Penn State Berks inducts 31 into national first-generation student honor society

WYOMISSING, Pa. — The academic accomplishments of 31 Penn State Berks students were celebrated on Feb. 26, when they were inducted as the first cohort of the college’s Lambda Beta Chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha, a national honor society for first-generation college students. The students, along with honorary members Radha Pyati, chancellor, and Todd Migliaccio, vice chancellor, were recognized in a ceremony attended by more than 70 guests.

Lambda Beta Chapter advisors Alexa Hodge, interim associate director of student success, and Lolita Paff, associate professor of business economics, commented that they are both proud first-generation college graduates. They stated that they look forward to working with inductees, the Office of Students Affairs, along with other staff and faculty of the college, to increase recognition of and support for first-generation college students at Penn State Berks. 

“Establishing this chapter and inducting our inaugural cohort is a milestone that speaks to the incredible potential of our students,” Hodge said. “As a proud first-generation college student and graduate of Penn State University, I believed our campus would benefit from more formalized and structured recognition of first-generation college students.

“Our hope is that Tri-Alpha, along with relevant future first-gen initiatives, serve to affirm students’ aspirations, recognize their hard work, and reinforce that their potential is not defined by where they come from, but by their determination to succeed," Hodge added. "This chapter represents a commitment to ensuring that first-generation scholars have the support, recognition, and opportunities they deserve as they forge their own paths forward.”

Paff added, “As a first-generation college graduate myself, I understand the determination, resilience and hard work it takes to reach this milestone. It is an honor to welcome this outstanding group of students into the Penn State Berks Beta Lambda Chapter of Tri-Alpha. We are thrilled to recognize their academic excellence and commitment to success. These students' achievements not only open doors for their own futures but also inspire others in their families and communities. I am deeply honored and committed to mentoring and supporting them on their journeys, just as others once guided me.” 

The induction ceremony was made possible by campus donors Michael and Diane Katzaman. 

Michael Katzaman is a native of Reading and a first-generation college student. He began his studies at Penn State Berks before graduating from Penn State University Park in 1973 with a degree in computer science. In 1976, he completed an MBA at Drexel University and went on to a successful career in technology, working in management positions for General Electric and MCI Inc., among others before retiring in 2003. 

Diane Malcolm Katzaman graduated from Penn State in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in horticulture and worked for several years as a Penn State Extension agriculture educator in Bucks County. After earning an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, she spent many years in information technology and health care marketing positions. Upon her retirement in 2015, she became a Penn State Extension master gardener in Berks County. 
 
The Katzmans reside in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. They are dedicated supporters of Penn State, with access to education at the forefront of all they do.   

Anyone interested in connecting and supporting first-generation students can reach out to both Hodge at AEH221@psu.edu and Paff LAP21@psu.edu.

About Alpha Alpha Alpha

For students to become inductees of Alpha Alpha Alpha, they must have earned at least 30 credits/semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) towards an associate's degree or baccalaureate degree and an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Students are considered first-generation college students if neither of the student's parents, nor stepparents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor's degree (or, for students at a community college, the parents did not complete an associate's degree)

For more information, visit the Tri-Alpha website.