WYOMISSING, Pa. — Cassady Wallace has dedicated herself to helping others, both through her studies and service. She will be graduating with a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from Penn State Berks on May 9. Wallace, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, said she knew that she wanted a major that would lead to a career of service. She attributes that desire to her mother, who works as a radiation therapist at Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she treats individuals with cancer.
While her academic journey began at Penn State Behrend with a major in biology, Wallace soon found that she missed her home and family, she said. After her first year, she took a tour of Penn State Berks and decided to transfer. She also changed her major to kinesiology, explaining that she wanted something more "human focused."
“I took a tour and fell in love with the beautiful campus,” Wallace explains. “Berks is closer to home and offers the kinesiology degree that I wanted. And everyone seemed so welcoming.”
Wallace was very involved on campus from the beginning. As a Penn State Schreyer Scholar, she was required to complete a thesis. She worked with her adviser, Praveen Veerabhadrappa, associate professor of kinesiology, on her thesis, titled “Comparing the stress reduction effects of mindfulness: Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch and Balance Meditation app.”
Her research efforts extended beyond her thesis, and she regularly worked with Veerabhadrappa as an assistant in the college’s Exercise Physiology Lab using virtual reality devices to conduct various studies. She was one of the authors on a scholarly article titled, “Comparison of college students’ health metrics during stationary cycling and VR-based stationary cycling,” which was published in the International Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Disorder.
Veerabhadrappa stated, “Cassady's dedication to her research is evident. Her work consistently exceeds expectations, and she has shown strong leadership by sharing her findings with others in the lab.”
Wallace also worked as a learning assistant in the physics lab, helping other students work with virtual reality equipment.
Outside the classroom and lab, Wallace was very involved on campus. She was a member of Berks benefitting THON, the student group that raises money for THON, the University’s 46-hour dance marathon committed to helping conquer childhood cancer. THON’s mission is to provide emotional and financial support for children and families supported by Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Wallace was a THON dancer in 2025 representing Penn State Berks, and she served as merchandising executive for Berks benefitting THON.
She is also a member of the Berks Honors Club and a Lion Ambassador student tour guide, and she previously served on the Ski and Snowboard Club as the events coordinator.
In her role as president of the Kinesiology Club, she organized events, including a sports psychology outreach trip to meet with the Hershey Bears hockey team, and a series of professional workshops focusing on subjects including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and strength and conditioning coaching.
For the workshops, she was able to draw on the connections that she made during her internships. Wallace completed two internships at South Mountain Physical Therapy in Leesport, working as a physical therapy aide. She also interned at Drayer Physical Therapy in Lebanon.
Wallce has received a number of awards during her time at Penn State Berks, including the Leadership and Academics Award in Kinesiology, the President Walker Award and the college’s Frank Franco Undergraduate Research Award. She also made the Dean’s List for the last five semesters.
Reflecting on her time at the college, Wallace stated, “Penn State Berks has prepared me very well for the future. I learned that I can focus and be successful in school and still enjoy life. I learned to be balanced as an individual and make friendships.”
When asked what the future holds, Wallace stated that she has been accepted into the physician assistant studies program at Slippery Rock University, which begins in June 2026.
Veerabhadrappa commented, “Cassady is an exceptional student, embodying the qualities of academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to her future as a physician assistant. She consistently demonstrates a clear vision for her career and a dedication to making a positive impact on the community.”