Lead & Engage Student Programs
The Schreyer Honors College is serious about offering a great academic experience to our Scholars, but you should also expect to learn a ton outside the classroom. From participating in Scholar-led organizations to volunteering at our signature events, we know you will find a way to make a difference in the Honors College and campus communities.
Browse Student Organizations
Yearly Traditions Signature Programs
Held Each January Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture
The Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture was endowed by family and friends to honor the memory of Mark Luchinsky, a University Scholar and biochemistry major who died on January 18, 1995, at age 20.
Through this lecture series, the community gathers to honor Mark's memory through support of a speaker who exemplifies intellectual honesty, personal integrity, and joy in learning.
2023 Luchinsky Lecture Be True to Yourself: Your Story Matters Featuring Elizabeth Nyamayaro
- Monday, January 23, 2023
- 7:00 - 8:00 PM
- The State Theatre
Schreyer Honors College is honored to host Elizabeth Nyamayaro, an award-winning humanitarian and United Nations (UN) Special Advisor for the World Food Programme. In presentation, Be True to Yourself: Your Story Matters, Elizabeth will share how she questioned everything about herself when she was growing up; was her skin too dark, her hair too curly, her accent too thick, her dreams too ambitious. She came to realize that the qualities that were once a source of insecurity are in fact some of her greatest strengths. Her talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.
This event is free and open to the public. A free ticket is required for admission.
Born in Zimbabwe, Elizabeth has worked at the forefront of global development for over two decades, improving the lives of underserved populations. She has been instrumental in fighting global inequalities, advancing social justice, and challenging the status quo to accelerate women’s rights around the world through her leadership roles at the World Bank, World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and UN Women.
Elizabeth is the mastermind behind HeForShe, a United Nations global solidarity movement for gender equality that took the world by storm, generating more than 1.2 billion conversations on social media and galvanizing men in every single country in the world in just five days. Elizabeth is a prominent thought-leader and has engaged at global forums such as World Economic Forum in Davos, Cannes Film Festival, Skoll World Forum, Harvard, Oxford, the British Parliament, among others. Her TED Talk garnered more than 1 million views in its first weeks.
Named by Female Lead in 2021 as one of "67 Women Changing the World," and as Apolitico’s "100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy" in 2018 and 2019, Elizabeth has been touted by The New York Times as “one of only two women transforming Davos.” She has been featured in Vogue, Fast Company, Wired, Fortune, Elle, BBC, and CNN. She has also served as a Glass Lions jury at Cannes Lions and has received the PR Council Trailblazer Award for Social Impact and the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Global Women’s Rights Award. A Political Scientist by training, Elizabeth holds a masters of science in politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and leadership education from the Harvard Business School. She wrote a memoir about her life and experiences in, I Am A Girl From Africa.
This event is cosponsored by the University Park Allocation Committee and Presidential Leadership Academy.
Past Lectures
2022 John Quiñones Author, Broadcast Journalist, Motivational Speaker, and host of ABC's What Would You Do?
2021 Leland Melvin Engineer, Educator, former NASA Astronaut, former NFL wide receiver
2020 Jeanine Staples Professor of Education and African American Studies
2019 Peter Hudson Willaman Professor of Biology
2018 John Kaag Author and Professor of Philosophy, UMass Lowell
2017 Susan Russell Associate Professor of Theatre & 2014-15 Laureate, Penn State
2016 Marke Dickinson Marketing Professional
2015 Christian M. M. Brady Former Dean, Schreyer Honors College, Penn State
2013 Casimer DeCusatis CTO, IBM System Networking & Strategic Alliances
2012 Sean Misko Special Adviser to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
2012 Farnoosh Torabi Money Coach, Author, Financial News Correspondent
2011 Jill Jayne Rock Star Nutritionist
2010 Marybeth Long Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense
2009 David Han Associate Professor of Surgery & Radiology, Penn State College of Medicine / Program Director of the Vascular Surgery Fellowship, Penn State Hershey Medical Center
2008 Meena Bose Peter S. Kalikow Chair in Presidential Studies, Hofstra University
2007 Peter Klein Professor / Former CBS News Producer
2006 Richard Jewell & L. Lin Wood Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
2005 Jeffrey Ratner Chief of Staff, Mount Nittany Medical Center
2004 David Riley II Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering, Penn State
2003 Douglas Evans CEO, Kensey Nash, Inc.
2002 Wendy Kopp Founder & President, Teach for America
2001 Alan Block Professor of Administration of Justice & Jewish Studies
2000 Joe Paterno Legendary Head Football Coach, Penn State
1999 James Pawelczyk Assistant Professor of Physiology & Kinesiology / Payload Specialist, NASA's 1998 Neurolab Mission
1998 John Lowe Professor of Chemistry
1997 Kurt Angle 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, Wrestling
1996 Harris Wofford CEO, Corporation for National Service / Former U.S. Senator
About Mark Luchinsky
The Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture Series was created in 1996 to remember and honor his character and contributions to life as a son, as an undergraduate, and, most prominently, as a young man whose life held much promise.
Mark Allan Luchinsky passed away on January 18, 1995, at the age of 20.
Mark graduated first in his class in 1992 from Thomas Jefferson High School in Pittsburgh. He then became a University Scholar at Penn State, majoring in biochemistry. He was also a member of the Penn State Golden Key Society and the Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Honor Society.
Although he was a science student, Mark loved the study of all subjects. He loved the classics, sports, poetry, history, geography, and sports. Even at his young age, he was known for intellectual honesty and personal integrity.
We honor Mark Luchinsky, his family, and his friends with this lecture series. He was truly "A light that shone briefly, but ever so brightly."
Held Each September Founders Day
Founders Day is an annual commemoration of the College's history and a celebration of its promise for the future.
Join us each September for prizes, entertainment, and the traditional Founders Day cake and Scholar's Chip ice cream!
This signature event also features the presentation of the Scholar Involvement Award. This award was created in 2009 to recognize and honor Schreyer Scholars who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to the College and its mission during their undergraduate career. The College's staff and administrators have made and continue to make gifts to support this endowed fund.
Programs Throughout the Year Distinguished Honors Faculty Program (DHFP)
The Distinguished Honors Faculty Program (DHFP) is an interactive, innovative program that places an emphasis on information sharing and connecting with some of the most distinguished faculty at Penn State.
Sometimes over dinner conversations or during field trips, and always in small-group discussions on timely topics, Distinguished Honors Faculty and students gather to share experiences and perspectives that may venture beyond the labels and definition of an academic major or course.
This is a program deeply rooted in the belief that when you create small group learning experiences that are relaxed, well-conceived, and special, students and faculty connect with each other in profound ways.
View DHFP Faculty & Programs2022-23 Distinguished Honors Faculty
Amy Carney Associate Professor of History, Penn State Behrend The Holocaust
While browsing through The Guardian website, Dr. Carney came across the following headline: “Nearly two-thirds of US young adults unaware 6m Jews killed in the Holocaust.” After reading the article and the survey conducted by the Jewish Claims Conference, which the article was based on, Dr. Carney’s desire to help students understand what happened as well as why and how it happened increased. As part of the DHFP Program, she will invite Holocaust survivors, scholars, rabbi’s and members of the community for fireside chats and conversations to tell their stories and teach students about the Jewish culture. She is also planning a screening of a Holocaust film and a trip to a Holocaust Museum if health situations permit.
Zi-Kui Liu Dorothy Pate Enright Professor and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering The TKC Theory
To help my students develop learning and problem-solving skills, I have established the TKC theory based on basic scientific concepts and use my personal stories as illustrations. In this theory, T stands for Thermodynamics used to define driving force towards goals, which requires the quantifiable goal setting and good understanding of present status; K is for Kinetics, representing the pathways from present to the goals, which emphasizes the importance in selecting the optimal journeys and activating oneself to over the inevitable barriers; C denotes Crystallography, pointing out the factors contributing to the kinetic barriers and strategies to reduce the barriers. I give formal annual presentation of the TKC theory to students in my group, and many of them could talk about the theory and cite some of stories in years after their graduations.
Chiara Lo Prete Associate Professor of Energy Economics Energy Communication
Dr. Lo Prete would like to enhance the learning experiences of Schreyer Scholars through a program that integrates a range of site visits, reflective activities to practice communication skills, and dinner conversations with energy professionals.
Peter Mhando Associate Teaching Professor of International Business and International Affairs Conversations about Post COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Opportunities in the International Business Scene
Dr. Mhando will hold fireside chats and dinner conversations aimed at leading scholars to further interrogate the pandemic and the change in global business environment as well as provide a re-thinking of opportunities in the post pandemic environment. This will provide an opportunity for scholars to examine socio-political-economic questions around post-pandemic, and consequent impact on international business.
Pierce Salguero Associate Professor of Asian History & Religious Studies and Program Chair for Interdisciplinary Studies at Penn State Abington Asian Medical Humanities Series
Dr. Salguero’s series will include dinner and discussion events, fireside chats that will be unscripted open discussions of broader themes and viewing of documentary films that raise questions about Asian approaches to health and medicine.
Valerie Schrader Associate Professor of Communications Arts & Sciences and Coordinator, Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program Musical Theatre and Trip
As a rhetorical critic, the majority of Dr. Schrader’s research focuses on rhetorical messages in musical theatre texts and how those messages are communicated to audiences. Dr. Schrader will select a musical or play and provide scholars with the libretto for the show. She will hold at least one virtual workshop, fireside chat, special luncheon or discussion at University Park or another campus with scholars to discuss messages in the show. Scholars will have the opportunity to see the show, the location will depend on funding and transportation and then a discussion will be held to explore how the messages are conveyed through performance and how performance may change the messages in the libretto of the musical. Because there are so many different shows to choose from and so many different communication theories to apply, each semester would provide a new and interesting experience for Schreyer scholars to consider.
Jay Stauffer Distinguished Professor of Ichthyology Questioning Paradigms
There are many definitions of paradigm, but for the purposes of this discussion, a paradigm will be considered to be a concept or thought pattern that signifies a valid contribution. Many paradigms are taken as truth and as a result people do not understand or ignore the facts or lack thereof that support a particular belief. Failing to comprehend a particular issue, however, does not prevent one from believing or acting on these opinions (see Moore and Parker 2001). I propose to select certain “beliefs” or statements that are widely promoted, gather scientific facts, and subject them to critical thinking.
Ken Tamminga Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture Diversity, Belonging and Resilience through the Lens of Place and Design
Dr. Tamminga plans to hold a multi-cultural dinner each semester at the Arboretum followed by a discussion about the founding communities that inhabited the landscape before Penn State’s establishment. In addition, he will invite scholars to the Stuckman Family Building to meet and explore ideas of diversity/belonging and community resilience in the face of upheaval (socio-political, climate change, Covid)
Hui Yang Harold and Inge Marcus Career Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Smart Manufacturing and Digital Health
Dr. Yang plans to use lab demonstrations, poster showcases, and dinner discussions to help stimulate more interests from scholars about big data and innovating technologies, advance personalized medicine and population health, and create innovative access to care strategies. His events will also bring together faculty and scholars, with industry partners to translate research outcomes to improve the health of our society.
Take Charge Leadership Opportunities
Leadership is a crucial part of the Schreyer Honors College mission. Leadership skills can be learned inside the classroom, but applied practice is important, too. Enhance your honors experience and develop your skills by taking advantage of these leadership opportunities.
Schreyer-Sponsored Organizations
The Behrend Schreyer Council (BSC)
BSC is a resource for the Schreyer Honors College Scholar community at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and a liaison between Behrend Schreyer Scholars, other Commonwealth Campuses, and University Park. We serve as a forum for Scholars to share their interests, opinions, and recommendations. We foster the development of personal relationships among members in addition to offering leadership, academic, service, and social opportunities.
Gender and Sexual Diversity in Schreyer
Gender and Sexual Diversity in Schreyer (GSDS) was created to fit the needs of LGBTQIA+ Schreyer Scholars. GSDS intends to make the Schreyer Honors College a more inclusive environment by coordinating an alumni mentoring network, compiling mental and sexual health resources, and fostering cultural competency through collaborative outreach initiatives.
Gender Equity Coalition
The Gender Equity Coalition advocates for just policies and educate students to create a more equitable Penn State, focusing on critical issues facing women, intersex, trans, and non-binary individuals — sexual violence, reproductive justice, and the intersection of marginalized identities.
International and Multicultural Association of Schreyer Scholars (IMASS)
The International and Multicultural Association of Schreyer Scholars (IMASS) is an organization that works to foster a genuine sense of belonging for international and multicultural Schreyer Scholars, to support them with access to career resources, and to promote cross-cultural understanding and awareness across the entire Schreyer Honors College population.
Schreyer for Women (SfW)
SfW is an organization dedicated toward the championing of women and non-gender-conforming individuals through opportunities for personal and professional development and community engagement. We are a space for Scholars to network, socialize, collaborate, and contribute to their community even beyond graduation.
Schreyer Honors College Student Council (StuCo)
StuCo acts as a liaison between groups such as University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), Schreyer administration, and the Schreyer student body. Additionally, we help to market and sell all Schreyer merchandise, plan social events for Scholars, offer an avenue for Scholars to be involved in THON, plan service and philanthropic initiatives, and organize academic and career building events.
Schreyer Medical Career Development Team
The Med Team is committed to building a community of pre-medical students in Schreyer by organizing medical guest speaker events, panels with medical students, trips to nearby medical schools, and mentorship programs. To stay up to date with the medical team's upcoming events, join the medicine and healthcare interest area subscription on the Schreyer Student Record System.
Other Opportunities
Make A Difference Social & Civic Engagement
In between classes with leading researchers and faculty, labs, and study groups, you can carve out time to pursue the things you're excited about and figure out where you can make a difference. The Honors College is where you'll meet the people, take on the responsibilities, make the connections and develop the skills you need to change the world.
Simmons-Atherton Social Hour (SASH)
Donuts with the Dean
Financial Literacy Workshops
Scheduling Extravaganza
Coffeehouses
Visiting the Village at Penn State
Creating Your Future
Fresh Start Day of Service
I chose Schreyer because it helped to open doors for me to pursue different opportunities that I was interested in both personally and professionally. Schreyer is unique because it provides a breadth of great experiences, whether that be student groups, research labs, or internships, all while maintaining an intimate relationship with each individual student.
Andrew Ren ' 18 Electrical Engineering