GPSA Awards
Kenneth Martin Exemplary GPSA Service Award
This prestigious award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the GPSA community. The recipient is recognized for their outstanding contributions, including leadership, mentorship, and commitment to improving the experiences and opportunities for fellow members. The award highlights an individual’s ability to inspire others and drive positive change within the organization.
Delegate of the Year Award
Aimed at acknowledging the delegate who has exemplified outstanding representation and advocacy on behalf of their group, the Delegate of the Year Award is given to someone who has shown remarkable dedication, involvement, and effectiveness in their role. This award recognizes their exceptional skills in communication, problem-solving, and their significant impact on shaping GPSA’s decisions and policies.
George Atherton Outstanding Dedication to Penn State
Named after a key figure in Penn State’s history, this award honors an individual who has demonstrated unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the Penn State community. The recipient of this award has shown extraordinary commitment to advancing the university’s mission, whether through academic excellence, community service, or by fostering a positive and inclusive environment on campus.
Phillip J. Burlingame Advocate for the Arts Award
This award celebrates those who have made significant efforts to promote and advance the arts within the GPSA and Penn State communities. Named in honor of Phillip J. Burlingame, it recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond to support artistic endeavors, enhance cultural programming, and inspire creativity and appreciation for the arts among students and faculty alike.
Zhao-Kelling GPSA Executive Award
This award is given in recognition of an Executive Board member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to the GPSA. Named in honor of previous Executive Board members Zhao and Kelling, it celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization through innovative ideas, effective management, and a strong commitment to advancing the goals and mission of the GPSA.
Zebrowski Miller Kerr Award for Innovation
Recognizing a single individual who has introduced groundbreaking ideas and novel solutions, the Zebrowski Miller Kerr Award for Innovation honors someone whose transformative concepts or projects have significantly benefited the GPSA or the broader Penn State community. This award highlights the importance of creativity, forward-thinking, and the positive impact of innovative approaches on enhancing organizational effectiveness and member engagement.
Past Winners – Details Coming Soon
Our list of past winners is being updated. Please visit this section again soon to see the achievements of our previous award recipients and learn about their remarkable contributions to the GPSA and Penn State communities.
Kenneth Martin Exemplary GPSA Service Award
Alfonso Mendoza (2011)
Dave Rench and Becky McCauley (2012)
Becky McCauley (2013)
Allie Goldstein (2014)
Nicole Benevento (2015)
Jesse Scott (2016)
Mohamed Wahba (2017)
Emily Erickson (2018)
Steven Baksa (2019)
Diego Hernandez (2020)
Ali Watts (2021)
Megan Minnich (2022)
Sai Katla (2023)
Cierra Chandler (2024)
Delegate of the Year Award
Antonio Cucchiara (2010)
Dave Rench (2011)
Julia Franstino (2012)
Runkun Jiang (2013)
Sherry Rice (2014)
Alison Franklin (2015)
Lillian Hill (2016)
Brian Conway (2017)
Carmen Vanderhoof (2018)
Charles Tierney (2019)
Jon Young (2020)
Jocelyn Delgado (2021)
AMA Agyapong (2022)
Sean Hembricks (2023)
Mary Ogidigben (2024)
George Atherton Outstanding Dedication to Penn State
Brian Aynardi (2013)
Katie Kragh-Buetow (2014)
Marika Merritt (2015)
Brad Sottile (2016)
Steven Di Grazia (2017)
Gerry Knapp (2018)
Claire Kelling (2019)
Mandy Burton (2020)
Emory Robertson (2021)
Niladri Sekhar Mandal (2022)
Hemangi Doye (2023)
Lawrence Miller (2024)
Phillip J. Burlingame Advocate for the Arts Award
Austin Barrett and Brittany Banik (2017)
August Jenkins (2018)
Lan-Nhi Phung (2019)
Nora Tucker (2020)
Alicia Grana (2021)
Zhao-Kelling GPSA Executive Award
Sandeep Krishnakumar (2022)
Nataly Oliver (2023)
Cate Givens (2024)
Zebrowski Miller Kerr Award for Innovation
Dallas Zebrowski (2024)