Schuylkill Speaks! Graduating Student Profiles
Schuylkill Speaks! is part of an ongoing conversation with Penn State Schuylkill alumni, both new and established. In this edition, we feature standout graduates from our spring 2021 graduating class.
These exceptional students include athletes, scholars, givers of time, and campus leaders. All of these students have distinguished themselves during their time on campus, and they all embody the proud tradition of Penn State graduates making a difference in the world—locally and globally.
We expect amazing things from this cohort, and we wish them great success as they continue on to their next endeavors.
Kiana Rivera harnesses motivation to support her community
Senior psychology major Kiana Rivera is a high-achieving student who juggles an impressive number of responsibilities, from home ownership to a job and important college commitments. This Schuylkill County native earned the honor of delivering the student address at spring commencement, and has secured a job in her field following graduation.
Read Rivera's Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Psychology major Mitch Stokes devotes future to vets’ health
Senior psychology major Mitchell Stokes is a veteran, entrepreneur, father, and academically high-achieving student who is about to add another impressive title to his list of accomplishments: college graduate. This Navy veteran will pursue graduate studies at Kutztown University and endeavors to serve as a mental health professional for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Read Stokes' Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Evan Sukeena turns a passion for the business of logistics into a career
Schuylkill senior Evan Sukeena is nothing short of passionate about his project and supply chain major. His work ethic as a student helped turn an internship into a post-graduation job, which is no surprise to those who know him and use words like "dedicated," professional," and "disciplined" to describe him.
Read Sukeena's Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Student-athlete Malique Hughes is all-in, both on and off the court
Malique Hughes is a corporate communication major from Browns Mills, New Jersey, who transferred to Penn State Schuylkill to play basketball and gained a community of friends and mentors. Hughes, described as thoughtful and creative, has ambitious plans for the future, as he considers pursuing a master's degree in communication.
Read Hughes's Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Bethany Haag earns academic distinction, finds path to career
Graduating summa cum laude is no small task, but Bethany Haag has achieved superior academic and extra-curricular distinction while balancing work commitments to earn an associate's degree. But she isn't done yet. Haag will be returning in the fall to complete her bachelor's degree in psychology.
Read Haag's Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Michele Atkinson's decades-long journey to bachelor's degree
For Michele Atkinson, a graduating business major, the road to a bachelor’s degree spanned four decades and ended at Penn State Schuylkill, where she unexpectedly found herself attending a negotiation class alongside her daughter and fellow business major Kelsey.
Read Atkinson's Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Noel Kaufman racks up athletic and academic accolades
Noel Kaufman is an accomplished student-athlete and has the athletic conference awards and academic honors to prove it. While she takes her volleyball game seriously, she is also a dedicated student who balances athletic play with school and full-time work responsibilities.
Read Kaufman's Penn State story here >
Schuylkill Speaks: Standout biology senior Julia Hahn pursues pediatrics
For recent biology graduate Julia Hahn, success is non-negotiable. Challenged, inspired and impassioned by motherhood, this new Penn State alumna will take a gap year to prepare for the MCAT and spend time with her young son before applying to medical school, where she intends to specialize in pediatrics.