Behrend students lauded at Honors and Awards Convocation

ERIE, Pa. — Penn State Behrend recognized more than 160 students for excellence in scholastic achievement and campus engagement at the college’s 76th Honors and Awards Convocation, which was held in McGarvey Commons. The event is one of the college’s oldest traditions.

“There’s a reason that Behrend’s founders created this ceremony within months of opening the doors,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “That is because academic excellence is our core value.

“Academics are the foundation that everything else builds upon, whether our students find themselves learning in a classroom, tutoring a peer, participating in undergraduate research or working alongside local and global companies to solve real-world challenges," Ford said. "That is what we celebrate here today.”

Among the awards were the following college-wide honors:

Ali Ostowar, of Bohunovice, Czech Republic; Trinity Prestash, of Philipsburg; and Ellen Shade, of Edinboro, received the Archie K. Loss Undergraduate Thesis Award, which recognizes Schreyer Honors College undergraduate students who have completed or are making significant progress toward completion of an outstanding honors thesis.

Michael Del Signore, of Beaver, received the Irvin H. Kochel Award, which recognizes an outstanding student who demonstrates qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship through involvement in programs and service that positively influence other students.

Zane Lewis, of Erie, received the T. Reed Ferguson Award, which recognizes a junior-year student whose academic and out-of-classroom leadership promises further achievement in the senior year.

Ethan Callaghan, of Elizabeth, received the Thomas H. Turnbull Award, which honors a student who has contributed to the college community through qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Outstanding service to the college is the most important criterion for selection.

Michaela Florence, of Moon Township, received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, which is presented to students whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into student programs and services.

Beauregard Hernandez, of Lubbock, Texas, received the Outstanding First-Year Student Award, which recognizes a first-year student who demonstrates outstanding promise of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship through achievements in his or her first year of study.

Amy Love, of Stahlstown, and Adam Sacherich, of Moon Township, received the Council of Fellows Undergraduate Research Award, which is presented to students who demonstrate excellence in undergraduate research.

For a full list of this year’s awards and recipients, go to the Honors & Awards Convocation webpage.