UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of the Liberal Arts recognized eight graduate student award winners at a ceremony on April 18. The recipients were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the College of the Liberal Arts and the University.  

Lynn M. Sebulsky Memorial Award 

Samiha Taseen, a graduate student in the School of Public Policy, was the sole recipient of the Lynn M. Sebulsky Memorial Award. Taseen will graduate with a master of public policy degree this May. 

This award was named after the late Lynn Sebulsky, long-time graduate coordinator in the College of the Liberal Arts’ Research and Graduate Studies Office. The award specifically recognizes a second-year graduate student who has excelled in their first year at Penn State. 

Denise Haunani Solomon Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Students 

Jerome Clarke, doctoral candidate African American and diaspora studies and philosophy; Anna Piotti, doctoral candidate in German linguistics and language science; and Alex Sibo, doctoral candidate in English, were awarded the Denise Haunani Solomon Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Students. 

This award was named for Denise Solomon, former associate dean for research and graduate studies and current professor of communication arts and sciences. The award recognizes graduate students in the College of the Liberal Arts whose accomplishments in the classroom are deemed to be exceptional and who have thus made a significant contribution to the educations of undergraduate students.  

Raymond E. Lombra and Roberta Lombra Outstanding Graduate Research Award 

Brandon Bolte, doctoral candidate in political science; Cole Callen, doctoral candidate in Spanish linguistics; Corinne Lajoie, doctoral candidate in philosophy and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; and Christopher Paul Willis, doctoral candidate in political science, were awarded the Raymond E. Lombra and Roberta Lombra Outstanding Graduate Research Award.  

This award was named in honor of Ray Lombra, former associate dean in the College of the Liberal Arts. The award recognizes high-quality contributions to the humanities and the social sciences by enrolled graduate students working toward their advanced degrees. These students were awarded this honor for their excellent work in writing articles or books that are published or forthcoming.