SHARON, Pa. — Penn State Shenango students and employees were recognized at the 2026 Student Recognition Banquet, held at the Avalon Country Club at Buhl Park on May 6. The annual recognition banquet celebrates the outstanding academic and student life achievements of Shenango students, faculty and staff.
Photos from the evening can be downloaded from Penn State Shenango's Flickr photo gallery.
Academic recognition
The President Sparks Award
The President Sparks Award is presented annually to undergraduate students who have earned a 4.0 cumulative GPA based on at least 36 graded Penn State credits completed by the end of the fall semester of the academic year in which the award is given.
- Jessica Engle
- Alexander Kavanaugh
The Robert Weber Mathematics Award
The Robert Weber Mathematics Award is presented annually to the most promising Shenango math student and honors the late Robert Weber who taught math at the Shenango campus.
- Parker Disque
The Margaret Cunningham Foley Memorial Teaching Award
- George Fleet
Teaching Excellence Award
- Carol Cowan-Crawford
Academic Achievement Awards
Recognized for outstanding academic achievement, this award is presented to students with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 and above.
- Ashley Armstrong
- Malia Baney
- Michaela Bayuk
- Devyn Bell
- Bowen Briggs
- Marissa Caldwell
- Gianna Cicchillo
- Samair Colon
- Allison Davis
- Joshua Day
- Melissa DeMattio
- Emily Dick
- Joshua Divens
- Liz Engelhardt
- Emily Fagnelli
- Kim Gargano
- Jacob Haun
- Delaney Hempseed
- Kaitlyn Hildebran
- Brooke Hovis
- Michele Jewett
- Katelyn Johnson
- Sophia Kimmel
- Gabrielle King
- Kalsi Kolding
- Anna Merkulova
- Cole Micsky
- Brittany Morrison
- Riley Payne
- John Perry
- Garrett Thumm
- Emma Tidswell
- Mason Vannoy
High Academic Achievement Awards
The Shenango campus High Academic Achievement Awards are presented to those students in each college or degree program who have achieved the best cumulative GPA during the academic year.
- Business: Sarah Christy
- Criminal Justice: Jillian Dunleavy
- Health Policy and Administration: Johanna Fiorenza
- Human Development and Family Studies: Sheridan Rotunno
- Information Technology: Corey Veres
- Multidisciplinary Studies: Ella Paknis
- Plant Sciences: Alexander Kavanagh
- Psychology: Claire Brown
- Nursing: Juliea Cain, Ashley Parish
- Occupational Therapy Assistant: Lindsay Barger
- Physical Therapist Assistant: Patrick Connacher
Student Leadership Recognition
Faith & Fellowship Club
- President Devin Alston
- Vice President Gabrielle King
- Treasurer Oyin Adio
- Secretary Tyler Evans
Occupational Therapy Assistant Club
- President Wendy Wygant
- Vice President Sophia Kimmel
- Treasurer Lindsay Barger
- Secretary Sarah Miller
Physical Therapy Assistant Club
- President Garret Smith
- Vice President Ryan Ford
- Treasurer Ryan Kopcial
- Secretary Katelyn Johnson
STEM Club
- President (fall) Grace Haggard
- Vice President (fall) Alexander Kavanaugh
- Treasurer (fall) Catherine Howard
- Secretary (fall) Mackenzie Confer
Student Government Association
- President Johanna Fiorenza
- Vice President Mason Bevan
- Treasurer Taylor Geiwitz
- Secretary Tyler Evans
- Senator-at-Large Devin Alston
- Senator-at-Large Gabrielle King
- Member (spring) Isaiah Martindale
- Member (spring) Faith Sullivan
- Athlete Representative Oyin Adio
Leadership Awards
Lion Leaders
- Devin Alston
- Mason Bevan
- Tyler Evans
- Gabrielle King
- Ryan Kopcial
- Aeryal Marsteller
- Cole Micsky
- Kirsten Rice
- Izzy Santiago
- Sydney Ward
The Ann Wansack Award
This award was made in memory of Penn State Shenango employee, Ann “Mom” Wansack, and her devotion to the students of the Shenango campus. The purpose of this award shall be to honor and recognize full-time students enrolled at Penn State Shenango who are actively involved, through leadership or participation, in the betterment of Penn State Shenango.
- Devin Alston
- Gabrielle King
- Faith Sullivan
The Eric and Josephine Walker Award
The Eric and Josephine Walker Award recognizes Commonwealth Campus students whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of their campus and, hence, to the reputation of the University as a whole.
- Gabrielle King
Spirit of Shenango Award
This award is given to an individual that genuinely cares about other students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community of Penn State Shenango. This person embodies the motto, “small campus with a big heart.”
- Tyler Evans
Staff Member of the Year
This award recognizes Penn State Shenango staff members who demonstrate outstanding service to the University, our students and the broader community.
- Brendan Henne
Programming Excellence Award
This award recognizes innovative and outstanding achievement in the planning and presentation of a program by a student organization, group/class project, committee or an individual.
- Faith & Fellowship Club
Unsung Hero Award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes a student who works behind- the-scenes of a successful recognized student organization, athletic team, group/class project or committee. This award is given to a student who consistently gives their all, going above and beyond the call of duty on a regular basis without expectation of recognition.
- Savana Shipman
Emerging Leader of the Year
This award is presented to a student with less than 45 credits who has contributed significantly to the Penn State Shenango community through their involvement in a campus organization, athletic team or a community service program. They must also show significant potential for continued leadership and civic engagement.
- Shaun Updegraff
Student Leader of the Year
The Student Leader of the Year award recognizes a student who has demonstrated excellence in academic growth and achievement, as well as excellence in campus and community engagement and has made a contribution to the Penn State Shenango community through their leadership and participation in campus programs, organizations and activities.
- Joshua Day