Five Penn State Seniors Receive The John W. Oswald Award

4-1-96
University Park, Pa. -- Five Penn State seniors received 1996 John W. Oswald Awards. The award is given annually to seniors who have provided outstanding leadership in at least one of the following areas: scholarship, athletics, social service/religious activities/student government, journalism/speech/mass media, and creative or performing arts. They will be honored at the Student Awards Reception Monday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m. in the Nittany Lion Inn.

This year's winners are: Kara K. Annechini, Amy E. B. Kapp, Ruth C. Pflueger, Jennifer L. Reimers, and Amy K. Swanson.

Annechini, a political science major from Wayne, received the award for her contributions to student government. She is Undergraduate Student Government president, a member of the University Planning Council, and co-chair of the Activity Fee Implementation Committee. Annechini was formerly the president of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and a member of the women's soccer team.

Kapp, a media major from West Chester, received the award for her contributions through mass media. She has worked for The Daily Collegian as a reporter and an editor, and has contributed articles to the Penn State Journalist. Kapp is a University Scholar who combines her academic excellence with social service. She is creator of the Service Learning SOURCE program, and has spent a semester teaching for the Sicangu Lakota nation in South Dakota.

Pflueger, an English major from Tyrone, is the Oswald recipient for scholarship. She is a published poet who has won awards for her works, and is an artist whose work was displayed at First Night Erie. Pflueger, who has presented academic papers twice at the Pennsylvania College English Association, completed her entire academic program as a part-time student while working full-time to support her family.

Reimers, a landscape architecture major from Lincoln, Neb., received the award for athletics. She has excelled at both varsity basketball and volleyball, and has been honored as a Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week three times. Reimers has been a member of the All Big Ten Academic Team four years for volleyball and three years for basketball. She was also a member of the All Big Ten Volleyball Team twice, and the All Tournament Team for the 1993 Final Four.

Swanson, a musical education major from Enfield, Conn., is this year's recipient for performing arts. She has been a member of the Altoona Symphony, the Music at Penns Woods Festival Orchestra, and the Nittany Valley Symphony. She has also performed with the Enfield Jazz Band and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. On campus, Swanson has performed with the Concert Band, the University Choir, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Penn State Chamber Orchestra, and the Penn State Blue Band, where she was the first woman to serve as percussion guide. She has also won scholarships and has been tapped for honor societies.

**jmp**