MONACA, Pa. — Penn State Beaver's 58th annual awards ceremony took place on April 23, where Errett Sedlacek was presented with the 2026 Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award.
The award recognizes Penn State students whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship contribute to the prestige and well-being of their campus.
Sedlacek, a second-year criminal justice major, earned the award for his student leadership on campus including his role as a Peer Mentor, a Lion Ambassador, his volunteer efforts at community events and his overall involvement in the campus.
Sedlacek is a student who displays integrity, empathy, patience and a “calm professionalism far beyond his years,” said Penn State Beaver Director of Academic Affairs Mari Harvey.
“On campus, Errett pours himself into roles that support, guide and inspire others,” Harvey said. “He consistently shows up with reliability, warmth and a genuine desire to help … He leads by making the people around him feel seen, supported and valued.”
Maddy Ronk, a fourth-year business accounting major, earned the Outstanding Student Award for her academic dedication, work ethic and involvement on campus including serving as a teaching assistant and a peer alcohol educator for Health Services.
“Upon meeting Maddy, I saw her bright smile. We started talking, and I recognized she was someone special and offered her a job,” said campus nurse Jessica Judy. “Maddy is one of the hardest working students I’ve ever met … She possesses all of our Penn State values: integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community.”
Here’s a full list of the 2026 winners:
President Walker Award
- James Newark
- Zachary Smith
- Nicholas Sosnowski
Baccalaureate Awards
- Business: Stephanie Menor
- Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science: Lizzie Bates
- Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations: Ben Kurtyka
- Project Supply Chain Management: Garrett Heasley
- Psychology: Breanna Thomas
College of Engineering, Computer Science
- Richard Allenbaugh
Eberly College of Science, Chemistry
- Auriane Pommier
University College
- Arts and Humanities: Charlotte Beall
- Biology: Phoenix Hall
- Business: Lauren Miller
- Criminal Justice, B.S.: Errett Sedlacek
- Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations: Nathan Brenner
- Information Technology: Brent Mennell
- Psychology: Katrina Elder
Student Life Leadership Awards
- Anant Palve
- Auriane Pommier
- Camren Stein
- Kaylah Arias
- Lillian Momyer
Outstanding Club
- Running Club
Outstanding Club Adviser Award
- Andrew DiPietrantonio – Running Club
Academic Adviser Award
- Mari Harvey
Adult Achievement Award
- Kala Sullivan
Outstanding Student Award
- Maddie Ronk
Eric A. Josephine S. Walker Award
- Errett Sedlacek
Advisory Board Award, Faculty Excellence in Teaching
- Kate McLean
- Rand Warsaw
Advisory Board Award, Faculty Excellence in Research
- Nima Khodakarami
Advisory Board Award, Faculty Excellence in Service
- Stephanie Petroski
Advisory Board Award, Staff Excellence
- Jessica Judy
Staff Service
- Tricia McDermott