UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The College of Health and Human Development has named two college marshals for Penn State’s spring 2026 commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 10.
Hannah Bucher, health policy and administration
Hannah Bucher, daughter of Jason and Catherine Bucher of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in health policy and administration.
Bucher served as a research assistant in the Center for Health Care and Policy Research. She worked on projects examining opioid settlements across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to better understand how counties are spending funds to prevent opioid misuse and to help those with opioid use disorders.
As a Schreyer Honors Scholar, she conducted a thesis project, “Transforming Settlements into Programs: Linking Funded Opioid Interventions in Pennsylvania to Research-Supported Strategies.” Bucher was a member of Schreyer for Women, an organization dedicated to championing women and non-gender-conforming individuals through opportunities for personal and professional development and community engagement.
During her time at Penn State, Bucher completed two internships in the healthcare industry. She interned with Recovery Centers of America in the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Department, learning about substance use disorder treatments and quality monitoring procedures. She also interned with Waverly Heights, a continuing care retirement community, where she explored various departments and learned how its health care team collaborates to keep residents safe and healthy.
Bucher received the Jane B. Slep Honors Scholarship in the College of Health and Human Development, the President Walker Award, and the Evan Pugh Senior Scholar Award. She was also a member of the Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society.
Following graduation, Bucher will pursue a career in healthcare administration, where she seeks to continue working in the substance use treatment and opioid misuse areas. She said she plans to continue her education by pursuing a graduate degree in healthcare or business administration.
Nicholas Eppley, nutritional sciences
Nicholas Eppley, son of Ethan and Joann Eppley of Middleburg, Pennsylvania, will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in nutritional sciences and a minor in kinesiology.
While at Penn State, Eppley was a performance nutrition intern for Penn State Olympic Sports and Penn State Football, and a male practice player for the Penn State Women’s Soccer team. He was also a member of the Men’s Club Soccer team.
Eppley conducted undergraduate research under the direction of Jeffrey Hayes, professor of education at Penn State, focusing on the mental health of college students and was a member of the Student Nutrition Association.
Eppley received the Barbara Howell Raphael Trustee Scholarship in Health and Human Development, the Lillian VanDyke Scholarship in Nutrition in the College of Health and Human Development, the Evan Pugh Senior Scholar Award, the President Sparks Award and the President Walker Award.
Eppley is currently pursuing a master of professional studies in nutritional sciences at Penn State. Upon completion of the program, Eppley said he plans to work for a college athletics program or a professional sports team as a registered dietitian.