Faculty Senate honors five graduating seniors with 2026 John W. White Fellowships

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Faculty Senate Committee on Student Life recently awarded five graduating Penn State seniors who will be pursuing graduate-level education with the John W. White Graduate Fellowship.

The purpose of this fellowship, considered one of the oldest continuing fellowships at the University, is to recognize and support outstanding students enrolled or planning to enroll in graduate degree programs. Students considered for this award are full-time seniors who have exhibited academic excellence, are graduating summa cum laude and intend to engage in graduate study.

The students were each recognized during the April 28 meeting of the University Faculty Senate.

“Each year, the Penn State Faculty Senate Committee on Student Life has the privilege of awarding the John W. White Graduate Fellowship to among the most impressive students at the University,” said Heather Parizek, chair of the Senate Committee on Student Life, while introducing the students. “Not only do these students demonstrate excellence in academics, but they also have deeply rooted and multifaceted stories on how they have reached their graduate study goals.”

Members of the Student Life committee reviewed the 51 applicants and selected the finalists. The rubric the committee used to select the recipients emphasized post-graduation plans, strength in leadership, service to discipline or community, and effective communication.

The 2026 award recipients are:

Rich Carney

Rich Carney is a World Campus student majoring in psychology, who will be attending the University of Pennsylvania next year to begin a Master of Social Work program. During his time at Penn State, Carney worked as a research assistant and lab manager with the Online Students of Phycology Research Lab, where he was involved in multiple research projects. He presented his findings at several national conferences and served as a research mentor to other students.

Carney also created the World Campus Psychology Research Showcase, where World Campus students could present their work, and facilitated connections between students and professionals across mental health disciplines as an officer of the World Campus Phycology Club.

“I am truly grateful to be a part of a community like Penn State that inspires growth, collaboration, and purpose,” Carney said. “This recognition reflects not only my efforts, but the support, mentorship, and teamwork of so many people I have encountered during my time at Penn State. I am excited to keep learning, leading, and giving back.”

Carney said his professional goal is to become a clinical social worker specializing in supporting children and families navigating complex and chronic medical conditions. He said his hope is to not only provide direct clinical care, but to also conduct research that informs best practices in integrated behavioral health settings, while serving as a mentor to future social workers.

Charles Colvin

Charles Colvin is a Schreyer Honors College student majoring in plant sciences, with concentrations in plant genetics and biotechnology. He said he plans to begin doctoral studies next fall to investigate how plant genetic diversity shapes interactions with microbes and the environment, with the goal of developing crop variants that naturally defend themselves against pests and other stressors.

During his time at Penn State, Colvin worked in the Chopra Maize Genetics Lab on numerous research projects. This work resulted in several publications and national distinctions, including being named a Herts Fellowship finalist and an Astronaut Scholar (the first plant scientist to be recognized in the program's 37-year history). He has been awarded more than $26,000 to further his research as an undergraduate and serves as a mentor to other students in the lab. Colvin founded the Backyard Foodbank Organic Garden, which has donated more than 400 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks.

“I am really grateful to be recognized with this award,” Colvin said. “It means a lot to me, but more so I think it gives broader recognition as to what students can do when given these sorts of opportunities, mentorship and access that the University can provide.”

Colvin said his professional goal is to help address the future needs of a growing global population in a sustainable way, while facing the increasing effects of climate change.

Hephzibah Dominic

Hephzibah Dominic is a first-generation college student majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations at Penn State Altoona. She will begin graduate work this fall in cybersecurity. She said her goal is to become a cloud security engineer.

During her time at Penn State, Dominic participated in several internships, including positions at Collins Aerospace in Maryland, the Overcomers Church in Lagos, Nigeria, and IT (information technology) support at Beaver Stadium. Dominic is a member of several honor societies and has served the campus community as a mentor and resident assistant. She has also been involved in THON, Penn State’s annual student-run dance marathon.

Dominic said her professional goal is to help develop stronger detection, monitoring, and protection systems for cloud environments.

Alexandria Rhoads

Alexandria Rhoads is a Schreyer Honors College student majoring in aerospace engineering. This fall, she will begin a doctoral program in aerospace engineering, with a focus on astrodynamics and control systems.

During her time at Penn State, Rhoads conducted research in the Aerial Robotics and Interactions Laboratory, which led to an internship with Airbus U.S. Space and Defense. She was also a team leader on the Penn State Shell Eco-Marathon Team and the Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team, where she guided large groups of interdisciplinary students through various engineering projects. She also served as a mentor through the Women in Engineering Program.

Rhoads said her professional goal is to become a professor leading a lab dedicated to autonomous spacecraft guidance, navigation and control under uncertainty.

Yanru Wang

Yanru Wang is a communication arts and sciences major who began her undergraduate career in Ningbo, China. She will begin a Master of Science program in epidemiology this fall at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

During her time at Penn State, Wang worked on a research project investigating the role stigma plays in narrative identity, and how health decisions are based not only on knowledge but also on social meaning and cultural expectations. Wang extended her research by organizing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination outreach and reproductive health education initiatives through internships in China. She also served as the activities leader for the Penn State Chinese Student Association.

Through her graduate study, Wang said she hopes to develop stronger methodological tools to study how stigma, gender norms and social environments influence reproductive and perinatal health outcomes. She said her progressional goal is to design public health programs that integrate communication strategies with evidence-based approaches to improve women’s health and reduce barriers to care.