UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Hunter Nations, a secondary education (social studies) major, has been named as the Penn State College of Education student marshal for the summer 2024 commencement ceremony.
Nations, who resides in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, is the son of Crystal Nations.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as the student marshal,” Nations said. “Such recognition from those at Penn State for the accomplishments that I have been able to achieve eases the pains from the hardships that had to have been endured to reach this point in my life. Not only is this a source of pride for myself, but for my family as well to know that their contributions into my future were not a wasted investment. I truly am happy that there are so many that care about me!”
Nations, who is also graduating with minors in history as well as Classics and Mediterranean Studies, has broad field experience as a student teacher. He not only student-taught locally at State College Area High School (SCAHS), but at Pierre Indian Learning Center in South Dakota. He also recently spent time abroad at Instituto Statale Adelaide Cairoli in Pavia, Italy, where he designed lessons for students learning English as a second language.
Since 2022, he has worked as a youth residential care worker for Centre County Youth Service Bureau, assisting children of all ages with schoolwork and life skills in addition to providing basic tutoring for children across most academic areas.
Nations also volunteers as an assistant with the SCAHS Renaissance Fair Club, which he has done since 2019.
“I am hoping to further my education in the realm of history and social studies,” Nations said. “I am not sure if I will want to teach or research at the college level. But I do wish to serve my community the same way it has served me. Beyond education, I wish to explore the country and to discover places that may be suitable to put down roots and enjoy life with my current family and family to come.”
Nations will receive a bachelor of science in secondary education in social studies.
Penn State’s summer commencement ceremony for undergraduate students is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, at Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus. The ceremony for those receiving master’s and doctoral degrees is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., also at Bryce Jordan Center. For more information about commencement at Penn State, visit commencement.psu.edu.