Four Seniors Receive John W. White Graduate Fellowship

4-1-96
University Park, Pa. -- Four Penn State seniors, Ryan D. Biricocchi of New Kensington, Jason K. Dietz of Bellefonte, Eileen L. Whiteman of Churchville and Kurtis A. Williams of New Holland, have been selected to receive 1996 John W. White Fellowships.

They will be recognized at the Student Awards Convocation at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Instituted at Penn State in honor of former University pastor John W. White, the $1,000 fellowship was established to aid graduating seniors who are planning further study.

The award winners were selected through interviews conducted by the University Faculty Committee on Student Life, are seniors who have completed four years of undergraduate study at Penn State and are graduating with highest distinction.

Biricocchi, a University Scholar, will graduate with a bachelor's degree in biology. He has received the President's Freshman Award, which recognizes freshmen earning a 4.0 GPA, and has twice been the recipient of the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, presented each year to juniors and seniors who are in the top .5 percent of their class. Biricocchi is a resident assistant and is involved with Campus Ministry, serving as a lector at the Catholic masses held on campus. He plans to attend graduate school in physical therapy.

Dietz, a University Scholar, is graduating with a bachelor's degree in nutrition. He is a past recipient of the Edith Pitt Chace Award, which recognizes excellence in academic, extracurricular and community activities. In the past, Dietz has worked with the Bellefonte food bank and coached a youth baseball team. He is a member of several national honor societies, including Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi. Dietz has also received two undergraduate research scholarship awards. He plans to attend graduate school and pursue a master's in food science.

Whiteman is graduating with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cell biology. She received the President's Freshman Award, President Sparks Award, and was twice named an Evan Pugh Scholar. A University Scholar, Whiteman assisted in researching the protein structure of apocytochrome b5, and has submitted her thesis to the journal Biochemistry for publication. Outside the research lab, she has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and a food donation project.

Williams is graduating with a bachelor's degree in astronomy and astrophysics. A two-time Evan Pugh Scholar, he has also received the President's Freshman Award and belongs to several national honor societies. As a University Scholar, Williams is conducting research for his thesis on "Modeling Quasar Surveys." He is president of the Penn State Glee Club, and plans to attend graduate school to continue his work in astrophysics.

**jmp**

Contacts:
Christy Rambeau
(814) 865-7517 (office)
(814 237-9046 (home)
cmr7@psu.edu

Alan Janesch
(814) 865-7517 (office)
(814 867-3621 (home)
axj12@psu.edu