UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Muhammad Nazaruddin bin Mohd Salleh, a senior majoring in economics in Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts, has received the 2025 Ardeth and Norman Frisbey International Student Award for undergraduates.
The award recognizes undergraduate students who have contributed significantly to furthering international understanding. The student’s contributions could consist of academic, athletic or extracurricular campus activity and/or community involvement in school or civic group programs or service projects.
Nominators said bin Mohd Salleh has long been passionate about bridging cultural divides and building mutual respect among people from diverse backgrounds. They said his experiences in his home country of Malaysia has helped him elevate the Penn State community with his global perspectives.
Since 2023, he’s worked in the Office of Global Engagement as a global engagement assistant. In that role, he worked extensively in conceptualizing, planning, and facilitating student-facing events and developing communication strategies for incoming and existing international students.
He also served as a welcome leader, helping international students adapt and get the most out of their international education.
“Muhammad excels in his work because he enjoys it, but also because he knows it’s meaningful. These positions served as a medium for Muhammad to pursue his passion for supporting fellow international students, connecting with people from diverse perspectives, and creating and sharing a positive vision,” a nominator said. “His accomplishments stand as a perfect example of the Penn State values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community. Through his work over the past few years, he has made this campus a better place for international and globally minded students, a legacy that will continue even after he graduates.”
Bin Mohd Salleh said his passion for helping others stems from growing up in a multi-racial community in Malaysia, where he witnessed what can be achieved through diversity and mutual respect. He chose to attend Penn State to enhance that global perspective.
“As an international and first-generation student, my journey has been marked by a deep commitment to furthering international understanding and fostering a global community at Penn State,” he said. “Through my leadership roles, academic, community involvement, and participation in international programs and events, I have dedicated myself to promoting inclusivity, cultural exchange and mutual respect among diverse groups.”