The inaugural cohorts of Assessment Champions is comprised of Janelle Gruber, Erin Hanses, Glenna Malcolm, Gina Pazzaglia, Cecil Shelton and Karin Sprow Forte. Assessment Champions play a pivotal role in advancing the quality of education by applying assessment best practices, advocating for student success, and fostering a collaborative culture of continuous improvement around student learning.
Kyla Valerie Guillermo received the Top Graduate Student Paper award and Karandhir Singh Flora received the second runner-up in the Undergraduate Writing Competition.
Rafael Davis Matar Grandi, a senior studying finance in the Smeal College of Business, completed a summer internship with PepsiCo in the Frito-Lay plant in Orlando, Florida. He immersed himself in PepsiCo’s business and gained valuable insights into its operations and strategies. He collaborated with cross-functional teams, tackled real-world challenges and contributed to projects that drove efficiency and added value back to the plant. “From day one, the company culture and the support from the entire Orlando team have been nothing short of outstanding," he said. "This internship experience enhanced my professional skills and helped me build genuine, lasting relationships. The experiences and insights I’ve gained have fueled my excitement for what lies ahead, and I’m eager to apply what I’ve learned in my senior year at Penn State!”
Kacey Harper, a junior studying corporate communication at Penn State Schuylkill, worked as a marketing intern for the Schuylkill United Way in Pottsville, Pennsylvania this summer. Her primary project was refreshing the organization’s Community Resources Guide, which involved verifying local companies’ services and contact information, redesigning the guide for better usability, and assisting with promotional materials for events. “Seeing first-hand how Schuylkill United Way benefits the community has been inspiring, especially since I have lived in Schuylkill County my whole life," Harper said. "It was rewarding to understand the impact of their work behind the scenes. This experience has made me eager to pursue a career where I can use my skills to make a positive contribution to a community, similar to the meaningful work done by Schuylkill United Way.” Read more about Harper’s experience on the Penn State Schuylkill website.
Deanna Vincenzi, a senior studying recreation, parks and tourism management in the College of Health and Human Development, spent the summer as an events intern with The Arboretum at Penn State on the University Park campus. She helped coordinate logistics and craft timelines for several events, including the Penn’s Woods Music Festival, weddings and volunteer efforts, and led the planning and execution of a garden-wide appreciation event. She is continuing her internship this fall and will co-lead the Arboretum’s annual Pumpkin Festival, the venue’s largest event that draws up to 20,000 attendees. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to dive into the dynamic world of events, rentals and operations through programs large and small at The Arboretum at Penn State," Vincenzi said. "Through this internship, I gained experience working with clients, vendors and guests for private and public programs. I’m grateful for the support of my colleagues and mentors whose guidance, trust and encouragement have made this such an invaluable experience. From professional development trips, networking opportunities and all the hands-on work at events in the gardens, I could not have asked for a better internship.”
