Emmanuel Kraft selected as Liberal Arts college marshal for spring commencement

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Emmanuel Kraft will represent the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts as its college marshal at the 2026 spring commencement ceremony on May 9 at 5 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Kraft, who is dual-majoring in political science and communication arts and sciences (CAS) while completing the integrated undergraduate-graduate Master of Public Policy degree program, was selected in recognition of his academic achievements and leadership abilities.

College marshal is just the latest accolade for Kraft, who recently received the 2026 Eric A. Walker Award, presented annually to the Penn State student who has contributed most to enhancing the reputation of the University through extracurricular activities. In 2025, he received both the Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award and a Stand Up Award from the Rock Ethics Institute, as well as the Schreyer Student Involvement Award from the Schreyer Honors College.

For Kraft, being selected college marshal represents the culmination of everything he has worked toward, both at Penn State and throughout his life, giving him a strong sense of accomplishment and appreciation for the amazing opportunities he’s received, he said.

“At Penn State, I aimed to be successful through my academics, extracurriculars, community impact and personal relationships with others,” he said. “I wouldn’t change anything even if I could.”

Kraft said he learned he had been selected as marshal through an email after Teaching Professor of Political Science Amy Linch nominated him for it.

“My reaction was just one of incredible gratitude for the recognition and for everyone that has supported me along the way, whether that means friends, family, professors, peers or anyone else that has assisted me throughout my life,” he said.

Kraft’s journey at Penn State began through his personal connection to the school. With his older brother an alumnus and family roots in State College, the Silver Spring, Maryland, native knew that Penn State would be the place for him.

The Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow said seeing his older brother’s experience and the support he received at Penn State played a major role in his decision. That same support guided him as his career goals evolved during his time at the University.

“I arrived at Penn State with the plan to be a lawyer, but over time this changed into a desire to improve my communities through policy,” he said. “I mainly joined the College of the Liberal Arts due to my personal passions and interest in building strong arguments that spark meaningful change.”

Kraft said his double majors allowed him to pursue a well-rounded, rigorous academic path that serves both his professional and personal interests. The majors have complemented each other well, he said.

“Political science provides me with the strong theoretical background that I need to thoroughly understand policy and legislation, while CAS has taught me how to effectively craft arguments that I can use to influence policy to spark positive change in my communities,” he explained.

The majors, along with the supportive Liberal Arts community, connected Kraft with a variety of passionate people, programs, organizations and projects.

One initiative that had a major impact on him was cofounding the Food Recovery Network (FRN). The student-led volunteer organization collects surplus food from all five campus dining halls and athletic facilities and delivers it to community partners such as the Lion’s Pantry, State College Food Bank and Abba Java Coffeehouse. In three years since founding, FRN has donated more than 35,000 meals to those in need.

Kraft served as FRN’s community relations director for two years and is now its executive director.

“It’s really amazing to know the difference that we are making in the State College community in addressing both food waste and food insecurity,” Kraft said. “This work would not have been possible without the guidance of our advisers, Leslie Pillen and Marta Plumhoff.”

Kraft completed internships with the Congressional Hunger Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration, conducted research on the impact of food insecurity on K-12 student performance, and traveled internationally on four weeklong volunteer trips with the Penn State chapter of Global Brigades to support legal empowerment initiatives in Greece and Honduras. Kraft also served as a teaching assistant for the School of Public Policy and president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

These experiences, he said, helped him feel at home and develop into the student he is today — and no doubt contributed to his selection as college marshal.

Kraft said he’ll leave Penn State with numerous unforgettable memories, including the Thursday evenings when he would serve dinner to more than 200 residents at St. Andrew’s Community Café, then sat down to eat alongside them. This was particularly special because, as community relations director of FRN, Kraft worked to ensure that the group was not only delivering food to the community but connecting with them on a personal level as well.

Kraft’s commitment to community connections has inspired him to stay in the State College area and contribute to its growth through policy and advocacy.

“With Pennsylvania being such an important state at the federal level, I believe that it is the perfect place for me to help lead change, foster productive discussion and make a real difference,” he said. “I look forward to seeing this community grow over time and hopefully running to serve on the State College Borough Council in the coming years.”

After graduation, Kraft will remain in State College while spending the summer working for Team Pennsylvania, a nonprofit based in Harrisburg that’s dedicated to building public-private partnerships to accelerate the state’s economy. Kraft will also serve as a resource for future Liberal Arts students, assisting other students through conversations and mentorship.

Looking back on his Penn State experience, Kraft said academic scholarships and enrichment funding through the College of the Liberal Arts allowed him to pursue many opportunities — from education abroad to internships — without the added burden of financial strain.

“The Liberal Arts community has given me more than I could ever ask for, and I look forward to paying it forward,” Kraft said.