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Shoemaker named Walker Award recipient; Students, faculty and staff honored

Chancellor Kevin Snider and Walker Award winner Katie Shoemaker.

ACADEMIC AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
'Celebration of Excellence'

Photos: http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/News/photogallery.
htm#id=15UO545D8-0&num=15UO545D8-1

Katie Shoemaker, a senior majoring in business administration, was named this year's recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award on April 29, at the Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony at Penn State New Kensington.

The Walker Award is given to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. The award was established in 1980 by former Penn State President Eric A. Walker and is presented at each of the 24 Penn State campuses.

Academic excellence and service to the campus and the community have been the hallmark of Shoemaker's collegiate career. She is serious about her education, as evidenced by her 3.95 grade-point average, and is passionate about her extracurricular activities, where she holds numerous leadership roles both on- and off-campus. A senior majoring in business management and marketing in the four-year business administration program, Shoemaker has been on the Dean's List every semester and she is vice president of the Student Government Association where she is responsible for communications with campus clubs and organizations, and assisting with community service projects.

At the annual "Celebration of Excellence" ceremony, students, faculty and staff were honored for their achievements inside and outside the classroom. More than 100 students were recognized for their academic prowess and extra-curricular accomplishments during the fall and spring semesters.

Three faculty members were honored with the Excellence in Teaching Awards--Rujirutana Mandhachitara, associate professor of business administration; Samuel R. Goldstrohm, instructor in criminal justice; and Sherri L. Donnelly, adjunct faculty for continuing education. Faculty has three areas of responsibility: teaching, research/scholarly activity, and service.  The award recognizes campus faculty contributions in teaching. The principal criterion is excellent classroom performance, but excellence in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom, and course development are considered.

In addition to the campus faculty awards, Maria Franco de Gomez, instructor in Spanish and Robert “Doc” Mueller, associate professor of engineering, were recognized for earning University-wide awards. Franco de Gomez received the George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Atherton is presented each year to six full-time faculty members who have devoted substantial effort to and developed a record of excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Mueller was selected for the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society Outstanding Teaching Award, which is presented annually to an engineering faculty for contributions to the art of teaching.

Other honorees included John "Ross" Sheffler, the recipient of the Alle-Kiski Society's Penn State Spirit award and Tansey Ochs earned the title Lion Ambassador of the Year.

In athletics, Justin Reed (men's basketball) was named Male Athlete of the Year and Jenna Swank (softball) was Female Athlete of the Year.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

Eric A. and JosephINE S. Walker Award
The award was established in 1980 by former Penn State President Eric A. Walker.
Presented at each Penn State campus, the award recognizes students whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of the campus and, hence, to the reputation of the University as a whole.

A senior majoring in business management and marketing in the four-year business administration program, Shoemaker has been on the Dean's List every semester and is a member of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges and American Universities.

She was the 2009 recipient of the Alle-Kiski Alumni Society's endowed scholarship. Shoemaker earned the $3,000 scholarship, the largest single-award ever given to a New Kensington campus student, based on an essay about her Penn State experiences.

In addition to her academic prowess, Shoemaker possesses the leadership qualities necessary for involvement in numerous extra-curricular activities. She is vice president of the Student Government Association where she is responsible for communications with campus clubs and organizations, and assisting with community service projects.

Prior to her service with the SGA, she was a two-term president of the Lion Ambassadors, and a three-year orientation leader. She remains an active member of THON, the Business Club and the Campus Activities Board.

Shoemaker's community service activities include organizing the annual Toys for Tots campaign and participating in highway clean-up campaigns. She also serves as a Sunday school teacher in her local community.

COLLEGE ACADEMIC AWARD
Selected by program faculty and presented to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

PHI THETA KAPPA
Phi Theta Kappa recognizes and encourages scholarship, leadership, and service among students in an associate degree program. Students must have a 3.5 GPA or better.
Colin D. Lischy; Lisa M. Shanta

PSI CHI
Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology that was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology. The chapter at the New Kensington campus is one of six chapters throughout Penn State.
Jaclyn M. Burkett; Calyn M. Rosfeld; Alecia V. Denillo; Ryan R. Schempp;
Morgan M. Mundro; Kelly M. Seija

TAU ALPHA PI
Tau Alpha Pi is a national honorary society for engineering technology students.
Membership is restricted to the top four percent of the institution’s technology enrollment.
Timothy P. Baxter; Brandon S. Bierer; Kriss O. Bookwalter; Justin D. Brown;
Branden S. Citeroni; Jesse D. Cooley; Jeffrey M. Enos; Robert J. Farcus;
Michael R. Klaric; Maxim Pascal; Samantha L. Polons; Stephanie L. Powell;
Jacob G. Visnesky; Joshua L. Vogel; Corey T. Zell; Adam R. Zottola

HONORS PROGRAM
Honors certificates are presented to students who have been selected for
the Honors Program and have completed the requirements for honors courses.

Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores
Matthew D. Cavazza; Alecia V. Denillo; Sadie K. Eichner; Melissa A. Gemballa;
Zachary L. Mehal; James W. Miller; Dillon J. Nichols; Amanda E. Polons;
Gretchen D. Toy; Taylor J. Transue; Joshua L. Vogel; Erika L. Watson

First-year Students
Alex D. Baker; Jessica R. Bonk; Thomas N. Dalbo; Jake V. Howard;
Brian F. Jug; Samantha L. Polons; Justin M. Rectenwald; Grant S. Schoenfelde

THE EVAN PUGH SCHOLAR AWARD
This award is presented annually to seniors who are in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective classes and have completed at least 48 Penn State credits at the end of the fall semester. 
Timothy P. Baxter; Melissa A. Gemballa; Erika L. Watson

THE PRESIDENT’S FRESHMAN AWARD
This award is presented annually to undergraduate degree candidates and provisional students who have earned a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average based on at least 12 Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester. Candidates cannot exceed 35 total credits earned.
Brandon W. Bowser; Linda S. Burkett; Dawnalyn J. Kann; Brianna M. Klems;
Brad D. LeDonne; Donald E. McDaniel; Samantha L. Polons;
Andrew J. Virostek; Christian J. Walleck

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS
Faculty has three areas of responsibility: teaching, research/scholarly activity, and service.  This campus award recognizes a faculty member’s contribution in teaching. The principal criterion is excellent classroom performance, but excellence in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom, and course development are considered.

ALLE-KISKI SOCIETY’S PENN STATE SPIRIT AWARD
This award is presented by the Alle-Kiski Society of the Penn State Alumni Association to
 the campus student who exhibits integrity and character as a leader, demonstrates outstanding dedication to the campus, and exemplifies the meaning of Penn State pride. AKS is based at the
New Kensington campus and represents 7,000 alumni living in the local region.
John "Ross" Sheffler

PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS
This award is presented to students who merit recognition for their great efforts in performing arts at Penn State New Kensington, which includes acting, singing and musical and theatrical production.
BEST PERFORMER: Juliann Motosicky
BEST TECHNICIAN: John “Ross” Sheffler

LION AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Lion Ambassadors represent Penn State at campus activities and in the community.
Tansey L. Ochs

PSUAC COACH OF THE YEAR
Men’s Soccer: Jack L. Adams

PSUAC Academic All-Conference
Selected for earning or maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher
MEN’S BASKETBALL: Justin M. Reed, Abraham J. Strapac
SOFTBALL: Amanda J. Dell; Samantha A. Motchar
GOLF: Matthew T. Knapp
MEN’S SOCCER: Maxim Pascal
VOLLEYBALL: Rachel A. Barr

John Evans Scholar/Athlete Memorial Award
The award recognizes sophomore, junior, and senior athletes for outstanding academic achievement while participating in an intercollegiate sport. The award is in memory of John Evans, a member of the 1966-68 basketball teams. It memorializes his dedication to excellence in the classroom and on the court. John’s #31 jersey was retired in 2005 and is mounted in the lobby of the Athletics Center.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Justin M. Reed
GOLF: Matthew T. Knapp
MEN’S SOCCER: Maxim Pascal
VOLLEYBALL: Rachel A. Barr

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the outstanding male and female athletes
Justin M. Reed, Men's Basketball
Jenna M. Swank, Softball

ROBERT DARBY “THE DARB” SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
The award was established in honor of Robert Darby, kinesiology instructor, athletic director,
baseball coach and intramurals director, who retired in 2006 after 38 years at the campus.
"The Darb" recipient demonstrates exceptional attributes of sportsmanship.
Louis J. Gardone, Wrestling

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