R. Donald and Rose Marie Anderson Memorial Scholarship

Campus and Community Involvement:

  * Varsity Soccer at Penn State Mont Alto

                 -2019 PSUAC women's soccer Rookie of the Year

 *Mont Alto THON

* Club Cheerleading 

                 -Mont Alto Cheerleader of the Month Dec 2020, Dec 2019

 *Intervarsity Christian Fellowship 

 *Mack Madness Benefitting THON University Park   

 *Volunteer at Easton Pre-School  

In her essay, Sarah explained that the impact of her participation in THON at her Mont Alto campus reached far beyond her involvement in the specific THON activities. She described a freshman year that was so full of sports --soccer and cheerleading-- and academics that she felt she was missing that personal connection with others.  When asked to participate in planning for THON, she nervously agreed and, looking back, she realized that decision had become a significant turning point in her happiness.  Like most THON participants, she experienced a connection with families who participate in THON because they've lost a child to pediatric cancer. But in her case, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Sarah also began to find herself. 

Not only did she develop a new appreciation for philanthropy, through her work preparing for THON she developed strong friendships that she believes will remain strong through her transition to University Park and long into her future. Her THON group even became a source of comfort to her during a personal family crisis. Sarah wrote, “THON has brought me lifelong friends, unforgettable experiences and a new outlook on life and its blessings.”

*Editor's note: In her application, Sarah didn't mention several sports awards she has received at Mont Alto. They were discovered by googling her name while looking for a photo for this article, after the results were tallied. They've been added by the editor who found that it lends insight into this scholarship winner.

Read Sarah Mackey's thank you letter here!

Campus and Community Involvement:

  *CB’s Rookies, an organization that connect students with disabilities to our community at Penn State- Donor and Alumni Relations Chair. The website lists Brianna as Historian.

  *Volunteer Archaeology at Historic Jamestown 

  *Charles City Elementary Literacy Program 

  *Volunteer Archeology with KPAC (Kids Project Archeology Club) 

In her essay, Brianna wrote about plagues- a subject many may consider a sad, historical medical event too mournful to think about. However,  Brianna found the history of plagues a fascinating topic to study. She described a course entitled Plague Through the Ages as having had the most influence on her studies at Penn State so far. She described how she’s always had two favorite interests: biology and history. Biology is her stated major. History was not on her academic radar. But look closely and one sees that much of Brianna's volunteer work has involved history and archeology. We imagine i  t's not hard to believe that growing up near Colonial Williamsburg could tend to foster that interest. In her essay, Brianna described a dilemma. She didn’t know how she could meld her two interests until she took that dreadful sounding course. In Plague Through the Ages, she learned about the science of plagues and how science intertwines with society when trying to solve the mystery of what causes new plagues and how to treat its victims. 

From that course, Brianna learned there are a myriad of career possibilities where her interests in both history and science could intersect. While she didn’t mention what those careers could be-- epidemiology, public heatlh, medicine, research, for example-- perhaps her interest in the past will one day help solve the coming plague, whatever that may be. In more immediate terms, perhaps she could work on preventing the next pandemic like the one currently circulating in our world- COVID-19.

Read Brianna McNulty's thank you letter here .

 Campus and Community Involvement:

 *Chief of staff of the student government and the vice president for upcoming year.  

 *Secretary/ President of the Health Science club  

 *New student orientation leader  

  *Soccer team at the Greater Allegheny campus. #22, Midfielder     

   *Resident Assistant

Elijah participated in the Health Science Club’s effort called “Harvest of Hope” that gathered donated winter clothes and purchased others with student government funds to help Greater Allegheny residents.

In his application essay, Elijah explained that his organic chemistry course fostered his interest in how medications impact our health. In the classroom, he was fascinated by the impact of heat on chemical reactions and the role chemistry plays in the formulation of medications. Outside the classroom, he participated in a poster presentation at a conference explaining the medication Atenolol, a beta blocker primarily used to treat high blood pressure and heart-associated chest pain.  Elijah credited this basic course as sparking his new understanding and interest in pharmacology- specifically the chemical processes used in creating life-saving and life-improving medications.

*Editor's note: In his application, Elijah didn't mention that he was a Resident Assistant (RA) which is a competitive position to attain at PSU. It was discovered by googling his name while looking for a photo for this article, after the results were tallied. It was added to the article by the editor who found that it lends  insight into this scholarship winner.

Read Elijah Akinade's thank you letter here!

 Campus and Community Involvement:

  *Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority  

 *CAT Research Lab  

 *Work with Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders    Organization  

 *Cystic Fibrosis Foundation  

 *Volunteer Color Guard Coaching 

 *The Three Little Birds Dance volunteer 

In high school, Madison Wilhelm knew exactly what path to follow. As captain of the marching band color guard, she took eight short, precise steps for every five yards down the football field. The angle or direction might change, but it was always eight steps per five yards. Then came University Park. The steps she’d envisioned taking there- meeting many other Nittany Lions, spending time at Berkey Creamery and attending football games- were thwarted by a pandemic.

 Penn State University became Zoom University and while she was happy to be on campus, her steps were often limited to the square footage of her dorm room and learning was limited to a screen. “This meant I not only had to navigate my new life as a college student, but also navigate the world of virtual education,” she wrote. In her freshman year, Madison began to wonder if she had lost her way. Deciding on a major when she had many interests was difficult. Virtual class was difficult. The sameness of each confined day was difficult. 

However, one course helped her find her direction. In her essay, Madison wrote that  Developmental Psychology 212 changed her perception and her mood. Through Dr. Hunt’s engaging lectures, Madison became excited about the course and not only did she look  forward to the class, she decided that she was on the right path with her academics. Madison looks forward to the day she can help children and adolescents understand their minds and navigate their worlds. In other words, by finding her own path, she hopes to help others navigate theirs and now she has the confidence to take big steps to succeed.

Read Madison WIlhelm's thank you letter here!

Kayla is a rising junior in the Smeal College of Business whose major is Human Capital Management. Her campus activities have been extensive and, not surprisingly, several involve two of her interests-- business and the environment.  She's involved in the Sapphire Academic Leadership Program and the Nittany Lion Consulting Group, She's a former project manager for the Center for the Business of Sustainability and currently is a director for the non-profit SBU and is also involved in EcoReps, a group of student educators for sustainability on campus. And, you may have heard a friendly greeting from her when she was manning the Welcome Desk.  

Like many students, Kayla is involved in THON- her participation is with  Sapphire THON and she's a teaching assistant in a management course.

Kayla's winning essay discussed the challenge she faced as she came to realize that her interest in business was being eclipsed by an interest in the environment, social issues and government and she began to doubt whether there was a place for her in business. That changed with a pivotal and non-traditional management class where she discovered a social and ethical side to business where she could thrive. 

Kayla wrote, "Without the opportunity to take MGMT 397 and work with (Professor Augustus Colangelo), not only would I more than likely not pursue a business degree, but I might have even left Penn State. His classes have given me real life experience and have forever shaped my opinion of management."

Halie, a rising sophomore with a Biomedical Engineering major, began her volunteer and leadership positions as soon as she arrived on campus. A member of the Freshmen Honor Society Phi Eta Sigma, Halie participated in WEPO, the Women in Engineering Program Orientation, before her freshman classes began and continued in an envoy leadership role in 2020. She also participated in the Society of Women Engineers activities. She was a Homecoming captain on the court relations committee and helped with THON through her involvement with the OPPerations Committee.

It was that involvement with THON that has made the most impact on Halie so far at PSU. Halie's perspective came not from participating on the more glamourous dance floor side of THON, but from behind the scenes. From taking out the garbage cans. From wiping the floor clean. From cleaning the bathrooms. From setting up and breaking down equipment that no one sees or notices. This was the view Halie had for 20 hours as a participant on the OPPerations Committee, to which she was introduced by her student mentor in Women in Engineering Program Orientation.

 In her essay she described the reward of being a part of something larger than herself, particularly since she and her family have all been affected by cancer through her father's three year struggle with colon cancer.

Halie wrote,  "Assisting the functioning of THON in such a minimal way affected my life in countless ways. Fighting for a cure that has affected my father and millions of children and adults...  is incredibly rewarding. I will continue to participate in THON throughout my years at Penn State. My love for Penn State has been thoroughly increased through participation in THON."

THANK YOU LETTER FROM HALIE BIEN

November 22, 2020

Dear Greater Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter,

I am writing to thank you for your generous Rose Marie Anderson Memorial Scholarship. I cannot express my appreciation and gratefulness enough to learn I was selected as the recipient of your scholarship. I am humbled by this opportunity and excited to share my experiences during my undergraduate years.

I am a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis in Biochemicals and plan to graduate in May of 2023. I plan to improve drug delivery and pharmaceuticals pertaining to cancer in industry during my future career. I also am interested in biomaterials and processes that advance health care for the human population. Aside from my studies, I am involved as a Lieutenant the OPPerations THON Committee currently and was on the OPPerations THON Committee last year as well, Court Relations Captain for Penn State Homecoming, an active member in the Phi Sigma Rho Sorority (an Engineering/STEM based sorority), an Envoy in the Women in Engineering Program Orientation, a member in the Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), and a member in the Biomedical Engineering Society. I have attempted to get as involved as possible at Penn State to network, give back to the community, and gain knowledge about my future endeavors.

By rewarding me the Rose Marie Anderson Memorial Scholarship, you have lightened my financial load and allowed for me to focus on my studies even more. As an out of state student, the financial burden is tremendous and this scholarship assists in that burden. Your generosity has prompted me to serve others and give back to those who need it most. I hope one day to return the award I received to further higher education.

Sincerely,
Halie Bien

Evelyn is a rising sophomore with a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a biochemistry option. With a freshman overall GPA of  3.82, it's not surprising that she was a member of the Biochemistry Society and the Phi SIgma Rho Engineering/STEM Sorority. She was busy in non-academic pursuits as well, as the STEM sorority's intramural sports chair and she was involved with the Red Cross. She anticipates returning as a volunteer at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center over winter break, where she volunteered for the past 3 summers.

Evelyn plans to go to medical school and one day be part of a team of researchers  devoted to finding a cure for cancer. She's starting early with scientific experimentation. If she were a painter, one might say Evelyn enjoys painting outside the lines. At Penn State, Microbiology 203 gave her the freedom to branch away from the typical lab manuals and assigned text books and further explore the sciences on her own path. She learned she was passionate about  designing experiments without step by step instructions.

In her essay to the judges, Evelyn wrote, "The influence of this self-driven lab course motivated me to continue on my path towards helping the community and finding a solution to the world’s health issues. I look forward to engaging in more courses that allow me to learn through experimentation, similar to Microbiology 203, over the next three years."

THANK YOU LETTER FROM EVELYN SCHENDLER 

November 23, 2020

Dear Greater Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter,

I am writing to thank you for selecting me as a recipient of the Rose Marie Anderson Memorial Scholarship. This act was extremely generous, and I cannot express my gratitude and thanks enough to this Chapter. I am very honored and appreciative to have received this scholarship, and please know that I will put it to great use as I continue my education at Penn State.

I am very close to finishing my first half of sophomore year with my goal still being to declare my major as Biochemistry, as well as complete a minor in chemistry. Online learning has made this year much less enjoyable college wise; however, I continue to push myself everyday as I strive for success in both my academics and my future career. My end goal is to pursue a career in cancer research, as well as attend medical school in hopes to become an oncologist later on. Currently at Penn State, I remain a member of the Biochemistry Society, Red Cross Club, and Engineering/STEM sorority Phi Sigma Rho to maintain active in my college community. This semester I also became a Public Health Ambassador to ensure that our campus was following CDC guidelines regarding social distancing and masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

By receiving the Rose Marie Anderson Memorial Scholarship, some of my college finances have become lighter and easier to manage. This scholarship has broadened my opportunities and will allow me to achieve more at Penn State while completing my undergraduate studies. This generosity has motivated and inspired me to give back to the Penn State community and help future students achieve their academic goals. Again, thank you for the Rose Marie Anderson Scholarship and I am excited to see how it will benefit my future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Evelyn Schendler

Adria, who dreams of becoming an astronaut, is a sophomore Aerospace Engineering major and expects to graduate in 2022. She was as a mentee in the Women in Engineering Program Orientation and now serves an an envoy and participates in “WEPO Wednesdays”, the LionTech Rocket Lab and Pep band. She also volunteers with Fresh START as a team leader and is involved in fundraising and the outreach board for E-house-THON.

The most significant impact on Adria’s academics and student involvement actually came before her very first class. She’d been invited to attend the Women in Engineering Program Orientation (WEPO). The decision to attend the orientation led her to meet other freshmen engineering students, participate in team building exercises and to be introduced to campus and State College. It also included professional workshops that introduced the students to business practices including resume writing, career fairs, networking with engineering professionals and even dining etiquette. After being seated with a representative from GE Aviation at a networking dinner, she received a job offer, which she accepted. 

In her scholarship essay, Adria wrote that because of her continued involvement with the Women in Engineering Program Orientation, “I have been influenced to continue striving towards my dream of being an aerospace engineer and hopefully an astronaut, because giving up would mean losing that dream which could be worth all the hard times of engineering at Penn State

Kristen, a sophomore  marketing major in the Smeal College of Business, graduated with high honors from York High School’s International Baccalaureate Program. She expects to graduate in 2022.

 An avid ice skater, Kristen  competed in local and world competitions as a junior skater. She continues to skate with the Penn State Figure Skating Club, which  took third place in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s intercollegiate competition. Kristen’s community service includes the Tri-State THON organization where she  serves as vice-president this year. She is also involved in intramural sports leagues. 

In her application essay, Kristen wrote that the class or program that’s had the most influence on her at Penn State was a sociology class. Admittedly, she  took the class to fulfill a general education requirement but never expected it to have a long-lasting effect. While the course covered different relationships within the family, she discovered that many of the themes she learned- especially involving communication- could be applied in the business world as well. She wrote, “if I apply what I learned in SOC 30, I believe that I can connect with people because it would be easier to understand their point of view or perspective… in marketing and business.”

The class had such a profound effect on her that Kristen is considering adding a sociology minor to her marketing major.

Taiylor is a rising sophomore Music Education major who expects to graduate May 2021. She is involved in Jazz Educators Club, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, PSU Symphonic Band and PSU Saxophone Ensemble. Her volunteer activity revolves around THON- specifically Encore Benefitting THON.

Her Music 40 class, a first-year seminar class for music education students, had the most significant impact on her academics so far. Even though she was confident that she wanted to become a music educator, it was exposure to older students and professors from different emphasis groups plus general and high school music teachers in Music 40 that helped her decide that she wants to teach high school band classes. That decision helped her focus her studies toward reaching that specific goal.

In addition, Taiylor credits the course with not only putting her on a specific career path but also enabling her to develop a network of friends who support each other in their music education endeavors and social life as well.

Taiylor wrote in her scholarship essay, “Being in my Music 40 seminar class and hearing the stories from different professors and students helped solidify the fact that I want to teach and help shape the lives of children through music.”

Kerriana is a rising junior with a triple major in the College of Liberal Arts: Political Science, Criminology, and African American studies. She is the Founder and President of Hope Here Hope Now (August 2017-Present), PSU’s first organization dedicated to combatting sex trafficking, Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women (historian last year) and is Public Relations Chair for the Multicultural Undergraduate Law Association. In the community, she volunteered as a legislative/policy intern for the Virginia Beach Justice Initiative and interned for various local political campaigns.

The biggest impact on Kerriana’s academic career so far comes from her Criminology 012 course. It’s why she added Criminology as a third major. The class brought a new perspective to her thinking about why people commit crimes—in particular, the impact of environment on criminal activity. She initially thought that environment dooms some to failure. She came to understand that doesn’t have to be the case. Kerriana says that understanding changed the way she treats her own relationships. “Just because someone grew up in a bad environment doesn’t mean I can’t be the person to change their scenery,” she wrote.

In her scholarship essay she concluded, “I’m pretty sure I won’t stop all crime with this tactic, but having the skills of understanding, patience, and compassion, will definitely reflect a positive change in you and the people around you. You never really know how much of an influence you might be in someone’s life, so be a good one.”