UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Homecoming announced Savanah Jackson as the 2022 Guide State Forward Award winner for the Graduate and Professional School Court during the Rally and Roar event hosted by the Student Programming Association.

Jackson is a second-year graduate student at the School of International Affairs who is studying race and development. Prior to coming to Penn State, Jackson studied political science and philosophy at Georgetown College in Kentucky. She is currently president of the Black Student Association at the School of International Affairs, the Graduate School's student faculty senator on the University Faculty Senate, and the graduate assistant for outreach and diversity at Career Services.

“Each of our courts are composed of some of the best people at Penn State that honor the Homecoming legacy of diversity and gender inclusivity,” said Tim Nevil, executive director of Penn State Homecoming. “Penn State Homecoming is so excited to honor our Guide State Forward winners.”

The undergraduate Guide State Forward Student Court winners will be announced on Saturday, Oct. 22, during the Homecoming/Penn State White Out football game against Minnesota. Penn State Homecoming eliminated the gendered titles of “Homecoming King and Queen” in 2018 and removed the even-number ratio of male to female representation within the court. The top two members of the Student Court are recognized with the Guide State Forward Award. These two individuals best represent Penn State’s six core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community.

About Penn State Homecoming

Penn State Homecoming is a student-run organization that aims to celebrate tradition and instill pride in all members of the Penn State family through active engagement of students, alumni, faculty and staff across the community. The organization is comprised of many student volunteers who donate their time to creating a multitude of events that make the Homecoming celebration a yearlong event.