McKEESPORT, Pa. — Penn State Greater Allegheny recognized and honored students at an Evening of Excellence, student awards celebration at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, in the campus Wunderley Gymnasium. The event highlighted the achievements of students who have not only excelled academically, but who also lead with purpose whether in the classroom, across campus, or in the campus community. Photos from the event can be found on the campus Flickr account.
The first instance of Evening of Excellence dates to its establishment in 1983 by the Penn State McKeesport Alumni Society. Their desire to recognize the academic and personal achievements of students who were enrolled at the campus continues today thanks to their unwavering support and collaboration with the campus community, who nominated and selected the evening’s award recipients.
Academic recognitions and honor society inductions
Prior to the evening celebration, the campus held ceremonies for student inductions into academic honor societies including Alpha alpha alpha (tri-alpha), the first-generation honor society; Psi chi, the psychology honor society; and Sigma beta delta, the business, management and administration honor society. The campus also recognized students inducted into Alpha phi sigma, the criminal justice honor society during the evening celebration. Each honor society inducts students based on academic achievement and specific criteria related to their discipline.
Alpha alpha alpha new inductees:
- Ashmita Bhandari Chhetri
- Carly Bills
- Emma Campbell
- Manish Chapagain
- Pratiksha Chapagain
- Jessica Conaway
- Tina Dong
- Sipan Edo
- Alana Fant
- Saroj Gurung
- Mason Haffa
- Mira Hardman
- Chazdine Harmon
- Monjeana Henderson
- Gabriel Kendrick
- Kayla Kerr
- Ashley McKernan
- Brayden Patton
- Mina Qussay
- Bigyan Regmi
- Victor Sandoval
- Michael Sincak
- Peyton Smith
- Gabriella Tokar
- Gianna Tour
- Alyssia Tucker
- Aiden Yuscinski
Alpha phi sigma new inductees:
- Rose Griffin
- Gretta Kumrow
- Brian Sita
Psi chi new inductees:
- Carly Bills
- Makenzie Mathers
- Madison Thomas
- Monjeana Henderson
- Chazdine Harmon
- Ymani Merritt Bates
- Annabella Croyts
- Jessica Conaway
- Rebecca Fauth
Sigma beta delta new inductees:
- Ashmita Bhandari Chhetri
- Ashley McKernan
- Brandon Cirucci
The campus also recognized 44 students participating in the campus honors program and acknowledged 122 students named to the dean’s list in the fall 2025 semester.
Faculty awards for student academic excellence
Faculty selected students to be recognized as the top students in their respective disciplines:
- Agricultural sciences and science: Ira Campos
- Biobehavioral health: Tasneem Ekhtiar
- Business: Alexander Zimmerman
- Criminal justice: Skyler Shoben
- Cybersecurity analytics and operations: Gino Penascino
- Engineering/earth and mineral sciences: Tina Dong
- Information technology: Victor Sandoval
- Project and supply chain management: Brandon Cirucci
- Psychology: Monjeana Henderson
- Social work: Alana Fant
Student leadership and campus involvement awards
- Outstanding contribution to the student government association award: Emma Campbell
- Emerging first-year leader award: Zachary Williams
- Emerging second-year leader award: Kody Hynes-McCutcheon
- Student affairs award for student leadership: Jenna Moranelli
- Athlete of the year: Peyton Smith and Gino Penascino
EPIC awards
The EPIC awards, first established in 2018, are presented by the ACE Program (TRIO Student Support Services) and the John H. Gruskin Student Success Center to recognize first-generation college students and students of color who exemplify qualities of leadership, discovery, and community engagement.
- EPIC leadership award: Emma Campbell
- EPIC discovery award: Tapashya Ghimirey
- EPIC community award: Monjeana Henderson
University awards
The university awards honor students who reflect excellence in scholarship, leadership, and academic performance across the commonwealth.
- Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker award: Monjeana Henderson
- President Sparks award: Ryan Patterson
- President Walker award: Anthony Dalessandri, Matthew Diamond, Saroj Gurung, and Luke Kolas
- Evan Pugh scholar award (senior): Gino Penascino
Chancellor’s award for academic excellence
The chancellor’s award for academic excellence recognizes graduating students who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.60 or higher and have completed at least 36 credits at Greater Allegheny campus. This year’s recipients are:
- Lillian Barker
- Ian Brown
- Stephen Dickmann IV
- Lauren Gaydos
- Monjeana Henderson
- Isaac Hrehor
- Po Hsu
- Joseph Kalemon
- Gabriel Kendrick
- Alexander Mann
- Keren Medina
- Brayden Patton
- Gino Penascino
- Dawn Rees
- Victor Sandoval
- Skyler Shoben
- Niraj Thapa
- Kiara Thomas
- Aryan Timsina
- Maxwell Whitson
The recipients of the chancellor’s award for academic excellence will be attending Greater Allegheny’s spring 2026 commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 8, in the campus Wunderley Gymnasium. The ceremony will recognize 56 graduates and degree candidates earning baccalaureate and associate degrees from fall 2025, and spring and summer 2026 semesters. Visit the commencement webpage for more ceremony details and the livestream link.