Abington alumni award winners embody ‘passion, perseverance and purpose’

ABINGTON, Pa. — The Penn State Abington office of Development and Alumni Relations recognized six alumni at its annual awards ceremony, highlighting their service and professional achievements.  

“It’s always a privilege to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our alumni, but this year’s recognition holds special significance as Abington marks 75 years of preparing students for rewarding careers and contributing to the vitality of the Philadelphia region,” said Gary Liguori, Albert and Suzanne Lord Endowed Chancellor. “Our honorees exemplify excellence in their fields, and they serve as powerful role models for the next generation of Abington students. Their journeys remind us that with passion, perseverance and purpose, anything is possible."

Current students, donors, alumni, faculty and staff joined the honorees at a dinner celebrating the power of philanthropy and Abington’s 75th anniversary as a Penn State campus. 

The 2025 Young Alumni Achievement Awards recognize graduates from the last 15 years who are rising professionals in their fields. 

• Alexa Johnson earned a degree in elementary and early childhood education in 2023. Johnson launched her career in a Philadelphia public school and now serves as a fourth-grade teacher at Belmont Hills Elementary School in the Bensalem Township School District. Her students have demonstrated strong test scores, and she received positive evaluations. Johnson's classes include children who have been impacted by trauma and whose families represent a broad variety of cultures. In a profession where early career attrition is significant, she chose to mentor student teachers to support their classroom and career development.  According to Johnson’s nominator, she “presents herself with poise, maturity beyond her years, grace, and she commands respect among the students in the classroom.”  
• Narrara Melo Moura earned a degree in information science in 2020. Melo Moura has advanced from a software test engineer to her current role as a senior analytics quality assurance engineer at Paramount+. An interdisciplinary internship highlighted her adaptability, analytical skills, commitment to learning and her ability to solve complex problems. She earned a master’s degree in information sciences and technology from the University of Wisconsin, and she is pursuing a doctorate at the State University of New York at Binghamton with a developing focus on data privacy and ethics. Her nominator wrote that “her journey is a testament to the transformative power of Abington’s educational experience.” 
• Jung Eun Park earned a degree in aerospace engineering in 2021. As a reliability test engineer at Apple, Park applies her expertise in finite element analysis, digital image correlation and advanced mechanical testing to ensure the performance of world-class consumer electronics. She earned a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University, where she collaborated with experts at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At Abington, University Park and Stanford, Park distinguished herself through research, leadership and campus involvement. Her nominator stated that she is “considered by peers to be an excellent role model" and "recognized as an outstanding advocate in their community.”  

The Service Award recognizes alumni and friends who have demonstrated their support for Abington through volunteer service. 

• Lynda A. Nicholson Williams, who earned a degree in management in 1984, has contributed more than nine years of service across two major campus volunteer organizations, the Abington Alumni Society Board and the Advisory Board, for which she is a past chair. She has mentored students, reconnected alumni with the classroom and prepared graduates for campus to career success. She was the keynote speaker at the CVD Honor Society luncheon and at Cultural Graduation. “She is always one of the first alumni to answer the call and say ‘YES’ giving back to the student body,” her nominator said. Although retired, she remains an active Abington volunteer. Williams spent nearly two decades as an assistant vice president and manager in the International Division of Wells Fargo Bank in Philadelphia. After earning a master’s degree in management from Rosemont College and a doctorate in organization and management from Capella University, she taught management courses at the University of Phoenix.  

The Alumni Achievement Awards recognize alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their professional, civic or scholastic achievements. 

• ShaVon Savage earned a degree in business in 2000. Savage has focused her career on transforming education and uplifting students, educators and school leadership. Prior to joining the Cheltenham School District, where she currently serves as the assistant superintendent, she worked for the School District of Philadelphia in roles that included deputy superintendent of academic services. Savage is a senior Neubauer Fellow in Educational Leadership. She earned a master’s in education and a law degree, both from the University of Pennsylvania. When asked about mentors who guided her development, Savage said, “I have had teachers who boosted my self-esteem, professors who guided my path, and bosses who gave me opportunities to learn and grow.”  
• Will Sweeney, who earned a degree in information sciences and technology in 2008, founded Zaviant Consulting, where he currently serves as a managing partner. At Zaviant, a data privacy and security firm, Sweeney has driven an average 85% year-over-year growth. He previously held senior positions at KPMG, Comcast and IBM, where he managed complex information security audits and ensured data security and privacy compliance for Fortune 100 companies. His expertise spans information system controls, IT audit and assurance, risk management, information assurance policies and procedures, and IT governance. Sweeney said he “looks forward to speaking with Abington cybersecurity and business students and assisting with securing equipment for the new cybersecurity lab on campus.” 

About Penn State Abington  

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master's degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.