ALTOONA, Pa. — The 13th class of Sheetz Fellows was inducted during a formal ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 24. A competitive academic program, Sheetz Fellows offers unique opportunities that ignite and inspire the entrepreneurial mindset of students at Penn State Altoona by fostering critical thinking, ingenuity, leadership and problem-solving skills.

Thirteen students were inducted into the program: Anna Batrus, of Altoona; Jocelyn Carles, of Altoona; Jonas Ciprich, of Hollidaysburg; Seth Conaway, of Fallentimber; Savanna Kelly, of Beech Creek; Tyler Mainor, of Hollidaysburg; Luke Pletz, of Pittsburgh; Forrest Schwinn, of Julian; Andrew Tornatore, of Tipton; Ty Wasserman, of Rockton, Illinois; Sarah Weathersbee, of Altoona; Nikolas Wessel, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Nicolas Zoccoli, of Wantage, New Jersey.

“We want to support you, we want to help you grow, and, ultimately, we want to help you lead fulfilling lives,” said Steve Sheetz during his program remarks. “My wife and I are very proud of the Sheetz Fellows Program and especially proud of the fellows.”

The Sheetz Fellows Program was established in 2009 as part of a historic gift to Penn State Altoona by Steve and Nancy Sheetz and has proven to be a visionary initiative that prepares students for professional, educational, personal and social success.

All Sheetz Fellows are required to maintain at least a 3.25 in-major GPA, in addition to completing an option in entrepreneurship or an entrepreneurship minor, a minimum of 80 hours of servant leadership, a mentor program, a study away experience, an internship or research initiative, and an ethics course.

Sheetz Fellows receive a $5,000 scholarship during their junior year and a $10,000 scholarship during their senior year, in addition to other numerous leadership and travel opportunities.

All students graduating from Penn State Altoona as a Sheetz Fellow receive a medallion and special recognition at commencement.