DUNMORE, Pa. — Starting college without a roadmap is a common reality for first generation students, and Penn State Scranton celebrated those who have excelled despite that challenge during its Lambda Omicron Chapter of the Tri-Alpha Honor Society induction ceremony.
Nineteen Penn State Scranton students and one staff member were inducted into the Lambda Omicron Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha), the national honor society for first-generation college students.
The student inductees are Cora Sisk, Esther Guevara, Courtney Nelson, Skyler Bower, Paige Geisler, Airiana Scarfo, Matthew H. Coggins, Natalie Bower, Aiden Kelsall, Alexlania De La Rosa, Monica Brunson, Rebekah Howells, Jocelyn Velasquez, Alexander Karp, Esther Loreidy Guevara, Elizabeth Anolfo, Braeleigh Danielle Oakley, Brian Asakiewicz and Jessica Anne Kehl. Assistant Director of Student Services and Engagement Nikki Paolicelli also was inducted.
The induction ceremony also connected first-generation students with mentors across academic and professional fields. More than 25 faculty, staff, alumni and advisory board members now serve as mentors to the chapter’s inductees. Photos from the Tri-Alpha Honor Society Induction Ceremony are free to view and download on Penn State Scranton’s Flickr.
Morgan Sewack, marketing and communications specialist and adjunct lecturer of corporate communication at Penn State Scranton, delivered the keynote address and encouraged inductees to welcome challenges and pursue opportunities even when they feel uncertain.
“Growth and comfort do not exist in the same place. That one step you take outside your comfort zone today might be the step that changes everything tomorrow,” she said.
Sewack encouraged inductees to take advantage of leadership roles, internships and opportunities that help them grow.
“Say yes to the opportunities that make you uncomfortable. Join the organization. Apply for the leadership role. Take the internship. Speak in front of the room, even if your voice shakes,” she said. “Confidence doesn’t come first. Confidence comes after you try.”
Lambda Omicron Chapter and membership
The Lambda Omicron Chapter was established through the efforts of Associate Teaching Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Melissa LaBuda and Director of Student Services and Engagement and Interim Director of Athletics Matt Nied, who spearheaded the initiative on campus.
Eligibility for Tri-Alpha membership requires individuals to have completed at least 30 credits toward an associate or bachelor’s degree at Penn State Scranton, maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA, and come from a family in which neither parent nor legal guardian has earned a bachelor’s degree.
Tri-Alpha was founded in 2018 at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and now includes chapters across 39 states. Membership is lifelong and provides networking, mentoring opportunities and academic recognition.