Commencement

SPRING SEMESTER 2024
PENN STATE ERIE, THE BEHREND COLLEGE
Friday, May 3, 2024

Penn State Behrend Commencement Program — Spring 2024

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To Our Guests

We Welcome You to Penn State Behrend's Spring Commencement Ceremony.

Commencement, the solemn but joyful recognition of the graduates' years of study, is an important occasion to the college and its faculty, staff, students, and guests. The ceremony will be streamed live at behrend.psu.edu so that graduates' family members and friends who are unable to join us at Erie Insurance Arena tonight may be included in our celebration.

Please silence all mobile devices prior to the Presentation of Colors. When the Processional begins, we ask that you rise to welcome the graduates. Remain standing until all the candidates have reached their seats and during the singing of the National Anthem.

To commemorate this milestone occasion, a professional photograph is taken of each graduate. This photo may be purchased online from Lifetouch using the PhotoDay platform. Text the ordering code 448511GY24 to 90738 to receive notice when your commencement photos are available to view.

To avoid congestion and to maintain decorum in the ceremony, we ask that family members refrain from approaching the stage when taking pictures.

Commencement takes time and yet has special significance for each individual and family. Members of the audience are asked to remain in their seats throughout the ceremony so they do not disrupt the program or interfere with the special moments of others. Commencement is our most important occasion, and we ask you to respect its significance to the college community and to those who are being honored.

Everyone stands for the singing of the Alma Mater. Guests should remain seated throughout the Recessional to allow faculty, staff, and graduates to exit the arena.

If needed, medical assistance is available outside Section 214.

Thank you for your cooperation. We hope that you will enjoy the ceremony and celebrate the achievements of our students.

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Program

  • Presentation of Colors: Pride of Pennsylvania Army ROTC Battalion Color Guard
  • Academic Processional: Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Dr. Gary Viebranz, Conductor
    • Excerpts from Pomp and Circumstance, Edward Elgar
    • March of the Priests, W.A. Mozart
    • Hail the Conquering Hero, G.F. Handel
    • Marching Tune, P.A. Grainger
  • National Anthem
    The audience is asked to stand
  • Greetings: Dr. Ralph M. Ford, Chancellor
  • Welcome: Jenna Seigworth ’24
  • Faculty Address: Jodie Styers, Associate Teaching Professor of Math Education
  • Greetings from the Council of Fellows: Tesha Nesbit ’93, Vice Chair
  • Commencement Address: Richard H. Sayre, grandson of Ernst and Mary Behrend
  • Presentation of Candidates
  • Interlude: Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble
    • Now is the Month of Maying, Thomas Morley/arr. Viebranz
  • Conferral of Degrees: Robert D. Metzgar '60, Penn State Trustee Emeritus
  • Alumni Association Induction: Kimberly Kaercher ’99, Penn State Behrend Alumni Society
  • Alma Mater: Coy Bardwell, Suzie Copus, Alexander Fisher, Adam Gavio, Kayla Johnson, Anyssa Keeling-Oliver, Sean Solt, Elliot Swanson
    The audience is asked to stand and join the singing
  • Farewell: Kolton Mehalko ’24
  • Recessional: Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble
    • Selections from La Danserye, Tylman Susato

Commencement Marshals

  • The College Marshal
  • Faculty Marshals
  • Student Marshals
    • Trista Buskirk, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Gracie Chwatek, Schreyer Honors College
    • Tyler Dangel, The Graduate School
    • Ashley Hoffman, Black School of Business
    • Miranda Johns, School of Science
    • Nate Rondinelli, School of Engineering

Ushers: Lambda Sigma Honor Society and Lion Ambassadors

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National Anthem

by Francis Scott Key

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Alma Mater

by Fred Lewis Pattee

For the glory of old State,
For her founders, strong and great,
For the future that we wait,
Raise the song, raise the song,

Sing our love and loyalty,
Sing our hopes that, bright and free,
Rest, O Mother dear, with thee.
All with thee, all with thee.

When we stood at childhood's gate,
Shapeless in the hands of fate,
Thou didst mold us, dear old State,
Dear old State, dear old State.

May no act of ours bring shame
To one heart that loves thy name,
May our lives but swell thy fame,
Dear old State, dear old State!

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Program Notes

Academic Procession

The mace, which symbolizes the University President's authority, is carried at the head of the academic procession by the College Marshal. It was carved by a local artist from native fiddleback maple and is engraved with the University seal and Glenhill Farmhouse.

Academic Dress

Academic dress had its beginnings in the Middle Ages. When the English universities were taking form in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the scholars were also clerics and adopted robes similar to those of their monastic orders. Caps were a necessity in the drafty buildings, and capes with hoods attached were needed for warmth. The use of academic costume in the United States has been continuous since colonial times. A uniform system was not widespread, however, until about 1895 when the well-defined code of the Intercollegiate Commission was adopted by nearly all institutions of higher learning.

The gown worn by those in the procession represents the degree held. The academic gown has pointed sleeves for the bachelor's degrees, short or regular sleeves for the master's degrees, and round, full sleeves for the doctorate. The bachelor's and master's gowns have no trimmings, but the doctoral gown is faced in front on the sleeves, usually with black velvet.

The standard academic cap is the mortarboard, usually the color of the gown. Undergraduates wear the tassel on the right side of the cap until the moment the degree is conferred.

The Hood

Hoods are usually worn only for the master's degree or the doctorate, with the doctoral hood being the longer of the two and marked by distinguishing panels. Hoods are lined with the colors of the college or university in which the degree was granted. In tonight's ceremony, Dr. Alicyn Rhoades, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, drapes hoods over the candidates' shoulders.

Schreyer Honors College

The Schreyer Scholars program is Penn State's University-wide Honors program. Students who have completed the requirements of the program, including an Honors thesis or comprehensive examination, receive an Honors degree. Scholars graduating with an Honors degree receive a bronze medal designed by John A. Cook, professor of art emeritus and noted medalist. The medal, which bears the inscription "Intellectual Curiosity—Integrity of Purpose—Scholarly Achievement," is presented tonight by Dr. Greg Filbeck, Interim Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students graduating as Schreyer Scholars with an Honors degree are noted with a double dagger (††).

Evan Pugh Scholars

The Evan Pugh Scholars are students who were in the upper 0.5 percent of their respective classes. All have been full-time students for at least four semesters prior to selection. The award is named for Evan Pugh, Penn State's first president (1859–1864).

Degrees

Advanced degrees granted by the University are of two types, academic and professional. The baccalaureate degree is conferred after the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 credits in one of the four-year majors. The associate degree is conferred after the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 credits in one of the two-year majors.

Scholastic Distinction for Undergraduate Degree Candidates

Subject to completion of all degree requirements and satisfaction of minimum criteria, distinction may be conferred as indicated upon the individuals listed herein and upon such others as may meet the requirements. Distinction candidates have completed the required number of credits at the University and are in the top 12 percent of their graduating class in their college. The 12 percent is divided into 2 percent Summa Cum Laude, 4 percent Magna Cum Laude, and 6 percent Cum Laude.

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About Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend, a four-year and graduate college of Penn State, offers students the resources and opportunities of a major research university in a welcoming student-centered learning environment. As part of Pennsylvania's land-grant university, the college also works to advance the economic, social, and intellectual welfare of our region through research and outreach.

Penn State Behrend was established in 1948 with Mary Behrend's gift of her 400-acre Glenhill Farm. Mrs. Behrend made the gift in memory of her husband, Ernst, co-founder with his father and brother of the Hammermill Paper Company, which later became part of International Paper.

The college now offers nearly 50 degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, and master's degree levels. From the first class of 146 students at what was then known as the Behrend Center, enrollment has grown to nearly 4,300 students learning on campus and online in Behrend programs offered through World Campus. Behrend alumni now number 40,000.

Penn State Behrend ranks among the top public educational institutions in Pennsylvania for student-to- faculty ratio, first-year student retention rate, and graduation rate, according to data published by U.S. News & World Report.

More than 1,200 of the college’s students live on campus in traditional-style rooms or in suites or apartments. There are myriad activities for students to get involved in outside the classroom, including 140 student clubs and organizations, twenty-four NCAA Division III teams, and intramural sports.

The college has more than 750 full-time and part-time employees, including 350 faculty members in four academic schools. Today’s 854-acre campus has fifty-three buildings, from the original Glenhill Farmhouse to the new Erie Hall and Susan Hirt Hagen CORE at Federal House. Knowledge Park, on the eastern edge of campus, gives companies housed there access to the college’s strengths in applied research and technology transfer, while providing internship and job opportunities for students and graduates.

Research is a critical area of focus for the college’s students and faculty. Annually, Penn State Behrend funds many undergraduate research opportunities, and faculty members participate in more than $8 million of sponsored research. In outreach, the college has more than two dozen centers, programs, and initiatives serving business and industry, area youth, and the community. Each year, the Penn State Behrend contributes more than $175 million to the Commonwealth’s economy.
 

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Vision of a Behrend Graduate

Penn State Behrend has a history and future of developing thinkers, creators, and innovators who build opportunities out of challenges, competence out of curiosity, and proficiency out of potential.

We produce graduates who are prepared for success in their professions, passionate about their work, and committed to lifelong learning; who are open to new experiences and diverse perspectives; and who possess interdisciplinary knowledge and a global and ethical outlook—all critical to thriving in an ever-changing world.

We empower our students through highly engaged instruction, research, and out-of-class opportunities, combined with a distinctive Open Laboratory model of learning and discovery that connects students to business, industry, alumni, and community partners—giving them real-world experiences while benefitting these partners.

With purpose, we develop graduates who are widely recognized for the contributions they make to their professions, their communities, and the world around them.

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Student Speakers

Jenna Seigworth, Welcome Address

Jenna Seigworth, of Oil City, Pennsylvania, is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in English and minors in Sociology and Sustainability Leadership. A Schreyer Scholar, she was Student Garden Club president and a Sustainable Food Systems intern. She received the Outstanding English Major Award, the Archie K. Loss Undergraduate Thesis Award, and the Outstanding Tutor in Writing Award, as well as the University-wide Rock Ethics Institute Stand Up Award and John Roe Sustainability Impact Award. She will pursue a master’s in Creative Writing.

Kolton Mehalko, Farewell Address

Kolton Mehalko, of Wilcox, Pennsylvania, is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in Chemistry. A Schreyer Scholar, he was a peer tutor, Lion Scout, and Welcome Week leader, and was active in the Gender and Sexuality Equality Club, the Chemistry Club, and Alternative Spring Break. He received the Academic Excellence in Chemistry Award and the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, and previously received the ACS Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry and the CRC Outstanding Freshman Award. He will pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Student Marshals

Trista Buskirk, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Trista Buskirk, of Canton, Illinois, is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in Psychology, with a focus on human factors and design. At Behrend, she participated in undergraduate research; was active in Psi Chi, the national psychology honors society; and founded the competitive volleyball club. She also received the award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement in Psychology. After graduation, she plans to start her career as a user experience designer.

Gracie Chwatek, Schreyer Honors College

Gracie Chwatek, of Erie, is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. A Schreyer Scholar, she was active in Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, Pi Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society, and the NSF S-STEM Leaders Program. She received the award for Outstanding Industrial Engineering Student. She has accepted a position as a LEAD Operations Rotational Program Member at Wabtec.

Tyler Dangel, The Graduate School

Tyler Dangel, of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, is graduating with a master of Business Administration and a graduate certificate in Financial Analysis. He received the Catherine and Mark Loevner Scholarship. He earned a bachelor of science in Finance from Behrend in 2019. He currently works in corporate finance, and plans to continue in that role at Logistics Plus, an Erie-based global leader in transportation, logistics, business intelligence, and supply chain solutions.

Ashley Hoffman, Black School of Business

Ashley Hoffman, of Sheffield, Pennsylvania, is graduating summa cum laude with dual degrees in Accounting and Finance. She completed the Behrend Honors Program and was a member of the Dance Team, Accounting Club, and Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society. She received the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key and Institute of Management Accounting Award. She plans to work at a public accounting firm and pursue a CPA license.

Miranda Johns, School of Science

Miranda Johns, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in Biology. During her time at Behrend, she was active in Lion Ambassadors and Tri Beta Biology Honors Society. An Evan Pugh Scholar, she was also a Welcome Week leader and tutor in math and science. As a participant in Penn State Behrend's 3+4 Accelerated Program in Optometry, she is currently enrolled in optometry school at Ohio State University.

Nate Rondinelli, School of Engineering

Nate Rondinelli, of Karns City, Pennsylvania, is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in Software Engineering. He is a Schreyer Scholar and also worked as a teaching assistant. A student-athlete on the varsity men’s soccer team, he was a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society, and received the Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. After graduation, he will work as a software engineer at WebFX.

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Faculty Speaker

Jodie Styers

Jodie Styers is an associate teaching professor of Mathematics Education at Penn State Behrend. She is the chair of the Mathematics Education program and current president of the Pennsylvania Association for Mathematics Teacher Educators.

In her mathematics and methods courses for elementary and secondary education students, Styers implements research-based teaching practices and problem-based learning experiences to deepen students’ mathematical knowledge. Styers also works with pre-service teachers, helping them to plan and implement lessons that are aligned with current standards and reflect sound, pedagogical practices.

Her research interests center around the high school and college algebra curricula—supporting students as they address knowledge gaps and establishing connections between the two. She has served as an Investigator for three National Science Foundation grants, including one active grant, totaling $1.3 million. She and her colleagues co-founded the annual Best Practices in Teaching and Learning Mathematics Conference, which is held at Behrend each June.

Styers is currently pursuing her doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She earned her master’s degree in pure mathematics from West Virginia University and holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and secondary education from Gannon University. She was a recipient of the School of Science Excellence in Service and Outreach Award in 2023, the Guy W. Wilson Excellence in Academic Advising Award in 2019, and the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award in 2017.

A native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Styers resides in Millcreek Township with her husband, Zach. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching Pittsburgh sports, baking, and running.

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Commencement Speaker

Richard H. Sayre

Richard Sayre, a grandson of Penn State Behrend benefactors Ernst and Mary Behrend, has had a successful career in real estate development and start-up venture capital.

Sayre was president of Charlesbank Homes, a foundation that makes grants to organizations developing moderate- and low-cost housing in Massachusetts. He also is an Advisory Board member and former president of The Watch Hill Conservancy, a land trust in Rhode Island.

Sayre is the former chair of the Winchester Hospital Finance Committee, in Winchester, Massachusetts, and served on the Winchester Hospital Board until September 2023. As a ski patrol instructor for the National Ski Patrol, he also served as its regional director for New Hampshire. He currently serves as a member of Penn State Behrend's Council of Fellows.

He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1966, receiving his bachelor of science in finance. He received a master of business administration degree from Harvard University in 1973. Before pursuing his MBA at Harvard, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy with Fighter Squadron VF-194 during the Vietnam War and in the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C.

Sayre is a member of the First Congregational Church in Winchester, where he served as Head Deacon and is currently a Life Deacon. He and his wife, Elisabeth, are residents of Winchester, and have two adult children and seven grandchildren.

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Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows

Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows members serve as valued advisers to the college Chancellor; as advocates for the mission, vision, and activities of the college; and as ambassadors for the college in the Erie region, across the country, and around the world.

Council members represent a cross-section of business, industrial, service, and community organizations and contribute their professional expertise and personal insights to conversations about the future direction of Penn State Behrend. Members may provide counsel on matters ranging from strategic planning and community and business relations to fundraising and alumni affairs.

The business of the Council is managed by a Board of Directors. Focused activities of the group are undertaken through four committees: Executive; Governance; Council Communications and Engagement; and Development.

Board of Directors

  • Chair
    Ann Karmazon Scott
  • Vice Chair
    Tesha Nesbit
  • Director Emeritus
    Gary L. Clark
  • Director Emeritus/University Trustee Emeritus
    Robert D. Metzgar
  • Director
    Samuel P. Black III
  • Director
    Bishop Dwane Brock
  • Director
    Christopher C. Clark
  • Director
    Michael Colpoys
  • Director
    Ralph M. Ford
  • Director
    Priscilla H. Hamilton
  • Director
    Thomas C. Hoffman II
  • Director
    Karen Burton Horstman
  • Director
    Brian M. Kupchella
  • Director
    J. Scott McCain
  • Director
    Matthew W. Totzke
  • Director
    Ashleigh E. Walters
  • Director
    Gregory M. Yahn
  • Director
    Halina M. Zyczynski
  • Executive Director
    Kenneth P. Miller
  • Ex Officio Director
    Kimberly Kaercher
  • Secretary/Treasurer
    Britt Daehnke

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A Note from the Penn State Alumni Association

You're a Lion for life... and you belong in the Alumni Association.

Congratulations on your graduation! You've earned your place in the largest and most powerful alumni network in the world.

The Penn State Alumni Association connects you to the global community of more than 775,000 Penn Staters and keeps your connection to Dear Old State strong. It also includes more than 30 benefits, including exclusive discounts, access to our local chapters, and members-only networking and career services.

Watch the mail for your welcome kit and make the most of your complimentary one-year membership.

Benefits of Belonging

  • Local Connections
  • LionPerks Discounts
  • Career Resources
  • Networking
  • Exclusive Content

To access a full list of membership benefits and to find your local Penn State Alumni Association chapter, visit: alumni.psu.edu/newalumni.

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Go to Part 2, Commencement Candidates

This program contains the list of candidates for graduation as of April 22, 2024, and distinction notations as of February 22, 2024. Subject to completion of all degree requirements, degrees will be conferred as indicated upon the individuals listed herein and upon such others as may meet the requirements.

This publication is available in alternative media on request. The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Email: [email protected], Tel (814) 863-0471. UBR EBO 24-289

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