May 30, 2001
Six graduating seniors in Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College were recently recognized for their accomplishments:

Maureen Gramaglia is the recipient of the 2001 Paul Axt Award, which is considered to be the highest honor bestowed on a graduating Scholar. The awarded is given annually to a graduating Scholar who exemplifies those attributes which Paul Axt, founding director of the University Scholars Program, sought to foster through , and the intellectual curiosity and daring that lead to the development and pursuit of wide-ranging interests.

Gramaglia completed three degrees including a bachelor of science in chemistry and physics and a bachelor of arts in Russian translation, while graduating in four years.  She maintained a 3.98 grade point average and obtained a perfect score on the graduate record exam.  She will be pursuing a Ph.D. at Cal Tech in the fall.

Kimberly Singer is the recipient of the 2001 Usharani and Channa Reddy Mission Award, which honors a graduating Scholar who best exemplifies the mission of the college.  Nominees for this award have excelled in and integrated all three parts of the College mission: academic excellence, internationalization and service/leadership.

Singer graduated with majors in sociology and East Asian studies, with a minor in Chinese language and a grade point average of 3.90.  As an undergraduate, she conducted a field study in China and attended the School for International Training in China. Her thesis “Economic Development and the Sex Industry of Yunnan Province (China)” served as the basis for a training program she presented in Cambodia in March 2001 at the request of a United Nations non-governmental organization.

Joseph B. Geddes III is the recipient of the 2001 Schreyer Honors College Dean's Award for Research Achievement, which honors a graduating Scholar who has made the most important contribution in forwarding research in his/her selected area of study.

Geddes graduated with a bachelor of science and a master of science degree in engineering science in four years. He worked on the SPIRIT rocket at the US South Pole Station and at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, and has published five, first-authored, refereed papers in international journals in his field.

Three students were also honored with Certificates of Commendation for their outstanding work in various areas: 

Jared Hawk was recognized for his research work on creating a comprehensive, statistical database for multilateral treaties (CDMT).  Hawk presented this research at the annual convention of the International Studies Association, as the only undergraduate at a round table with professors from across the U.S. 

Khyber Oser was recognized for his outstanding thesis, a scholarly review of literature on the aftermath of sexual assault.  In addition, he created a therapeutic intervention and workshop, which he implemented with the cooperation of the Centre County Women’s Resource Center.  The workshop provided women with the opportunity to “write to heal.” 

Sassy Ross was recognized for her creative accomplishments including a thesis on matrilineality in Ghana. She also participated in the Organization of African Unity conference for the past three years, self-published two poetry books, founded an independent press (Feelings Publication) which has already published three titles, and co-founded Women in Business, an active Penn State organization.