Penn State Erie hosted its 45th Annual Honors and Awards Convocation ceremony on Sunday, April 23, in Erie Hall. Faculty and staff members, including Chancellor Jack Burke, Senior Associate Dean Robert Light and Associate Dean David Christiansen, presented more than 80 awards to individual students, student organizations, and fellow faculty and staff in five primary categories: student life, athletics, academics, special service and faculty and staff awards.

Two engineering majors were featured speakers at the event. Laura Stuart, president of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, welcomed attendees to the ceremony, while Hilary Neal, president of Lambda Sigma Honor Society, gave closing remarks. The ceremony was followed with a reception in the Wintergarden for all winners.

All awards are listed alphabetically by recipient.

Student Life Awards
Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Distinguished Community/Campus Service Award; Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority, Outstanding Greek Chapter Award; Shou Ying Evelyn Ang, Most Outstanding Student Organization Officer; Caitlin D. Bahr, General Anthony Wayne Excellence in Leadership Award, First Year; Elma Bico, Student Employee of the Year Award; Daniela E. Campana, Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Service Award;
Andrew S. Campbell, General Anthony Wayne Excellence in Leadership Award, Second Year
Cultural Week, Most Creative Program; Weusi O. Erskine, Student Activities Leadership Award; Jennifer A. Haight, Most Outstanding Student Organization Member; Alexander M. Henderson, Most Outstanding Student Organization President and the Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Award; Kassi L. Hindman, Penn State Behrend Alumni Society Leadership Award; Matchbox Players, Best Student Organization; Seraina N. Naef, Student Activities Leadership Award, Guy W. Wilson Award for Student Service to the College, Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Service Award; William J. Shields, Outstanding Adult Learner;
Deepti Soni, Student Government Association President's Award; and Danielle Stahlbaum, Student Activities Leadership Award.

Athletic Awards
Staci A. Banaszek, Cheryl Ramsdell-Anderson Female Athlete of the Year Award and John Zahniser Female Scholar-Athlete Award; Chick Magnets, Intramural Point System, Men's Division and Coed Division; Geoffrey S. Dworakowski, Male Intramural Athlete of the Year;
Shane C. Elzer, James Frye Male Athlete of the Year Award; Joseph J. Ferguson, Herb Lauffer Sportsmanship/Leadership Award and John Zahniser Male Scholar-Athlete Award;
Chandra L. Giger, Behrend Lion Spirit Award; Nicole Mineweaser, Female Intramural Athlete of the Year; Karla P. Murray, Herb Lauffer Sportsmanship/Leadership Award; Project Mayhem, Intramural Point System, Women's Division; Senat Hall, Intramural Point System, Residence Hall Division; and Sigma Tau Gamma, Intramural Point System, Fraternity Division.

In addition, Duane "Butch" Kemling is the recipient of this year's Richard Dill Outstanding Service Award, which is given annually to the person who has provided outstanding service as a lay volunteer to the Penn State Erie athletics program.

Academic Awards
Corinne L. Baccanti, President's Freshman Award; Leann M. Bartomioli, Outstanding Tutor Award, Writing; Danielle N. Brown, President Sparks Award; Joel M. Carr, Evan Pugh Scholar, Junior; Patrick J. Conklin, Division of Undergraduate Studies, Sophomore; John D. Crane, Undergraduate Student Research; Christopher T. Dine, Outstanding Tutor Award, Engineering; Geoffrey S. Dworakowski, Penn State Behrend Future Teacher Award; Jordan T. Gilmore, Evan Pugh Scholar, Junior; Rebecca T. Hart, President's Freshman Award; Ashraf Khalifa, President's Freshman Award; Alicia M. Klinvex, President Sparks Award;
Louis J. Kobielski, President's Freshman Award; Lauren A. Kremm, President's Freshman Award; Daniel B. Kubacki, Evan Pugh Scholar, Junior; Allison B. Mudrey, Division of Undergraduate Studies, Sophomore; Brian M. Nypaver, The Behrend College Writing Awards, Engineering; Stephen R. Oyler, Outstanding Tutor Award, Other Subjects; Krista Pugliano, Evan Pugh Scholar, Junior; Nicholas M. Ross, Division of Undergraduate Studies, First-Year; Arthur G. Russakoff, President's Freshman Award; Torrey R. Schmidt, President Sparks Award; Drew P. Seker, President's Freshman Award; Joseph W. Shaffer, Outstanding Tutor Award, Mathematics; Heather L. Sopher, President's Freshman Award; Jessica L. Storm, The Behrend College Writing Awards, First-Year; Joseph A. Synowka, Division of Undergraduate Studies, First-Year; Joshua L. Wilczynski, The Behrend College Writing Awards, Humanities; and Xiaonan Zang, Evan Pugh Scholar, Senior.

The Sam and Irene Black School of Business
Staci A. Banaszek, Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Accounting Award; Peter J. Binotto, Wall Street Journal Student Achievement; Justin A. Buschman, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Accounting Award; Jason D. Campbell, Management Information Systems Award; Amy L. Caskey, Marketing Award; Renee L. Miskimmin, Master of Business Administration Award; Gregory J. Parker, Economics Award;
Clark A. Pease, Management Information Systems Award; Margaret A. Porter, Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key and Management Award;Xiaotang Qin, Finance Award; Jeremiah J. Riethmiller, Business Economics Award; Christopher L. Sitter, Business Economics Award and International Business Award; Amber M. Weckoski, Business, Liberal Arts, and Science Award; and Brian R. Wheatall, Management Information Systems Award,

School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Lisa M. Akus, The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award, First Place; Kristen C. Comstock, Communication and Media Studies Award; Christopher S. Denman, Outstanding English Major, Literature; Keith T. Doak, Julia A. Rebman Fiction Award, First Place; Patrick E. Doyle, Corey N. Farrell Creative Writing Award; Amanda S. Dziubkowski, Julia A. Rebman Fiction Award, Second Place; Allison M. Gray, Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award, Third Place; Eileen R. Haase, Outstanding Psychology Student; Alexander M. Henderson, Outstanding Political Science Major; Nicole Kramer, Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award, Second Place; Raleigh S. Lee, Clarence A. Smith and Eugenie Baumann Smith Creative Writing Fellowship and The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award, Second Place;
Rachel L. Lyon, Communication and Media Studies Award; Randy S. Martell, Ernest E. and Bernice C. Fryer Family Psychology Award; Gregory J. Parker, Outstanding Scholarly Achievement in Psychology; Danielle E. Payer, Corey N. Farrell Creative Writing Award;
Aimee L. Pogson, Outstanding English Major, Creative Writing; Corey N. Farrell Nonfiction Award, First Place; and Julia A. Rebman Fiction Award, Third Place; Jefferis K. Peterson, General Arts and Sciences Award; Erik L. Regis, Outstanding History Major; Christopher Strayer, Outstanding Political Science Major; and Corey J. Zeller, The Kenneth Jonathan Sonnenberg Poetry Award, Third Place.

School of Science
David J. Bertolasio, Mathematics Award, Undergraduate; Robert S. Covert, Biology Award;
Christopher T. Dine, Chemistry Award; Chandra L. Giger, Biology Award; Andrew Hua Law, CRC/Outstanding Freshman; Sam Marvit, Mathematics Competition; Alex M. Mooney, Physics Award; Nicholas D. Ross, Mathematics Award, Senior; Stephanie L. Soergel, Mathematics Competition; Heather L. Sopher, Outstanding Freshman in Chemistry/American Chemical Society; and Malorie B. Winters, Mathematics Competition.

School of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Joshua M. Glessner, Plastics Engineering Technology, Four-Year Program; Robert T. Lutton, Computer Engineering; Andrew E. Mauthe, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Two-Year Program; Tyler J. Nelson, Software Engineering; Matthew P. Rodney, Electrical Engineering Technology, Two-Year Program; Bradley D. Smith, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Four-Year Program; Brian D. Toler, Electrical Engineering Technology, Four-Year Program;
Michael R. Weismiller, Mechanical Engineering; and Jeffrey J. Wolff, Electrical Engineering

The Penn State Behrend Honors Program awarded students who completed at least nine honors credits while maintaining a minimum 3.2 grade-point average each semester through their sophomore year. Recipients include: Jason D. Agajanian, Julia D. Andrus, Sean V. Benim, Melanie M. Blais, Stephanie L. Burbules, Patrick J. Conklin, Christopher W. Creveling, Amy L. Dine, Dustin P. Fairchild, Geoffrey G. Geisel, Jory J. Giger, Huseyin Gitmez, Megan M. Hammers, Kara I. Hesch, Richard L. Holzworth, Evan J. Hoovler, Jon M. Hull, Katie L. Kelecseny, Julie K. Kosin, Andrew J. Lloyd, Kristen A. Lord, Sara A. Lucas, Kimberly A. McCray, Sabina Medilovic, James B. Morosky, Allison B. Mudrey, Hilary A. Neal, Daryl J. Nowacki, Christine L. Palchak, Jodi M. Rae, Katherine E. Redington, Grant P. Reschenthaler, Adam D. Rhodes, Natalie C. Romano, Torrey R. Schmidt, Israel T. Schultz, Erika L. Segear, Joseph L. Sepich, Joseph W. Shaffer, Cleon A. Smith, Leisl M. Soergel, Angela J. Speck, Jesse M. Stimpson, Meredith R. Straub, Kirstin R. Strobel, Monika Tobiszewska, Rocco P. Viggiano, Michael J. Vollmer, Andrew E. Walker, Zachary D. Walko, John D. Watkins, Jessie J. Westrick, Kyle R. White, Rachael J. Zelina and Alyssa K. Zimmerman.

Special Service Awards
-- The John W. Oswald Award was presented to Stephanie M. Bowen. This University award was established by the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Leadership Society to recognize a graduating senior who has provided outstanding leadership in at least one of several areas of student leadership activity at Penn State.

-- Maulin S. Gandhi was awarded the T. Reed Ferguson Award, which recognizes a junior who has demonstrated scholarship, leadership and citizenship that has impacted fellow students through academic and out-of-class involvement and gives promise of further achievement in the senior year.

-- Alexander M. Henderson was the recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award in recognition of outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship that have been directed into student programs and services. Scholarship is a primary criterion along with a record of outstanding service to the college.

-- Brandon C. McGraw received the Outstanding First-Year Student, which recognizes a first-year student who demonstrates outstanding promise of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship through achievements in the first year of study.

-- The Thomas H. Turnbull Award, which lists outstanding service as its the most important criterion, was presented to Seraina N. Naef. This award is presented annually to a Penn State Erie student who has contributed to the college community through outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship.

-- Cleon A. Smith was presented with the Irvin H. Kochel Award. The award is presented annually to an undergraduate student who demonstrates outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship through their involvement in programs and services that positively influence fellow students and have contributed to the college community.

Faculty and Staff Awards
-- Co-recipients Brenda C. Bane, copy center operator, and Stacey A. McCoy, accounting clerk and student activities assistant, were presented with the Benjamin A. Lane Outstanding Service Award. The award honors a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to Penn State Erie as exemplified by the unparalleled devotion of Benjamin A. Lane, associate professor of English emeritus.

-- Leigh-Ann Bedal, lecturer in anthropology, was awarded the Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award. Established in 1969, the award recognizes a faculty member who most truly fills the role of inspired and committed teacher.

-- Frank W. DeWolf, director of the RFID Research Center and lecturer in management and e-Business, was presented with the Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award, which recognizes a faculty member who most truly serves the campus, community and an academic profession.

-- Thomas L. Hemminger, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, earned the Council of Fellows Faculty Research Award. This award was established in 1982 and recognizes a faculty member who truly fills the role of an inspired, dedicated researcher at Penn State Erie.

-- Andy A. Herrera, director of educational equity, was presented with the Best Student Organization Advisor Award, honoring a club adviser who supports the organization through regular attendance at meetings and organization-sponsored events, consistently helpful advice to the officers and its members, and service to the organization.

-- David H. Johnson, associate professor of engineering, earned the Guy W. Wilson Award for Excellence in Academic Advising by a Penn State Erie faculty member.

Visit http://pserie.psu.edu/student/studentlife.htm for complete descriptions of these awards.