UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Cassandra Barcz has been selected as the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences student marshal for Penn State's fall 2021 commencement, which will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, in the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.
Barcz, who was named to the dean’s list for each semester of her undergraduate studies, is graduating a semester early with a degree in geosciences.
“I was taken by surprise when I received the email informing me that I had been named the student marshal for the college’s fall commencement ceremony,” said Barcz. “It was just an ordinary Tuesday for me that transformed into a Tuesday of rejoice. I never expected that I would be chosen for this honor.”
Timothy White, research professor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, served as her academic adviser. Her senior thesis research focused on analyzing rocks within central Pennsylvania to search for a global extinction event linked to a disruption in carbon levels.
“I conducted research with Dr. Timothy White and graduate student Adam Benfield to determine if a global extinction event corresponding to a disruption in carbon levels was captured in the rock record,” Barcz said. “We analyzed rocks that are approximately 425 million years old to see if the event was recorded in the rocks for central Pennsylvania and how they compared to global values.”
Barcz was the recipient of many scholarships during her undergraduate career, including the Ronald A. Landon Endowment in Hydrogeology, the Fiedorek Trustee Scholarship, the Newsham Family Undergraduate Scholarship, and the Association for Women Geoscientists Field Camp Scholarship.
Barcz also was the recipient of a Penn State Student Engagement Network Remote Innovation Grant. She worked at Walmart all four years of her college career and received a Walmart Associate Scholarship.
Her extracurricular activities included participation and leadership in THON both at Penn State Berks and at University Park.
“As a first-year student I participated in Berks Benefiting THON and was elected as one of the dancers for THON 2019,” said Barcz. “My sophomore year I served on the executive board of Berks Benefiting THON as the merchandise chair. After I transferred to University Park, I joined the Earth and Mineral Science Benefiting THON organization and served on the Rules and Regulations committee.”
Barcz said the most important lesson about college is to enjoy the time while it lasts.
“Looking back, the past four years of my life feel like they flew by in a heartbeat,” said Barcz. “I regret none of my actions throughout my time as a college student, and part of me is sad to know it is coming to an end. I have grown so much as an individual over the years. I will never forget the people I met throughout my journey and those who have supported me along the way.”
A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Barcz is the daughter of Cathy Dietrich and Christopher Barcz. Barcz is still formulating plans for after graduation.
“I am not entirely sure at this stage of my life what specific career I want, but I am fascinated with the idea of being a researcher for the Smithsonian,” Barcz said.