Month: March 2025

Standout Seniors 2025: Meet Adam Sacherich (Mechanical Engineering)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Adam Sacherich.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minor: Mathematics

Hometown: Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Penn State Provost Award

Why he chose Behrend: In high school, I benefited from knowing my teachers, so when looking for colleges, I wanted a place with small classes to allow me to know my professors. I wanted to get good value for my money from college, and Behrend had a good balance of price and academic reputation.

Why he chose his major: I have always been fascinated by how things work and have a passion for problem-solving. Mechanical engineering offers the perfect blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, allowing me to turn ideas into tangible solutions.

Campus involvement: Tau Beta Pi (vice president of PA Mu Chapter since April 2024), American Society of Mechanical Engineers at Behrend (treasurer since April 2024), Behrend Robotics Club (vice president since April 2024, previous positions: president, treasurer, and University Rover Challenge (URC) team lead), Behrend Engineering Ambassadors

Awards and honors: Undergraduate Student Academic Year Research Grant (2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years), Penn State Behrend Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship (Summers 2023 and 2024), Penn State Behrend Sigma Xi Conference Best Engineering Presentation Award (2024), Schreyer Honors College (since June 2023), Behrend Honors Program (January 2022 – May 2023)

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: In May of 2024, I got the opportunity to travel to Long Beach, California, to present my research on “Nature Inspired 3D Printed Geometries for Enhanced Resistance to High Velocity Impacts” at the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering 2024 Conference. This research was then later published in the SAMPE journal in September.

On overcoming challenges: Balancing research, club responsibilities, work, and academics has been challenging at times. Learning to manage my time effectively and prioritize tasks has been crucial in navigating these commitments.

What makes him unique: I think that my interdisciplinary interests make me unique.  Even though I am a mechanical engineering student, I am involved in other engineering disciplines.  During my time at Behrend, I took 12 credits of computer engineering classes that weren’t required by my major so that I could learn more about the subject.  In both of my internships with Wabtec, a majority of my work has been based around computer programming.  Additionally, my role in my senior design project involves designing and programming a control board.

What people might be surprised to know about him: When I started college, I had little interest in completing an honors program or doing research.  This is hard to believe now that so much of my time at Behrend has been spent working on research projects.

His top priority for the coming years: My highest priority is to continue learning. While my learning at Behrend is coming to an end, I know that I will have plenty to learn as I start at Wabtec.

His passions: I am passionate about continuous learning, constantly challenging myself, and using my skills in a way that will improve the world.

Advice for first-year students: Embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Engage in various activities, seek out leadership roles, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. These experiences will shape your personal and professional growth in ways you can’t yet imagine.

After graduation in May, Adam will work at Wabtec as part of their LEAD engineering program.

Standout Seniors 2025: Meet Mike Pazuchanics (Mechanical Engineering)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Mike Pazuchanics.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: McMurray, Pennsylvania

Why did you choose Behrend? It has a strong engineering program with professors that prioritize students and teach in small classroom settings. Additionally, I wanted to swim at the D-III level and Behrend has a strong swim team with a great coach.

Why he chose his major: I’ve been surrounded by engineers and problem solvers since a young age. My dad was an engineer, his dad was an engineer, and my mom’s dad repaired commercial printing machines. Their knack for problem solving had a strong influence on me; we were always fixing or building things around the house. I decided to pursue Mechanical Engineering because I have always been interested in how things move and why things are designed the way they are. Additionally, it is a versatile degree that allows me to work in a variety of fields.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am proud to have completed my degree in four years while competing in varsity athletics. I swam during all four years of college while balancing a challenging academic workload. Managing studying, homework, and projects with the swimming practices, lifting program, and swim meets was challenging.

Campus involvement: I have been a member of the Behrend Swimming and Diviving team for all four of my years at Behrend. I am also the men’s team representative for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, which provides insight and shares Behrend Athletic program information with the team. During my junior and senior years, I was a grader for Statics and Strengths II. I also played intramural flag football in the spring the past two years with my swim teammates.

Awards and accolades:  I have been part of the AMCC All-Conference all four seasons of my athletic career. Additionally, I was inducted into the Behrend Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, which is the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society. I was voted onto the 2024 AMCC All-Sportsmanship Team in 2024.

I was also an awardee of the 2023 Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Program. The SMART Program is a Department of Defense (DoD) scholarship program for STEM students. SMART provides tuition scholarships which are “repaid” by working at a DoD facility after graduation. This program supports STEM majors in college and assists them with starting their professional careers. I highly encourage any STEM major to apply.

Advice for first-year students: When things are not going according to plan, it can be easy to focus on what is going wrong. Taking a step back to reevaluate or change your perspective can help you reset and focus on what is going right. It is important to remember and appreciate what you have accomplished rather than getting bogged down in little failures.

Mike has accepted an offer from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, after his graduation in May. He will work as a civilian engineer in the maintenance and overhaul of the Navy’s fast-attack nuclear submarines.

Standout Seniors 2025: Meet Katy Richardson (Software Engineering)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Katy Richardson.

Major: Software engineering

Minor: Game Development

Hometown: Hamburg, New York

Why she chose Behrend: I fell in love with the campus the first time I toured it. In addition to loving the campus, I liked the small class sizes. The potential to do research at an undergraduate level really made Behrend stand out when looking at different colleges.

Why she chose her major: In high school, I found that I strongly disliked chemistry, and the only way I could drop the class was if I found another class to replace it. I ended up joining a computer science class eight weeks into a ten-week quarter. I picked up the concepts easily and was able to complete ten weeks’ worth of work in the final two weeks of the quarter. I fell in love with programming and the problem-solving it required and knew it was what I wanted to do.

One rough semester: One challenge that I had to overcome was taking 22 credits in one semester, while actively participating in athletics. On top of that, I got a concussion during the third week of the semester. For several weeks, it was challenging to look at my computer screen for too long. I was able to overcome this by consistently communicating with my professors, who were incredibly supportive and understanding. I had to figure out how to structure my time to get all my work done while also giving my body the rest that it needed.

Student involvement: I am involved in Society of Women of Engineers, where I served as the outreach chair in my junior year. I have been an engineering ambassador for two years. I competed on the women’s varsity bowling team for four years, serving as captain in my senior year.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I spent my summers working at a residential summer camp while I was in college. I also attended this same camp for eight years before I worked there.

Have youth, will travel: One of my highest priorities for the coming years is to travel and have as many experiences as I can while I’m still young and have the energy to do so.

What she’s passionate about: Introducing STEM to the next generation. Throughout my work with Youth Education Outreach, I have had the opportunity to see kids find a passion for the STEM disciplines and see their reaction when they finally were able to solve a challenge. It’s very rewarding.

Standout Seniors 2025: Meet Sophia DiPlacido (Psychology and Marketing)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Sophia DiPlacido.

Majors:  Psychology and Marketing

Hometown: Erie

Scholarships: The Lawrence and Elizabeth Held Scholarship, the John Mark and Geraldine Mills Lilley Leadership Scholarship, Harriet Behrend Ninow Memorial Scholarship, Penn State Behrend Leadership Scholarship

Awards and accolades: Outstanding Psychology Student Award, John and Jane Herbert Undergraduate Research Award, Perreault Fellowship, Penn State Behrend Undergraduate Research Grant, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.

Why she chose Behrend: I loved the combination of having both a small campus community and access to a larger university network. When I first visited campus, every person I met was so kind and helpful. I just felt like Behrend was the right place for me, and I am so happy that I chose Behrend!

Why she chose her majors: I’ve always enjoyed learning across disciplines. I love learning about people and the factors that underly their decision making from a psychological standpoint, and I’ve been able to specialize that knowledge further with my marketing studies.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Receiving a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to fund a semester abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. It was an amazing opportunity to learn more about different cultures and reflect on my own cultural upbringing. (Read more about her experience in this Behrend blog post).

Challenges overcome: When I started at Behrend, I had a hard time integrating socially on campus. I was a lot more introverted than I am now, and to go from having an established friend group at high school to starting fresh was difficult. I was also a bit impatient; I expected that I would get to college and immediately meet a bunch of people that would be my lifelong friends. At the start of my second semester, I really tried to put myself out there and join more clubs and activities on campus. This really helped me feel more involved at Behrend and is also how I met some of my closest friends.

Student involvement: I have been a Lion Ambassador, Lion Scout, Resident Assistant, and Teaching Assistant for the School of Business First-Year Seminar. I am currently involved in undergraduate research and am completing my Schreyer Honors College thesis exploring food insecurity in downtown Erie. I am also a Business Ambassador and an intern in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

What makes her unique: I have a big family. I am the middle child of five biological siblings and have three step siblings. I think my upbringing has made me adaptable and appreciative of people’s different talents and purposes.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I love word games! My family and I love to play Scrabble, and I still play all the New York Times games almost daily. I once completed the mini crossword in eight seconds!

Future under careful consideration: My dual major from Behrend has prepared me well for several different career paths. I’m considering refining this further by continuing my education, but I want to consider all the different possibilities and outcomes before committing to more schooling.

What she’s passionate about: Helping and empowering others. My time at Behrend has been so transformative, largely because of the care and support I’ve received from faculty and staff during my time here. I’ve felt very inspired to empower those around me in the way that I’ve been empowered at Behrend.

Advice for first-year students: Be patient and give yourself grace! The transition from high school to college is huge. You might thrive in some respects and struggle in others, it’s all a part of the process. I came into college with the expectation that I would immediately adjust and mature overnight, this was entirely unrealistic. It takes time to build friendships with people. It takes experience to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. It takes making mistakes to learn the kind of person you want to be. Just take it one day at a time and continue to put yourself in situations where you’re growing, and everything else will fall into place.

Standout Seniors 2025: Meet Daniel Gayoso (Computer Engineering)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Daniel Gayoso.

Major: Computer Engineering

Hometown: Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Frank S. Palkovic Trustee Scholarship

Why he chose Behrend: I like the smaller size of the campus and classes. It also had a reputable engineering program.

Why he chose his major: I built my first computer when I was 12 years old and kept tinkering all the way through high school. I was always very curious to learn how each hardware component functions alongside the software.

Challenges overcome: My classes, mainly in my junior year, were each a challenge in and of themselves. The raw amount of material to learn was incredible, but what also made it difficult is that much of that material is built off foundational math and science from your first and second year. You have to really understand the foundations.

Involvement and activities: Computer Engineering Club (President, Vice President); Behrend Engineering Ambassadors; Resident Assistant; Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineering Club.

Side quest master:  I constantly get sidetracked during homework assignments and projects related to my major because I’ll see some random term I’ve never heard of that sounds interesting and I end up spending a half hour researching it.

What you’d be surprised to know about him: I have dual citizenship in the United States and Spain and my parents are immigrants from Venezuela. That said, my Spanish is not very good!

What he’s passionate about: Lifting weights and anything related to computers, electronics, or communications.

Learning happens outside class, too: You will get as much out of college and your degree as you put into it. Spend as much time as you can going beyond what’s being taught in the classroom. Join clubs, do internships, take on extra projects, or seek out research opportunities with professors. Like Dr. Abdallah Abdallah, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, says: “Use the knowledge taught to you in your courses to build things outside of them.”

Curiosity and enthusiasm matter: Make sure you enjoy what your major has to offer. The best engineers I know are the ones who think about it 24/7. They are the type of people who wake up in the middle of the night with a solution to a problem they’ve been ruminating on for weeks. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a social life or adequate sleep to be a good engineer, but the more curious and enthusiastic you are about your work, the further you will go.

Advice for first-year students: Make an effort to leave your comfort zone. Also, if you didn’t like the person you were becoming before college or wish that you were different in some way, you can reinvent yourself. It’s a whole new start.

After his graduation in May, Daniel plans to work in the computer engineering field for three to five years and then pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering.

Standout Seniors 2025: Meet Ellen Shade (Mechanical Engineering)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today we’d like you to meet Ellen Shade. 

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Edinboro, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Ernst R. Behrend Scholarship

Awards: President Walker Award, Dean’s List

Why she chose Behrend: It is close to home and has a great engineering program, a beautiful campus, small class sizes, and is really welcoming.

Why she chose her major: I chose Mechanical Engineering because I have always had a love for math and science. I also love it when problems have answers, even it takes some time to figure it out. Engineering also allows me to be creative.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Being elected president of the Behrend Engineering Ambassadors and president of the Society of Women Engineers.

Campus involvement: I was the president of the Society of Women Engineers, president of the Behrend Engineering Ambassadors, a member of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), and a member of the Schreyer Honors College. I also did undergraduate research work.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I was on the women’s basketball team for my first two years at Behrend. In total, I played basketball on school teams for thirteen years.

Welcoming the next gen of women engineers: I am very passionate about inspiring young women to pursue engineering! I loved to volunteer at youth outreach events and connect with them.

Advice for first-year students: Get involved. I have met some of my best friends and found what I am passionate about through joining clubs and organizations.

After her graduation in May, Ellen will work as a Project Engineer at Whiting-Turner in Lexington, Kentucky.

Behrend Chess Team Wins Top Honors in Competition

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By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend

Behrend chess team members: Dennis Chu, Kelvin Li, Advaith Kodipparambil, Jordan DeLauer, Christian Wang, and Seth Mellring. 

Chess is a complex game, with sixteen pieces of six types, each moving in a different way. Players must not only master the rules but also develop strategies and tactics to defeat their opponents while adapting to every move.

Kelvin Li, treasurer of Penn State Behrend’s chess club, said the game is worth the effort, especially when he finds the tactic—whether it’s a beautiful move or the only move—that will win the game.

A tactic in chess is a series of moves that gives a player an immediate advantage. Tactics are usually short-term and involve forcing moves that limit the opponent’s options.

“It is incredibly satisfying to find the tactic because they are very difficult to spot, especially for new players,” Li said. “After so many games, you usually develop an intuition and can more quickly spot good moves. But even that is rarely simple because you must think about all your opponent’s possible responses to your move.”

No two chess matches are the same, but there are patterns. A player who can spot the pattern gains the upper hand.

“Advanced players usually study these positional patterns and how to play them, so if they recognize them in a real game, they gain a solid advantage over their opponent,” Li said. “While real games are usually quite messy, knowing what you can work with and how to exploit it is important.”

Spotting patterns is something Li, a dual major in mathematics and physics, is well-versed in. Math can be considered the study of patterns, as it focuses on identifying, analyzing, and describing repeating structures and relationships with numbers, shapes, and other mathematical concepts.

Li began playing chess in high school and was pleased to learn that Behrend had an active chess club. The club, which meets on Thursday nights in the Reed Gaming Lounge, includes a mix of intermediate to advanced players, but they enjoy teaching newbies as well.

“We welcome all players,” Li said. “In our weekly meetings, we play casual games to foster a positive learning environment where newer players can play and learn from some of the more advanced players.”

Each month, the club holds a chess tournament with prizes. To level the playing field, they adopt the Swiss system, a non-elimination tournament format that pairs players with similar scores. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the tournament.

“Chess is an adversarial game by nature, so we always encourage healthy competition,” Li said.

The practice has paid off. Last semester, the Behrend team won the Carnegie Mellon Chess Open, held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, besting CMU by a half-point to win the top spot. Competition was stiff, with teams from the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University Park, Shippensburg University, and others participating.

In November, at the Pennsylvania State Chess Federation’s Pennsylvania Team Championship in Shippensburg, the Behrend club won the top college team prize and tied for first place out of thirteen college teams.

The club will compete in the Ira Lee Riddle Memorial Championship in Harrisburg in March and the Pennsylvania State Game/29 Championships in April at the University of Pittsburgh.

Follow the chess club at instagram.com/psbchessclub.

Behrend Chess team members: Jack Ni, Advaith Kodipparambil, Jordan DeLauer, Kelvin Li and Christian Wang.  

Standout Seniors ’25: Meet Justin Lopez-Beltran (Political Science)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Justin Lopez-Beltran.

Major: Political Science

Minors: Legal Studies; Applied Economics; Crime, Law and Psychology

Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend for the smaller class sizes and for all the great opportunities the School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers for Political Science majors. Behrend has a small, but very close, community in which I have met lifelong friends and colleagues.

Scholarships: Allyn and Alice Wright Leadership Scholarship (2024), Heintz Family Scholarship for Economics (2023-2025), Lindsay Anne Graygo Trustee Scholarship (2022), Ethel and Irvin Kochel Scholarship International Studies (2022).

Awards: Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award (2024), Penn State Provost Award (2021-2025)

On choosing his major: I have always been fascinated by the operations and efficiency of our state and national government as well as the various policies that affect all Americans. I have dreamed of working in the federal government, and working toward a Political Science degree has fostered an interest in working in the legislative branch. My academic career has helped me get five different internships, most notably one in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

His proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Becoming chapter president of my fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. It was an honor to serve an organization dedicated to brotherhood, philanthropy, and innovation. In the two years I served on the executive board, three-fourths of that time as president, we achieved historic recruitment numbers, community outreach, and fundraising goals. In the summer of 2024, I was proud to receive four awards on behalf of our chapter at a national conference in Houston, Texas. The fraternity has had a lifelong impact on my personal and professional career, for which I will always be proud and grateful.

On overcoming challenges: The biggest challenge I had to overcome was stress from time management. During multiple semesters, I was managing an internship, serving on the executive boards of various clubs, and being a full-time student all at once. Occasionally, it was overwhelming.

Campus involvement: Sigma Tau Gamma (former president, current member), Pi Sigma Alpha (current vice-president), The National Society of Leadership and Success (member), The Behrend Political Society (former executive board member)

What people might be surprised to know: I fenced for about five years growing up. It’s a great sport.

Advice for first-year students: Get involved on campus. It can be nerve-wracking coming to a new school with new people, but the faster you get involved, the easier everything gets. Joining organizations, going to events, and networking are essential for an exciting professional and social life at Behrend.

After his graduation in May, Justin hopes to work in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

Standout Seniors ’25: Meet Farran Parker (Early Childhood and Elementary Education)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Farran Parker.

Major: Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Minor: Special Education

Hometown: Erie

On choosing Behrend: I love the size of the campus, the close distance to home, and the friendliness of the faculty and staff. The professors really care about their students and want them to succeed. I also love that everything is within a fifteen-minute walk and that the campus is absolutely beautiful in any season.  

On choosing her major: I started as an undecided major with plans to major in Psychology. I knew I wanted to work with children and help them become their best selves, but I eventually I realized that psychology wasn’t for me. I switched to ECEE and never looked back. I love what I’m doing now!  

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am proud to have worked as a Resident Assistant for two years in Trippe Hall. I was also presented with the Pride of Residence Life award in my second year. The most rewarding parts of being an RA are the leadership skills I gained and the lasting connections with former residents, who are now good friends.

On overcoming challenges: In the fall of 2021, I had major surgery on my left eye after losing 60 percent of the vision due to a retinal detachment. I missed four weeks of school for recovery and had to adjust to life with impaired, distorted vision. I couldn’t have done it without the support from faculty members who were patient and understanding. Almost five years later, I am now able to do activities I never thought I’d be able to do, like drive.

Campus involvement: I have been a member of Tone-Acious, Behrend’s a cappella group, for four years and served briefly on the e-board. I am also a member of the Gender and Sexuality Equality Club (GASE).

Awards: Division of Undergraduate Studies award in 2021 and 2022; second place in the Personal Counseling Art Show in fall 2024.

What makes her unique: I love to play my ’80s synthesizer, the Omnichord, and sing. I own three different models of the Omnichord. My vintage interests extend to photography, shooting mainly on vintage Polaroid cameras, and collecting retro Nintendo video games. Painting and drawing in my free time help me relax after a long day. If I am not doing that, I enjoy making and designing stickers to give to my friends.

Her passion: I am passionate about breaking down barriers for people, especially children, to ensure equitable education for all. I believe all students deserve a good education that lifts them up to be their very best. I want to be that change that gives everybody the opportunity to succeed in their own meaningful way.

Her advice for first-year students: No matter what, never be afraid to be yourself. Fear of not fitting in or rejection can pressure you to be somebody you’re not. It’s OK to want to fit in, feel like you must put on a mask, and be different, but try to find a space where you can lower that mask and stop pretending. Let your light shine, because you might meet others who will love and appreciate that light.

After her graduation in May, Farran plans to find work as an elementary school teacher. She also hopes to attend graduate school in the future to obtain a master’s degree in education or in child psychology.

Standout Seniors ’25: Meet Haley Allen (Biology)

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Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2025 is ready to make its mark on the world. We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we will introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have conducted valuable research, pioneered innovation, overcome challenges, and engaged in college life in a big way.

Today, we’d like you to meet Haley Allen.   

Major: Biology, Health Profession option

Minor: Psychology

Hometown: Pittsburgh

Scholarships: Penn State Behrend Leadership Scholarship and Chancellor’s Scholarship.

Why she chose Behrend: I chose Behrend because of its close-knit academic environment. The smaller student-to-faculty ratio provides a more personalized learning experience. From my very first visit, I knew Behrend would be a place where faculty and staff would support my ambitions and help me achieve my goals.

Why she chose her major: From as early as I can remember, I was always following my mom, who is a nurse practitioner, around the hospital, dreaming about that being me one day. I chose to pursue my undergraduate degree in Biology at Behrend as a stepping stone toward becoming a physician. One quote that I live by is: “To be the mediator between someone’s fear of today and hope for tomorrow is the greatest responsibility one can have.” I would be incredibly proud to do that as my work one day.

Student involvement: I have had the honor of serving as President for Biology Club, Scrubs Club, and Lion Ambassadors; Vice President for Science Ambassadors, Director of Site Development for Alternative Spring Break, and a Welcome Week Leader during my final academic year. I was also involved in Behrend Benefiting THON.

Pride in Lion leadership:  One of my proudest accomplishments at Behrend has been serving as President of Lion Ambassadors, an organization that holds a special place in my heart. Leading such a dedicated group of students has been an incredibly rewarding experience.  I was honored to receive the Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Award for my work with the group.

Mind over matter: The biggest challenge I have had to overcome is believing in myself and trusting that I have the abilities needed to succeed, both over the past four years and in the future. I started with small affirmations every day to be confident and have trust in my abilities.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: I have a twin sister. She is a built-in best friend and my biggest supporter in life.

Advice for first-year students: This is probably something they have heard multiple times before, but the reason is because it is so important — get involved. If I could go back in time, this is the one thing I would start earlier on. You never know what you will discover about yourself through extracurricular activities while at Behrend.

After her graduation in May, Haley plans to earn a Master of Business Administration degree at Behrend while preparing for, and applying to, medical school to become a pediatric physician.