Penn State Schuylkill biology student Eric Thompson will graduate with honors on May 9. After surviving pediatric cancer in his early teens, Thompson has transformed a tragic situation into a passion to help people. This fall, he will embark on a new academic journey at Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College, where he will commit himself to earning his M.D. and delivering medical expertise to underserved communities.
Tara Laubenstine comes from a long line of Penn Staters. When she began her college search, she knew exactly where she would apply and eagerly wait to be accepted. This week, she will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in psychology, after which she will pursue a career in human resource management. She made the most of her college experience by becoming involved, and with graduation on the horizon, Laubenstine sat down to speak about her college experience and offer advice to the incoming class.
The Penn State alumni family grew by more than 15,000 this past weekend as the University recognized its spring 2020 graduates in a livestreamed commencement ceremony, which took place on Saturday, May 9.
During her time on campus, Armani Jefferson has distinguished herself as a valuable student member of the residence life team in Student Affairs. Those who know her describe Jefferson as the kind of person everyone can count on: someone who will always show up, and with a smile. This spring Jefferson received the Student Life Outstanding Service and Leadership Award, for excellence in service and leadership to the campus community and local, national, and global communities.
In just four short years, Matthew Williams has earned three degrees from Penn State. During that time, he has studied abroad in Spain; represented Penn State Schuylkill at THON; tutored droves of students; and showed himself his true potential. Triumph over adversity has fueled Williams’ Penn State story as he conquered addiction and navigated his mother’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. As Williams looks to his bright future, he reflects on all the ways Penn State helped him realize the way forward, sharing his story in the hopes that it inspires others to take the lead in their own stories, as well.
The accomplishments of 2020 Penn State Schuylkill biology graduate James Abicunas read like those of many other high-achieving students. He was a member of the Honors Program, a student-athlete, a merit scholarship winner, a student researcher, and more. But in 2019, Abicunas faced serious medical issues, including undergoing a liver transplant, yet fought to stay on track with his studies and graduate as planned.
Aurora Brunovsky, a 2009 Penn State alumna and member of the University's Human Resources team, helped raise funds to donate over 1,000 masks to local non-profits in need. "We want to unite people in our community and give them a way to give back if they can’t find one,” she said.
With Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement today (May 22) of additional counties moving to yellow phase over the next two weeks, students residing in those counties can now begin scheduling a move-out date from their on-campus residence halls. A number of Penn State campuses will also begin scheduling students for move out.
Dr. Kimberly Hashin and Albert J. “BJ” Evans understand the value of retaining legal and medical professionals in oftentimes underserved rural communities such as Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. By establishing a Penn State Schuylkill scholarship for Schuylkill County residents majoring in administration of justice, biology, or nursing, the couple hopes to help educate and retain the area’s next generation of legal and health care professionals.
Penn State Schuylkill students have joined the Small World Initiative and Tiny Earth Program, international projects where students participate in the crowdsourcing of antibiotic discovery.
