UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three Penn State students in their respective areas of leadership have been honored with the 2024 John W. Oswald Award. Awards were given in the following fields: Vanessa Dib, scholarship; Luke Vargas, journalism, speech and mass media; and Jacob Levendosky, student government.

The John W. Oswald Award, established in 1983, annually recognizes graduating seniors who have provided outstanding leadership in at least one of several areas of activity at the University. The award consists of a medallion honoring John W. Oswald, president of the University from 1970 to 1983.

Scholarship

Dib majors in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering, while she is writing her Schreyer honors thesis in English. Nominators called her a very unique, driven and compassionate student. They said her personal experiences from growing up in Nigeria and Lebanon drive her commitment to those with diverse backgrounds.

“From our very first meetings, I have been continuously impressed with her drive and vision. Her journey reflects a pragmatic adaptation to the diverse influences, harmonizing her unique backgrounds with the varied experiences encountered at Penn State,” a nominator said.

Dib served on the board of the Penn State Remote Area Medical (RAM) chapter of the national nonprofit organization RAM, a group tasked with “preventing pain and alleviating suffering by providing free, quality health care” to those in remote areas. She was involved in organizing free health care clinics in Spring Mills and Lewistown. Dib oversaw four committees, each tackling volunteer provision, patient outreach, funding, and securing food and accommodation for volunteers. These clinics serve as a community resource for those in need of affordable health care while offering a volunteer pipeline for interested Penn State students, nominators said.

“These clinics give University Park students interested in combating health disparities the ability to volunteer and make a positive impact in the surrounding community, exposing them to the residents living in rural communities and allowing them to experience helping provide vision, dental and medical care,” a nominator said. “She provides a platform for students to contribute to the well-being of residents in rural communities, fostering a sense of responsibility and civic duty among the university community.”

Dib also founded the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Caucus. During her time as president of the caucus, she facilitated securing two community representative seats on the University Park Undergraduate Association. Dib also welcomed MENA-focused and allied groups into the caucus, allowing the MENA Caucus to focus on providing a platform, as well as resources, for MENA students in order to effectively cater to the diverse needs of the MENA community and enhance cultural understanding at Penn State.

Journalism, Speech and Mass Media

Vargas double majors in print and digital journalism in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and Spanish in the College of the Liberal Arts. Nominators said he exemplifies the qualities and achievements deserving for the award but that his accolades speak further than what’s shown on his resume. 

For example, nominators said, he served in several leadership roles at the independent student newspaper The Daily Collegian (TDC). For the past three years, Vargas has been the newspaper’s sports editor and business manager and has advanced digital and innovative storytelling in that time. Nominators said his leadership roles coincided with challenging financial times for the free, local and student-run newspaper. 

“These are two very different operations, requiring different skill sets. I can attest to the fact that Luke inherited a business operation that was in need of modernizing, and he has done that,” a nominator said. “Furthermore, he has united a large group of students to take a much more ‘real-world’ approach to journalism and marketing. Under his direction, the team has moved into short-form video and other forms of storytelling that speak to the student demographic but also to the large alumni following for TDC.” 

Vargas also worked as a sports reporter for the Associated Press (AP), covering the Women’s World Cup in 2023. 

“The significance of this for an undergraduate is hard to overstate,” a nominator said. “The AP rarely allows students to cover such major events. However, Luke was able to travel to New Zealand and represent the AP at press conferences and matches. His stories were published on the sports wire and the international wire — a rarity for any reporter.” 

Vargas is also one of two Bellisario College Fellows in the program’s history, a distinction earned through a very competitive process of vetting from the college’s faculty, staff and alumni, nominators said. His other honors include a first-place 2022 Keystone Media Award for his personality profile of “90-year-old local legend David Kurtz” and the Bunton-Waller Fellowship. He’s also a member of the Penn State chapter of the liberal arts honor society Phi Beta Kappa.

Student government

Levendosky majors in biology in the Eberly College of Science. Nominators called him a thoughtful, ambitious and effective leader who has impacted the student experience at each Penn State campus through his roles on the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG), which advocates on behalf of students.

Nominators said Levendosky helped campus representatives create and implement resolutions that made Penn State a more inclusive and equitable University for all. They said he took an active role in authoring policy documents that were eventually adopted, unanimously, to improve Penn State policy.

As vice president for CCSG, Levendosky worked with the University Faculty Senate, the Board of Trustees, senior Student Affairs leadership and the University administration to promote change.

“Jacob is an intentional and caring student leader. We believe that he embodies the spirit, service and scholarship and always goes above and beyond the expectations that are set for him — by us, his faculty or his peers,” a nominator said. “His maturity, willingness to challenge himself, and desire to serve others positions him as a role model for his peers and the diverse group of student leaders he works with daily. He is driven, professional and very independent — while also recognizing the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving his personal, educational, philanthropic and career goals.”

Levendosky serves in numerous other leadership roles, including student representative on the University Policy and Public Safety Student Advisory Board and the Change of Campus Student Advisory Board. He also has served as the Commonwealth Campus liaison for the THON Communications Committee.

“He will leave the University better than he found it and, for those who know him, with a positive impact that will extend far beyond his time at Penn State,” a nominator said.