Student Technology Advisory Representatives group seeks members

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Student Technology Advisory Representatives (STAR) is seeking new members. The STAR committee, sponsored by Teaching and Learning with Technology, brings together students from University Park, the Commonwealth Campuses and Penn State World Campus to help shape technology decisions that impact the student experience.

Members provide feedback on technology initiatives through focus groups, surveys and user testing. No tech expertise is required, and all perspectives are welcome. STAR meets three times each semester in a hybrid Zoom format. Applications are now being accepted.

STAR also hosts events to help Penn State students engage with technology. For example, last fall STAR invited University Park undergraduate students from COMM450: Emerging Tech Advertising to explore cutting-edge tools at a hands-on "Technology Petting Zoo" at the Shields Building Media Commons and AI Arcade.

The event featured four interactive stations designed to spark curiosity and creativity, with STAR members guiding participants through each experience.

• Virtual Reality (VR) Sampler: Students immersed themselves in a variety of VR environments, discovering the possibilities of virtual worlds.
• 3D Scanning with Reality Composer: Using iPads, attendees experimented with scanning everyday objects while learning the basics of 3D modeling.
• AI Arcade Introduction: Participants explored premium AI [artificial intelligence] tools and activities, gaining insight into how artificial intelligence can enhance learning experiences.
• Board Game Playtesting: Students tested two original board games created by Andrea Barolo for his "Digital Multimedia Design" capstone project. Barolo led this session shortly before his graduation at the end of the fall 2025 semester.

Sai Anurag Sudagauni, a STAR member and cybersecurity analytics and operations major, led students through 3D scanning demonstrations.

“As a member of STAR, facilitating an event like this is deeply meaningful to me,” he said. “I’m passionate about AR [augmented reality], VR and AI, and getting to discuss, explore and demo these technologies with fellow students helps strengthen my understanding and appreciation of them. Learning alongside other curious minds is always an inspiring experience. I joined STAR because I value representing the student body, recognizing how emerging technologies shape their experiences, and helping create opportunities that make those experiences meaningful.”

The event offered students a unique opportunity to engage with emerging technologies in a fun, collaborative setting. It also aligned with STAR’s professional development goal for the semester, giving student representatives the opportunity to lead the hands-on demonstrations and showcase a wide array of technology.