Schuylkill Speaks! graduating student profiles shine the spotlight on our newest Penn State Schuylkill alumni. 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 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!
Schuylkill Speaks! Graduating Student Profile featuring recent graduate, Alivia Payne.
Alivia Payne’s college journey goes beyond the field
Alivia Payne's journey at Penn State Schuylkill, where she will graduate, has been transformative, merging her passion for communication arts with her involvement in campus athletics. Initially pursuing physical therapy at Penn State Mont Alto, she transferred to Schuylkill to pursue a degree — and her passion — in communication arts. Payne excelled as an intern with the Penn State Athletics Department, enhancing the department's social media. Looking ahead, Payne envisions a career in sports media or operations and plans to pursue graduate studies.
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Schuylkill Speaks! Graduating Student Profile featuring recent graduate, Kyle Ferguson
Kyle Ferguson’s path in sports administration
Kyle Ferguson spent his time at Penn State Schuylkill dedicated to personal and academic growth. Initially pursuing a degree in business, he switched to corporate communication after discovering an interest in the subject during an introductory course. His involvement in campus clubs like Lion Ambassadors and THON enriched his experience and helped him build skills and friendships. As he graduates, Ferguson reflects on the supportive campus environment and advises incoming students to embrace the available resources and opportunities for a fulfilling college experience. After graduation, he plans to enter a career in sports.
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Schuylkill Speaks! Graduating Student Profile featuring recent graduate, Poetic Session.
Poetic Session is dedicated to research in psychology
Poetic Session's journey at Penn State Schuylkill is marked by her dedication to mental health advocacy and meaningful campus connections. Her multicultural upbringing inspired her to tackle mental health stigmas, particularly within Black and Hispanic communities. Pursuing a psychology degree to help others access support, Session thrived in a nurturing academic environment, guided by faculty mentors. She played active roles on campus as treasurer of the Blue & White Society and as an embedded tutor for the Co-Op program, aiding her peers' career development. In her next chapter, Session plans to continue researching autism and psychosis. She advises incoming students to engage actively on campus and build relationships for a fulfilling college experience.
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Schuylkill Speaks! Graduating Student Profile featuring recent graduate, Abby Morneau.
Abby Morneau aims for a career in criminal justice
Abby Morneau, a dedicated criminal justice student at Penn State Schuylkill, reflects on her academic journey and delivery of the student address at the 2024 commencement. In her speech, she acknowledged the unique challenges her cohort faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted their perseverance. Morneau will miss her experiences at Penn State Schuylkill, from engaging classes to participating in campus activities. She is proud of her growth as a first-generation college student and offers advice to future students: build relationships with professors, get involved on campus, and savor every moment of their college experience.
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Schuylkill Speaks! Graduating Student Profile featuring recent graduate, Emily Papa.
Emily Papa pursues a career in nursing
Emily Papa's decision to pursue a nursing degree at Penn State Schuylkill was a natural one, influenced by her family members who are also nurses and by her exposure to healthcare programs in vocational school. During the course of her four years, she was a dedicated tutor, and was a part of the first cohort of nursing students to participate in the inaugural pinning ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill. She looks forward to beginning her career at Geisinger St. Luke’s in the medical-surgical unit.