Leaders on Campus Honors Community
When you join the Schreyer Honors College, you join a community of students who are committed to making the most of their undergraduate experiences. To support this commitment, we offer a range of opportunities for leadership and civic and social engagement — all in the service of developing an honors community that goes far beyond stellar academics.
Penn State Housing Penn State Residence Life
A Place to Call Home Honors Housing
Schreyer Honors College housing is more than a residence hall. It's a community of Scholars who you will get to know in classes, study groups, and our many events and programs, which are held right in the halls. Our residence halls are a vibrant and fun place to live — part of the South Halls Residence Area and adjacent to the Pollock Halls Residence Area, the second largest first-year living environment.
Location & Dining
Atherton and Simmons are conveniently located on campus and near downtown State College. The residence halls are steps away from multiple on-campus and downtown dining options. They are also a short walk to fist-year classroom buildings, such as Thomas, Willard, and Sackett and close to campus amenities, such as the HUB-Robeson Center, the Penn State Libraries, and the White Building (Gym and Pool)
Community
Living in Atherton and Simmons means you are part of a lively community of Scholars and non-Scholars. Here are just a few things that make our community unique.
- Living with other Scholars makes meeting for homework or study groups convenient.
- Schreyer-sponsored events and Schreyer student organization events take place in the halls, so attending is easy.
- Because the halls are located close to classrooms, they never feel empty. You'll find students studying or socializing throughout the day in both buildings.
- In addition to having a Resident Assistant (RA), Scholars in Atherton and Simmons also have designated Scholar Assistants, who provide support, answer Schreyer-specific and general questions, host community-building events, and more.
Atherton Hall
Lively, welcoming, comfortable.
- 292 rooms
- 10 suites
- 9 Study Lounges
- Zombie Lounge (24-hour quiet study lounge)
- Event Space
- Renovated Community Space & Meeting Rooms
- Laundry
- Full Kitchen
- 2 Soundproof Music Practice Rooms & Piano
- Single User (Pod) Bathrooms
Simmons Hall
Relaxed, inviting, spacious.
- 416 rooms
- 36 GLOBE suites
- Multiple Study Lounges
- Collaboration Spaces
- Rec/Game Room
- 2 TV Lounges
- Laundry
- Full Kitchen
- Music Practice Room & Piano Lounge
- Break Access Housing
- Indoor Bike Storage
- Footwashing
The GLOBE
The GLOBE is a Schreyer Honors College Living-Learning Community located in Simmons Hall. Students who live on this floor have a particular interest in the “building a global perspective” part of the Schreyer mission. Residents participate in student-developed programming, including visiting speaker, cultural events, off-campus trips, and informal discussions of world issues.
Top Tips
You must select honors housing in your first year, and continue to select honors housing, in order to remain eligible to return.
About 85% of first-year Scholars live in Atherton or Simmons.
Scholars living in honors housing may choose to room with someone who is not a Scholar.
Many of the programs sponsored by the Honors College take place in Atherton or Simmons.
Community Builders Scholar Assistants
Scholar Assistants are upperclass Scholars living in the honors residence halls who are here to foster a sense of community among our students. They can help you identify academic advising resources, answer questions about your class schedule, and, most importantly, make you aware of a wide range of benefits afforded to Scholars. They also help to organize diverse out-of-classroom activities, fun and relaxing social programs, and interactive panel discussions with faculty and Scholar alumni.
Atherton Hall
Chijioke Okafor Biology Coatesville, PA
Hello Scholars! I am super excited to meet all of you and serve as your Scholar Assistant! My name is Chijioke Okafor and I am a rising sophomore from Coatesville, Pennsylvania. I am studying Biology on the premed track aspiring for a career in medicine while seeking an opportunity to engage in a college community.
Some of the activities that I am involved in outside of the classroom are Penn State Track and Field Club, Nittanyville, and Young Life. These activities allow me to bond with peers while competing in meets, camping out before football games, and learning more about my faith.
As far as my hobbies go, I love to run so you may see me going for a jog around campus. In addition to this, I also love to read books, watch movies, and hang out with friends.
As a Scholar Assistant and a second-year student, I want to make sure all students, both new and old, understand that they are supported and a part of a community in this large school. If you have any questions, never hesitate to stop by and ask me! I can't wait to meet all of you and offer any advice or tips and tricks! Again please feel free to reach out at cco5210@psu.edu.
Simmons Hall
Paige Rishel Public Relations & History Philipsburg, PA
My name is Paige Rishel, and I can't wait to meet you all! I am a rising sophomore from nearby Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, double majoring in Public Relations and History, with minors in Digital Media Trends and Analytics and Deaf and Hearing Studies.
I am currently a Strategic Communications Intern with the Schreyer Honors College and a Marketing Intern with the Penn State School of Theatre. I recently completed a Media Relations internship with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In addition to my internships, I run my own photography business. I am also heavily involved in student organizations, serving as the PR and Professional Development Chair of Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, Schreyer for Women, Schreyer Student Council, and the Penn State United Nations Organization (UNA-USA). To relax, I often watch documentaries with friends, go to Zumba workout classes, attend theatre performances, and listen to Beyoncé.
As a second-year student, I have plenty of advice on how to tackle your first year. You will probably see me often, usually with a camera in hand! You can find me in the computer lab developing photos, studying in the zombie lounge, or the Simmons lounge. I look forward to meeting you all, and I encourage you to reach out via email at par5574@psu.edu.
