UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Schreyer Honors College has selected seven Scholars and two faculty members to receive the college’s 2024-25 awards.
“We are so proud of our Scholars for their achievements and are so thankful for our faculty members who help them pursue academic excellence,” said Patrick Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College. “It is an honor to celebrate them as award winners.”
The Scholar awards and their recipients are:
- The Usharani C. and C. Channa Reddy Mission Award goes to biochemistry and molecular biology major Rishika Patil, industrial engineering major Joseph Mast and human development and family studies major Charli Nowak. The Reddy Mission Award honors graduating Scholars who best exemplify the mission of the college through academic excellence, globalization and civic engagement. It was inaugurated in 2000 and endowed by faculty member Channa Reddy and his wife, Usharani.
- The Paul Axt Prize goes to anthropology, history, and classics and ancient Mediterranean studies major Sé Morrisson. This award honors a graduating Scholar who exemplifies a commitment to inquiry, intellectual curiosity and daring; qualities that Paul Axt, founding director of the University Scholars Program, fostered through the honors program. First awarded in 1987, the prize was established by the University in recognition of Axt’s distinguished service.
- The Douglas G. and Regina C. Evans Award for Research Achievement goes to chemistry major Jenna Lugo. The Evans Award recognizes a graduating Scholar’s extraordinary research achievement, which is distinguished by high quality, outstanding intellectual value, creativity, commitment and significance. The award was endowed in 2003 by Scholar alumnus Douglas Evans and his wife, Regina.
- The Robert W. "Bear" Koehler Award for Distinguished Service goes to graduating Scholar and finance major Justin Heckler, as well as rising second-year Scholar and business administration major Don Miller. This paired award is given to a graduating Scholar and a rising second- or third-year Scholar from the Smeal College of Business. The honorees are selected for their record of service that exemplifies Bear Koehler’s accomplishments and service while on the faculty and throughout his Penn State career. The award was established by Scholar alumnus Noah Barsky; Smeal College of Business faculty member Charles Smith; and Bear Koehler’s friends, family, students and colleagues.
Schreyer Honors College also has two awards given to faculty who are nominated by students as outstanding teachers and advisers. The faculty awards and their recipients are:
- The Schreyer Honors College Excellence in Honors Teaching Award recipient is Janine Kwapis, associate professor of biology in the Eberly College of Science.
- The 2025 Excellence in Honors Advising Award recipient is Lingzhou Xue, professor of statistics in the Eberly College of Science.
Each Scholar will receive a financial award and a certificate to recognize their achievements, and the faculty members will receive replica Lion Shrine statues.