EMS
- Daniel Zahn '20 Lib
2019
- Celeste Belknap '19 A&A, Lib
2018
- Alex Grigas '18 Sci
2017
- Sarah Newby '17 Sci
2016
- Nicholas Frazzette '16 Eng, Intercollege
2015
- Zoe Todd '15 Sci
2014
- John Groh '14 Sci
2013
- Reva Baylets '13 Lib
2012
- Sylvia Ranjeva '12 Eng, Lib
2011
- Kathryn Barber '11 Eng
2010
- Alyssa Todaro '10 HHD
2009
- Therese Jones '09 Sci, Lib, '09g Sci
2008
- John McManigle Jr. '08 Sci
2007
- Rachel Evans '07 Agr, Lib
2006
- Tiffany Bogich '06 Sci, '06g IDF
2005
- Thomas Essinger-Hileman '05 Sci, Lib
2004
- Danielle Perry '04 Sci
2003
- Alison Kepner '03 Com
2002
- Allison Carey '02 Agr
2001
- Maureen Gramaglia '01 Sci, Lib
2000
- Jane Rigby '00 Sci
1999
- David Dudzinski '99 Sci, Lib
1998
- Moriah Szpara '98 Sci
1997
- Jennifer Langer '97 EMS
1996
- Amy Kapp '96 Com
1995
- Michelle Dionne '95 Lib
1994
- Brian Pavlakovic '94 Eng, Lib, '94g Eng
1993
- Elena Wilken '93 Lib
1992
- Deborah Wells '92 Sci, '92g Sci
1991
- Anne Glosky '91 Lib
1990
- David Schweisguth '90 Sci
1989
- Mary McLean '89 Sci
1988
- Dorothy Kielkopf '88 Lib
1987
- Mary Sperry '87 Lib
The Douglas G. and Regina C. Evans Award for Research Achievement
Acknowledges a graduating Schreyer Scholar’s extraordinary research achievement, which is distinguished by high quality, outstanding intellectual value, creativity, commitment and significance. Endowed in 2003 by Scholar alumnus Douglas G. Evans ’86 Eng, ’93 MMgt and his wife, Regina C. Evans.
2023
- Wezi Mkandawire '23 Eng
2022
- Sean Melanson '22 EMS
2021
- Andrew Tamis '21 Eng, Sci
2020
- Matthew Aronson '20 BME
- Katelyn Kirchner '20 EMS
2019
- Michael Bichnevicus '19 Eng
2018
- David Kauffman '18 Eng
- Weiyu Luo '18 Sci
2017
- Danling Ye '17 Sci
2016
- Grace Lee '16 Sci
2015
- Arjun Agrawal '15 Sci
2014
- John Groh '14 Sci
2013
- Michael Howard '13 Eng
2012
- James Pander III '12 Erie
2011
- Lena Bradley '11 Sci
2010
- Rachel Urban '10 Eng
2009
- Matthew Gardner '09 Agr
2008
- Laura Hoch '08 Sci
2007
- Tina Lin '07 Sci
2006
- Ryan Lynch '06 Sci
2005
- Holly Hantz '05 HHD
2004
- Laura Tach '04 Lib
2003
- Nicholas Hartman '03 Sci
2002
- Nicholas Bond '02 Sci
2001
- Joseph Geddes III '01 Eng, '01g Eng
2000
- Rhiannon Weaver '00 Sci, Eng
The Robert W. "Bear" Koehler Award for Distinguished Service
A unique pair of awards recognizing two Schreyer Scholars enrolled in the Smeal College of Business; one is presented to a fourth-year student at graduation while the other is given in honor of the fourth-year recipient to a rising second-year or third-year student; both Scholars are selected for establishing a record of service in the Schreyer Honors College and to the University that exemplifies “Bear” Koehler’s lifetime of accomplishments and service while on the faculty and throughout his career at Penn State. Established by Scholar alumnus Dr. Noah P. Barsky ’92 Bus, ’92g Bus; Smeal College of Business faculty member Dr. Charles H. Smith, ’61g Bus ’68g Bus; and “Bear” Koehler’s friends, family, students and colleagues.
2023
- Ryan Banks '25 Eng
- Chimwemwe Mitole '23 Eng
2022
- Derek Deihl '24 Bus
- Benjamin Wackerman '22 Bus
2021
- Kristen Chomos '23 Bus
- Faith Gongaware '21 Bus, Lib
2020
- Rachel Hooker '20 Bus
2019
- Grant Hopkins '22 Bus
- Maria Lucchi '19 Bus
2018
- Elizabeth Weiland '21 Bus
- Emily Weiland '18 Bus
2017
- Rachel Hooker '20 Bus
- Andrew Murphy '17 Bus
2016
- Rachel Ebner '19 Bus
- Colleen Tygh '16 Bus
2015
- Grace Hall '18 Bus
- Eric Stoltz '15 Bus
2014
- Christina Kehoe '14 Bus
- Boyoung Kim '17 Bus, Lib
2013
- Justin Cook '13 Bus
- Emily Zheng '14 Bus
2012
- Charles Frazier '12 Bus, Lib, '12g Bus
- Qishuai (Sherry) Wang '14 Bus
2011
- Maegan Capuano '11 Bus
- Nicholas Fakelmann '14 Bus
- Sean Gillooly '13 Bus
2010
- Leum (Alex) Han '10 Bus
- Courtney Quisenberry '12 Bus
2009
- Robert Cilley '09 Bus
- Gary McMillen '12 Bus, Lib
2008
- Rishin Banker '11 Bus
- Jonathan Foley '08 Bus, Lib
2007
- Rachel Epperly '07 Bus
- Simran Grover '09 Bus
The Usharani C. and C. Channa Reddy Mission Award
Honors graduating Schreyer Scholars who best exemplify the mission of the college through academic excellence, globalization and civic engagement. Inaugurated in 2000 and endowed by faculty member Channa Reddy and his wife, Usharani Reddy.
2023
- Lillian Aronson '23 Lib, '23g SIA
- Luisina Kemanian-Leites '23 Lib
- Casey Sennett '23 Lib, '23g Lib
2022
- Nicholas Birosik '22 LIB, SCI
- Grace Lemke '22 SCI
- Abigial O'Connell '22 ENG
2021
- Siena Baker '21 Lib, Ag
- Erin Brown '21 Lib
- Autumn Deitrick '21 Eng
2020
- Milan Liu '20 Lib, EMS
- Guinevere Oliver '20 BMB
- Noelia Ortiz-Landazabal '20 LIB
2019
- Zachary Adams '19 SIA, Lib
- Karina Grullon-Perez '19 Sci
- Alison Kuznitz '19 Bus, Com
2018
- Odgeral Bat-Yeruult '18 Lib
- Alice Greider '18 Lib
- Adelynn Rabold '18 A&A
2017
- Andrea Biscoveanu '17 Sci, Lib
- Margaret Featherstone '17 Lib
2016
- Joshua Bram '16 Sci, Agr
2015
- Rhoda Moise '15 HHD
2014
- Christian Brendel '14 Berks
2013
- Amarpreet Ahluwalia '13 Sci
- Dana James '13 Agr
2012
- Shruthi Baskaran '12 Bus
- Rachel Dzombak '12 Eng
- Meryn Oswald '12 Lib
2011
- Hillary Darville '11 HHD
- Dana Ray '11 Lib
- Kathleen Smith '11 Lib
2010
- Adam Brown '10 Bus
- Farnaz Farhi '10 Sci, Lib
2009
- Stephanie Ohlson '09 HHD
- Herschel Thomas III '09 Lib, '09g Lib
2008
- Rebecca Funk '08 Bus, Lib, Sci
- Marian Hamilton '08 Lib
- Adena Schwartz '08 Lib
2007
- Rachel Epperly '07 Bus
- Nikki Hill '00 Sci, '07 HHD
- McKenzie Jones-Rounds '07 HHD
2006
- Victoria Killion '06 Lib
2005
- Nomi Deutch '05 Lib
- Matthew Lee '05 Sci, Lib
2004
- Lee Bassett '04 Sci
2003
- Annina Burns '03 HHD, Com
2002
- Amanda Wetzel '02 Lib
2001
- Kimberly Singer '01 Lib
Student Involvement Award
Recognizes the contributions of time and talent made by Schreyer Scholars throughout the course of their academic careers in support of initiatives for the Schreyer Honors College. Endowed in 2010 through contributions and pledges made by the Schreyer Honors College staff in support of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, staff continue to contribute to this award each year.
2022
- Krystal Leung '23 Eng
2021
- Adwait Chafale '22 Lib
2020
- A'dryanna Jenkins '21 Agr
2019
- Daniel Zahn '19 Lib
2018
- Tessa Sontheimer '18 Lib, Agr
2017
- Mark Frederick '18 Eng
2016
- Matthew Crager '17 Lib
2015
- Briana Adams '16 Lib
2014
- Cynthia Bober '15 Eng
2013
- Martha Herr '14 Edu
2012
- Rachel Chang '13 Sci
2011
- Matthew Kaslow '12 Bus
2010
- Thomas Novack '11 HHD
Scholar Alumni Society Future Leaders Scholarship
Members of the Scholar Alumni Society Board established this award to recognize Scholars at least in their third-year of study that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the Honors College, Penn State overall, and/or their local community.
2024
- Lia Gerboc '25 Sci
- Emmanuel Kraft '26 Lib
2023
- Katelyn Farrar '24 Agr
- Aryath Narayanamangalam '23 Eng
2022
- Luisina Kemanian-Leites '23 Lib
- Alysha Ulrich '24 EMS
2021
- Adwait Chafale '22 Lib
2020
- Andrew Pei '21 Eng
2019
- Hannah Lombardo '20 Sci
2018
- Abigail Kennedy '18 Lib
Neil C. Patel Changemaker Honors Scholarship
The Changemaker award serves as a tribute to Schreyer Scholar Neil Patel, who passed in 2021. Recipients of this award are chosen due to their embodiment of Neil’s motto of family, community, education, and opportunity as they make their impact on the world.
Nominate a Scholar2024
- Ryan Setzenfand '24 Bus
2023
- Juntae Rocker '23 Lib
2022
- Nora Van Horn '22 Lib