Academics

Penn State Greater Allegheny commencement exercises held during the weekend

Penn State Greater Allegheny's Fall 2018 graduates singing the Alma Mater. Credit: Justin Varney / Penn State. Creative Commons

MCKEESPORT, Pa. - This past weekend The Pennsylvania State University awarded diplomas to students across the commonwealth. 

Twenty-nine students from Greater Allegheny’s campus graduated on Dec. 14, in the Wunderley Gymnasium. These graduates have successfully achieved the requirements in programs such as Administration of Justice, Biobehavioral Health, Business, Communications, Information Sciences and Technologies, Project & Supply Chain Management, Psychology, and Security and Risk Analysis. 

Student speaker Curtis Newby captured the attention of ceremony-goers with his commencement address. Newby acknowledged that his life could have taken a different direction and credited his family, friends and teammates (PSUGA Men’s Basketball Team), and the faculty and staff at Greater Allegheny for the role they played in supporting him as he worked to earn his degree.    

"I would like to thank all my family and friends who supported me through all my ups and downs, even before I decided to come back to school to pursue my degree because I know things have been rough for our family," said Newby. 

During the ceremony, keynote speaker Fred Ramos, senior vice president, corporate communications at Highmark Health, challenged the graduates to remember three things as they embark on the next phase of their lives; being prepared, being respectful, and being trustworthy. 

At the end of the event, families, faculty, and staff share a final celebratory moment as we welcomed the newest members of the Penn State alumni. A special thank you to Housing and Food Services for catering the celebration. 

Congratulations to Penn State Greater Allegheny's Fall Class of 2018: 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE RECIPIENTS

Eric Norman Arbogast
Joshua E. Arroyo-Vazquez  
Zachary Pollack  
Rachel Marie Schweitzer    
Kristen Marie Zolnierzak
Matthew John Zovko Jr.

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE CANDIDATES 

Administration of Justice 

Samantha Jo Segiel 

Communications 

Khari Hicks
Kelsey M. Hoffman
Curtis Newby
Daniel Steven Stepansky 

Psychology 

Sara N. Copeland 

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE CANDIDATES

Administration of Justice 

Adam Bachmaier
Mitchell Gregg DeVall II
Rachel Marie Schweitzer 

Biobehavioral Health 

Joshua E. Arroyo-Vazquez
Amanda Evelyn Johnston
Kristen Marie Zolnierzak 

Business 

Scott Amorose
Antonio Lucic-Jozak
Susma Bista
Kyle Miller
Eric Greiner
Tyler Rawlings
Antoine Harris
Christian Peter Schratz
Anthony Janicki
Michael Vay
Jalen Robert Ledbetter
Matthew John Zovko Jr. 

Information Sciences and Technology 

Muhammad Akram
Yam Bista
Raghu N. Chimoriya
Joseph McLachlan Jr.
Tejendra Subedi 

Project & Supply Chain Management 

Aubriea Miller 

Psychology 

Eric Norman Arbogast
Roberta Kameka-Yearwood
Jerry E. Pastories
Zachary Pollack 

Security and Risk Analysis 

Patrick M. Swaney 

Last Updated December 18, 2018