UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six students who completed stellar undergraduate careers at Penn State — succeeding inside the classroom and out, on campus and far beyond — have been selected to serve as student marshals during commencement exercises for the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at 1 p.m. May 6 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The group includes an overall marshal for the Bellisario College and one representative for each of the five undergraduate majors.
They are: Nicole Weber, overall marshal; Julia Feldman, advertising/public relations; Cat Cao, film production; Larkin Richards, journalism; Elizabeth Luyben, media studies; and Ngozi Nwokeukwu, telecommunications and media industries.
Overall: Nicole Weber
Weber, a consistent Dean’s List student with a 4.0 grade-point average who earned a degree in advertising/public relations while completing a variety of internships and setting the foundation for her career, was selected as the overall marshal.
“I walked into Penn State as an insecure, timid girl and can proudly say I have grown to become a confident woman who believes in herself and her goals,” Weber said. “I am so proud to be graduating from a school that cares so deeply about its students’ success. This honor isn’t just for me, but for my family as well. They worked so hard for me to be a student here.”
Weber, from Wantagh, New York, who completed a video internship with the Buffalo Bills last summer, will join the Cincinnati Bengals as a full-time video assistant in the coaching video department after graduation.
Weber, a member of the Association of Women in Sports Media chapter at Penn State, completed two internships with Penn State Athletics, and worked as an editor and producer for GALvanize, a nonprofit that supports women to use their civic power. She also served as a videographer and editor for “After The Whistle,” a regular sports highlights program produced by Bellisario College students, and was a package editor for 46 Live, which produced the livestream of the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON).
She selected Fuyuan Shen, head of the Department of Advertising/Public Relations, to serve as her faculty marshal for commencement.
Advertising/Public Relations: Julia Feldman
Julia Feldman, a Schreyer Honors Scholar from Broadlands, Virginia, who made Dean’s List every semester, was selected as the advertising/public relations marshal. She complemented her bachelor’s degree with two minors — digital media trends and analytics, information sciences and technology — and a business fundamentals certificate from the Smeal College of Business.
She completed internships with Happy Valley Communications, working as an account associate and account executive over a three-year period; Real Chemistry, as an integrated communications intern; and TrophyTracks, as a social media and marketing intern.
She also served as an event safety captain for THON and was part of that student-driven fundraising event in some capacity every year during her time at Penn State. “The most important experience I will take from my time a Penn State is being a THON captain. It was amazing to meet, work with and become friends with so many passionate, driven individuals,” she said.
Feldman will be starting her career as a member of a public relations firm after commencement.
She selected Holly Overton, associate professor of advertising/public relations, to serve as her faculty marshal for commencement. Overton was the adviser on Feldman’s senior thesis, which outlined a comprehensive public relations plan for the State College Area Food Bank.
Film Production: Catherine Cao
Catherine "Cat" Cao, from South Setauket, New York, was selected as the film production major.
Cao, a member of Penn State’s varsity fencing team, served as a leader for several student organizations, including CommAgency (video division president); Delta Kappa Alpha Cinematic Society (cinematic affairs executive chair) and Valley Magazine (student director).
She was selected as a Bellisario College Fellow, a select group of students who participate in a transformational learning experience to help them meet and network with alumni and industry leaders while engaging them to serve as ambassadors for the Bellisario College and University.
She also completed seven different major-related internships, including positions at Paramount Pictures (feature film development), Stampede Pictures (film development) and Toluca Pictures (scripted TV development).
After graduation she will travel to France to begin an internship with American Pavilion at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. And, after that, she’s headed to Hollywood.
“While I recognize the importance of taking things one step at a time, I’m also driven by my ambitious dreams to one day take the stage at the iconic Dolby Theatre, where I can thank the Academy and my loved ones for their unwavering support,” Cao said.
Se selected Catie Grant, an assistant teaching professor of film production and director of CommAgency, as her faculty marshal for commencement.
Journalism: Larkin Richards
Larkin Richards, a consistent Dean’s List student who added a minor in digital media trends and analytics and a certificate from the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism to her bachelor’s degree, was selected as the journalism marshal.
Richards, who served as a resident assistant in Pollack Halls, was busy with valuable complementary opportunities on campus and off.
On campus, she was an associate editor for Onward State, a host and social media producer for 46 Live, executive website chair for the Association for Women in Sports Media, and a part-time video production employee for Penn State Athletics. She was also co-creator of “Faces of State College” on Instagram.
Off campus, she completed internships with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Penn State Athletics and Soccer Shots Pittsburgh. She also served as treasurer of the Jared Box Project.
“The most important lesson I’ve taken away from Penn State is that it’s up to you to create your own legacy,” said Richards, from Tarentum, Pennsylvania. “I turned into a leader at Penn State. Sure, it will be me standing up there, but I represent what the last four years meant to all the journalism students.”
After graduation, she’ll move to Philadelphia to enter the marketing and content management field focused on sports communications and working within minority communities to create more inclusive language.
She selected Mila Sanina, an assistant teaching professor of journalism, as her faculty marshal for commencement.
Media Studies: Elizabeth Luyben
Elizabeth Luyben, a consistent Dean’s List student from Reading, Pennsylvania, completed dual majors in political science and media studies and was selected as the media studies student marshal.
Luyben completed an internship with the Centre County Democratic Committee, an internship supporting the Centre Film Festival and worked as a tutor for Tutor Doctor.
She also participated in numerous service organizations and clubs, including Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity, UNICEF Penn State, College Democrats and League of Women Voters.
Initially a political science major, she found a passion in communications and made the most of mass media and international communications studies — especially appreciating the connections of classmates and faculty members.
“I learned how important it is to surround yourself with people who uplift and support you,” she said. “My amazing professors always promoted such welcoming and inspiring environments for me to explore myself and my studies.”
She will begin work as a production assistant for Marvel Studios in Atlanta after graduation.
Luyben selected Michelle Rodino-Colocino an associate professor of media studies, as her faculty marshal for commencement.
Telecommunications and Media Industries: Ngozi Nwokeukwu
Ngozi Nwokeukwu, a consistent Dean’s List student from Philadelphia, was selected as the telecommunications and media industries student marshal.
She also completed a minor in digital media trends and analytics, and a business fundamentals certificate from the Smeal College of Business.
Along with duties as a resident assistant, Nwokeukwu completed a digital marketing internship with The Art of Business and served as a video production assistant for CommAgency, the student-led production agency in the Bellisario College.
She also consistently sought engagement and opportunities, testing her time-management skills.
Nwokeukwu participated with numerous clubs and organizations, including University Choir (secretary), Writers Organized to Represent Diverse Stories (event manager), Queer and Trans People of Color (treasurer), Bellisario Alliance of Multicultural Students, Essence of Joy Choir and Her Campus. In addition, she earned acting roles in some No Refund Theatre productions.
“I am both a people person and a person who wants to get a taste of many different aspects of life,” she said. “As I come to the end of my time at Penn State, several roadmaps are ahead. No matter what, the goal is to say passionate about education, people, professional development and life.”
She elected Gary Abdullah, the assistant dean for diversity and inclusion in the Bellisario College, as her faculty marshal for commencement.