Commencement

SPRING SEMESTER 2025
PENN STATE ERIE, THE BEHREND COLLEGE
Friday, May 9, 2025

Penn State Behrend Commencement Program — Spring 2025

Use these links to jump to a specific part of the program below.

To Our Guests

Welcome 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. Text the ordering code 448511GY25 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.

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


How to Order Photos of Graduates

To commemorate this milestone, a professional photograph is taken of each graduate. This photo may be purchased online from Lifetouch. To opt in to view commencement photos, text the ordering code 448511GY25 to 90738.
 

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Program

  • Presentation of Colors: Pride of Pennsylvania Army ROTC Battalion Color Guard
  • Academic Processional: Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Tess Jones, Conductor
    • Excerpts from Pomp and Circumstance, Edward Elgar
    • March of the Priests, W.A. Mozart
    • Hail the Conquering Hero, G.F. Handel
  • National Anthem
    The audience is asked to stand
  • Greetings: Dr. Ralph M. Ford, Chancellor and Dean
  • Welcome: Samuel Rosario ’25
  • Faculty Address: Dr. Kenneth Louie, Associate Professor of Economics; Director, Economic Research Institute of Erie
  • Greetings from the Council of Fellows: Tesha Nesbit ’93, Chair, Council of Fellows
  • Commencement Address: Tim NeCastro, President and CEO, Erie Insurance
  • Presentation of Candidates
  • Interlude: Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble
    • Now is the Month of Maying, Thomas Morley
  • Conferral of Degrees: Robert D. Metzgar '60, Penn State Trustee Emeritus
  • Alumni Association Induction: Kimberly Kaercher ’99, Penn State Behrend Alumni Society
  • Alma Mater: Penn State Behrend Choir
    The audience is asked to stand and join the singing
  • Farewell: Michaela Florence ’25
  • Recessional: Behrend Ceremonial Brass and Percussion Ensemble
    • Selections from La Danserye, Tylman Susato, and Crown Imperial, William Walton

Commencement Marshals

  • The College Marshal
  • Faculty Marshals
  • Student Marshals
    • Alec Dennis, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Matthew McDonough, School of Science
    • Ali Ostowar, Black School of Business
    • Marley Persch, School of Engineering
    • Alice Puzarowski, Fox Graduate School
    • Keri Saulino, Schreyer Honors College

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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. 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 doctoral gown has trimming—usually black velvet—on the sleeves.

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 the hoods over the candidates’ shoulders.

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor’s degrees are conferred by the University after the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 credits in a four-year major. The associate degree is conferred after the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 credits in one of the two-year majors.

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, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students graduating with an Honors degree are noted with a double dagger (††) in this program.

Evan Pugh Scholars

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). Evan Pugh Scholars are noted with numbers (3) in this program.

Scholastic Distinction

Undergraduate candidates with academic distinction 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. Distinction is subject to the candidates’ satisfaction of minimum criteria. Students graduating with scholastic distinction are noted with an asterisk (*) in this program.

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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

Samuel Rosario  |  Welcome

Samuel Rosario, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He has served as a resident assistant, and he received the 2024 Pride of the Lion Award and 2024 Outstanding Collaborative Program Award. He completed an engineering internship at Wabtec in Erie. After graduation, he will return to Wabtec as part of the company’s LEAD program in engineering.

Michaela Florence  |  Farewell

Michaela Florence, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, is graduating magna cum laude with dual degrees in Business Economics and Marketing. This year, she received the Eric A. and Josephine Walker Award and Business Economics and Marketing awards; in 2022, she received the Outstanding First-Year Student award. She was named a Delta Sigma Pi Regional and Provincial Collegian of the Year. She will pursue an MBA at Behrend this fall.   
 

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Student Marshals

Alec Dennis  |  School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Alec Dennis, of Erie, is graduating summa cum laude with dual degrees in Political Science and Psychology. An Evan Pugh Scholar, he received awards for Political Science and Scholarly Achievement in Psychology this year and a Writing Award in 2024. He was an intern and volunteer at Susan Hirt Hagen CORE. He plans to attend law school.

Matthew McDonough  |  School of Science

Matthew McDonough, of Pittsburgh, is graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Mathematics. An Evan Pugh Scholar and member of the Men’s Basketball Team, he received the award for Most Promising First-Year Student in Mathematics in 2023. His future plans include an MBA at Behrend and a career as a data analyst or statistician.

Ali Ostowar  |  Black School of Business

Ali Ostowar, of Olomouc, Czech Republic, is graduating summa cum laude with an Honors degree in Management Information Systems. An Evan Pugh Scholar, he received the Archie K. Loss Undergraduate Thesis Award and MIS award this year. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in artificial intelligence at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Marley Persch  |  School of Engineering

Marley Persch, of Hudsonville, Michigan, is graduating with an Honors degree in Polymer Engineering and Science. She received the award for Polymer Engineering and Science this year and the Jake Boyle Memorial Award in 2024. After graduation, she will join the Commercial Leadership Program at Conventus Polymers.

Alice Puzarowski  |  Fox Graduate School

Alice Puzarowski, of Erie, is graduating with a master’s degree in Project Management. She received the Master of Project Management award this year. She earned a bachelor’s degree in General Arts and Sciences from Penn State Behrend in 2020. She plans to continue working in research administration at Behrend.

Keri Saulino  |  Schreyer Honors College

Keri Saulino, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is graduating summa cum laude with an Honors degree in Environmental Science. A member of the Women’s Tennis Team, she received an award for Environmental Science Research in 2024 and awards for Writing and Outstanding First-Year Student in Chemistry in 2022. She is pursuing a career in conservation or sustainability.
 

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Faculty Speaker

Dr. Kenneth Louie

Associate Professor of Economics and Director, Economic Research Institute of Erie

Dr. Kenneth Louie is an associate professor of economics and director of the Economic Research Institute of Erie, an outreach effort of the Black School of Business. He specializes in macroeconomics, international economics, and labor economics, and his current research includes a grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate work on the “human-technology frontier” as part of an effort to position the United States as a leader in global science and engineering.

As director of the Economic Research Institute of Erie, Dr. Louie has provided analysis and commentary on issues related to the Erie economy for local, national, and international news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, CBS News, NBC News, CNBC, and NPR.

Dr. Louie has been a Fulbright Scholar to China and a Visiting Professor at the Johns Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, China.

He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Northwestern University.

He has received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Society of Leadership and Success, as well as several awards from Penn State Behrend, including the Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award, the Guy W. Wilson Award for Excellence in Academic Advising, and the Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award. He has also received the Innovating through Collaboration Award and the Impact on Practice Award from the Black School of Business.

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Commencement Speaker

Tim NeCastro

President and CEO, Erie Insurance

Tim NeCastro is the president and CEO of Erie Insurance, an auto, home, business, and life insurance company based in Erie. It operates in twelve states and the District of Columbia, has more than seven million policies in force, and is the largest employer and only Fortune 500 company in Erie County.

NeCastro joined Erie Insurance in 1996, starting a career that has spanned finance, services, and sales. In 2014, NeCastro led Erie Insurance’s entry into its twelfth state, Kentucky. He was appointed president and CEO in 2016. Prior to joining Erie Insurance, NeCastro worked for The Plastek Group in Erie as director of finance, and as senior manager at accounting firm Ernst & Young.

An Erie native, NeCastro is a graduate of Cathedral Preparatory School and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Gannon University. He is the founding board president of the Erie Downtown Development Corporation, which is transforming the downtown core of Erie through real estate development. He also serves on the executive committee of the board for the Erie Community Foundation and as board chairman for Infinite Erie, a coalition that is working to create more than $1 billion in transformational change throughout Erie County. Additionally, he is a board member for Team Pennsylvania and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association; is the treasurer and a council member for The Pennsylvania Society; and is on the advisory council for the Robert Irvine Foundation.

NeCastro and his wife, Lisa, are currently serving as co-chairs for United Way of Erie County’s “Uniting for Education” endowment campaign to support the organization’s Community Schools model, a strategy to break down barriers that low-income students face and help set them up for future success.
 

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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 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. She made the gift in memory of her husband, Ernst, co-founder with his father and brother of the Hammermill Paper Company, which 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 4,400 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 is an abundance of 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.

Today’s 854-acre campus includes Knowledge Park, giving 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. Annually, Penn State Behrend funds 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, Penn State Behrend contributes more than $175 million to the Commonwealth’s economy.
 

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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
    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
    Dr. Ralph M. Ford
  • Director
    Dr. Priscilla H. Hamilton
  • Director
    Thomas C. Hoffman II
  • Director
    Karen Burton Horstman
  • Director
    Brian M. Kupchella
  • Director
    J. Scott McCain
  • Director
    Ann Karmazon Scott
  • Director
    Matthew W. Totzke
  • Director
    Ashleigh E. Walters
  • Director
    Gregory M. Yahn
  • Director
    Dr. Halina M. Zyczynski
  • Executive Director
    Andrea Konkol
  • 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 28, 2025, and academic distinction notations as of February 27, 2025. 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 25-223

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