By Heather Cass
Publications Manager, Office of Strategic Communications, Penn State Behrend
Penn State Behrend’s class of 2018 is ready to make its mark on the world! We’re proud of our students and the things they’ve accomplished and learned while here at Behrend. Over the next couple months, we’ll be introducing you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technology, participated in important research projects, and left an impression at Penn State Behrend.
Today, we’d like you to meet Dylan Langharst:
Majors: Concurrent majors in Physics and Mathematics
Minors: Concurrent minors in Astronomy and Political Science
Hometown: Sarver, Pennsylvania
Scholarships: I’ve received the Anonymous Friend Trustee Fund Scholarship multiple times, a School of Science scholarship, the Lake Erie Trustee Scholarship at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, the McMannis Educational Trust Fund Scholarship, and the Dr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Phillips Scholarship for Schreyer Scholars.
On choosing his majors: In high school, I was really interested in understanding the physical world and decided to major in physics. However, during my time here at Behrend, I fell in love with mathematics, due in part to the faculty members in the department.
Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I studied abroad in Germany during the summer of 2015, and during the summer of 2017, I was employed by the Department of Energy doing quantum computing. However, these are not my proudest accomplishments. My proudest accomplishment is when I was contacted by one of the students I tutored/taught through the Learning Resource Center who said that, without my help, he wouldn’t have passed Physics 211 or had such a solid start for Physics 212. This was my proudest moment.
Campus involvement: President of the Physics Club, vice president of the Math Club, and vice president of Behrend’s branch of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national math honor society.
Hidden talent: I am almost fluent in German.
What you would be surprised to know about him: I have a big interest in history, especially medieval history. I almost majored in history instead of physics.
Who inspires him: Faculty members inspire me, especially Dr. Chuck Yeung, Dr. Blair Tuttle, Dr. Darren Williams, Dr. Bruce Wittmershaus, Paul Becker, Dr. Antonella Cupillari, Dr. Daniel Galiffa and Dr. Amos Ong. They are always willing to answer any questions I have, even if my questions have nothing to do with material we are learning in class. Also, Dr. John Gamble, distinguished professor of political science and international law, who has been a life mentor since I started college.
Advice for new students: Pick a field of study that you genuinely enjoy learning about or classes will be difficult.
After his graduation in December, Dylan plans to attend graduate school for a master’s degree in mathematics. He then wants to obtain a Ph.D. and, eventually, teach at the college level.
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