Schuylkill Honors Program ceremony recognizes academic achievement

Honors students pose on stage.

Penn State Schuylkill celebrated the achievements of its Honors Program students during an April 19 ceremony in the John E. Morgan Auditorium.

Credit: Kim Mousseau

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill celebrated the achievements of its Honors Program students during an April 19 ceremony in the John E. Morgan Auditorium. This annual event recognizes the exemplary effort and dedication required of Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program students. Chancellor Patrick Jones provided opening remarks that challenged the students to not only pursue excellence in their studies and research endeavors but to maintain integrity in all they do.

The Honors Program offers opportunities for students to enrich their education through honors coursework and advising, research with faculty, and extracurricular activities — including visits to museums and historical sites, attendance at various live performances, travel opportunities, and more.

Incoming first-year students with a 3.5 GPA or higher may apply to the program, and eligibility is incumbent upon maintaining the minimum honors course load, a 3.3 GPA, and meeting all other program requirements, including upholding the Honors Code based on the Penn State Values. Honors courses and independent honors options are part of individualized academic plans developed collaboratively with students, academic advisers, and Honors Program coordinators.

As of March 2022, the program has new faculty leadership. Sarah Princiotta, assistant professor of biology, was named coordinator for the Honors Program, and Jessica Saalfield, assistant professor of psychology, is the program’s new assistant coordinator.

“Dr. Saalfield and I are excited to start a new chapter of the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program as coordinators and for the opportunity to work with these dedicated and high-achieving students,” said Princiotta. “We also want to acknowledge Dr. Valerie Schrader, associate professor of communication arts and sciences, who has shaped the program into what it is today. We are incredibly grateful for her immense contributions to the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program and its students.”

Darcy Medica, director of academic affairs, closed the ceremony by extolling the merits of the program and the importance, now more than ever, of critical thinking.

The Honors Program awardees for spring 2022 are:

Honors cord recipients

Honors cord recipients are students who are graduating with a baccalaureate degree and have also achieved the required number of Honors credits for each year of membership.

  • Corinne Ellis
  • Lexi Johns
  • Saige Lowe
  • Michael Russell
  • Courtney Weikel

Honors Program graduating students

All graduating students who are members in good standing in the Honors Program.

  • Corinne Ellis (bachelor of arts in corporate communication, minor in communication arts and sciences)
  • Bethany Hollenbush (bachelor of science in biology)
  • Lexi Johns (bachelor of science in biology)
  • Saige Lowe (bachelor of science in psychology)
  • Michael Russell (bachelor of science in biology)
  • Courtney Weikel (bachelor of arts in corporate communication, minor in communication arts and sciences, minor in business, sports administration certificate)

Honors Program certificates

Students are awarded certificates based on the number of honors course credits completed. Each year signifies seven honors course credits earned, with some students earning certificates for multiple years. Those students who complete at least one honors course credit earn a certificate of participation.

First-year certificate

  • Aridayli Cespedes Beltre
  • Saidah Burke
  • Sarah Calsam
  • Isabela Caruso
  • Kaitlyn Cheng
  • Taylor Dombrosky
  • Erik Dubbs
  • Christopher Duffy
  • Benjamin Fowler
  • Joshua Gantz
  • Karsten Gray
  • Kyla Guillermo
  • Brianna Hall
  • Seth Hubler
  • Kevin Hutko
  • Jaclynn Johnson
  • Katherine Joyce
  • Richard Joyce
  • Storm Leymeister
  • Nicole Marion
  • Lily McDonald
  • Madison Meyer
  • Kassidy Milligan
  • Mackenzie Moser
  • Malak Mowafi
  • Aaron Polansky
  • Carol Rayos
  • Scarlet Tejada Rodrigues
  • Lucas Centola E Silva
  • Kathryn Silverberg
  • Christine Thompson
  • Morgan Tohill
  • Aiden Toomey
  • Sarah Tran
  • Kaely Walshaw
  • Jenna Walton
  • Brendan Welsh-Lowe
  • Elyssa Yeagley

Second-year certificate

  • Caitlyn Albitz
  • Saidah Burke
  • Emily Carestia
  • Brendan Dotter
  • Karandhir Flora
  • Seth Hubler
  • Dominique Hughes
  • Michael Johnson-Ponce
  • Hannah Meyer
  • Caleb Reedy
  • Hayley Salen
  • Logan Seddon
  • Poetic Session
  • Brendan Welsh-Lowe
  • Rachel Wiest

Third-year certificate

  • Sophia Bates
  • Grace Muench
  • Dylan Reber
  • Poetic Session
  • Cassandra Ward

Fourth-year certificate

  • Sophia Bates
  • Corinne Ellis
  • Saige Lowe
  • Michael Russell
  • Courtney Weikel

Honors participation certificate

  • Sachelle Alfred
  • Gordon Joseph Arnold, IV
  • James Bell
  • Abigaelle Bellevue
  • Shinaiya Benjamin
  • Tiffany Bohner
  • Ethan Carvajal
  • Amanda Charowsky
  • Aniya Childers
  • Arabi Chavira
  • Ava Clauser
  • Nikki Conville
  • Ivy Daniels
  • Kevin Devine
  • Sean Duffy
  • Aloura Gavalis
  • Ayanna Grant
  • Pingxu Hao
  • Bethany Hollenbush
  • Mackenzie Ilyes
  • Morgan Kleckner
  • Mikayla Kupstas
  • John Lindenmuth
  • Messiah Maddox
  • Logan Maurer
  • Cealinn McGroarty
  • Kathryn Muth
  • Joahlana Najunas
  • Juliana Ndjore
  • Liam Ortiz
  • Samantha Palacz
  • Jillian Phillips
  • Caleb Primeau
  • Imani Raven
  • Tiffany Reid
  • Saliyah Sebro-McQueen
  • Andrew Sepp
  • Nathan Shirk
  • Haily Showers
  • Sara Strouse
  • Carter Thompson
  • Morgan Timm
  • Marshaya Tucker
  • Carter Yeager

Learn more about the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program or contact the Office of Admission to learn about all the academic opportunities available to students at Penn State Schuylkill.

“Dr. Saalfield and I are excited to start a new chapter of the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program as coordinators and for the opportunity to work with these dedicated and high-achieving students. We also want to acknowledge Dr. Valerie Schrader, associate professor of communication arts and sciences, who has shaped the program into what it is today. We are incredibly grateful for her immense contributions to the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program and its students.”

—Sarah Princiotta , assistant professor of biology and Honors Program coordinator