UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During all four years of her college education, senior Sarah Beaver has helped ensure the “We Are” experience for students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
Beaver, of Eldred, is an agricultural and extension education major and the college’s representative to the University Park Undergraduate Association, better known as UPUA or student government.
She’s played an active role in UPUA since her freshman year, when she served as parliamentarian.
Now, as she prepares for student teaching in the spring, she is stepping back into the role as parliamentarian and passing the position of college representative to David Washabaugh, a senior majoring in community, environment, and development.
“I’ve always had a passion for advocating for the people around me and UPUA has enabled me to advocate for fellow Penn Staters,” Beaver said. “I’ve been able to improve the campus experience for friends and for students I don’t even know.”
The UPUA holds weekly general assembly meetings in the HUB-Robeson Center, and the steering committee and the three branches — executive, legislative and judicial — hold additional meetings.
The organization started in 2006 and is celebrating 20 years of “being the voice and advocate for all students by passing legislation, voicing student concerns to University leaders and launching campus-wide initiatives,” according to the association’s website.
Some projects that Beaver has championed, and that Washabaugh supports, include a University-wide food drive during Thanksgiving in partnership with student councils in the College of Education and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. They also encourage the University to consider sourcing more of its food from local growers.
Another project they both promoted is National Ag Day in the HUB, making sure that the annual March event is recognized across campus.
“When students see all of the ag clubs in the HUB, they know it’s for National Ag Day,” she said. “We want everyone to know that student government still recognizes the College of Agricultural Sciences and its history and importance at Penn State.”
Megan Marshall, director of student recruitment and activities for the college, said Beaver and Washabaugh have represented the college well.
“They’ve done a great job of amplifying food security initiatives and the National Ag Day celebration in the HUB,” she said. “Both students have done a good job of getting other students involved and advocating for the college across the campus.”
Washabaugh, of McConnellsburg, said his dream career is to work in a position where he can have a positive impact on farms and farm communities. He said his experiences with UPUA are helping him build skills related to public service and policy.
He started with UPUA in the fall of 2024 as an at-large representative, and in addition to representing the college, he also serves as the college’s faculty student senator — a role that involves sharing student concerns and updates directly with faculty.