UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Seven Schreyer Scholars and two Penn State faculty members have been selected as recipients of Schreyer Honors College awards for the 2022-23 academic year.

“We are extremely grateful for everything that this year’s honorees have contributed to the Honors College and Penn State communities,” said Patrick Mather, dean of Schreyer Honors College. “It’s exciting to recognize and reward such notable accomplishments.”

The Scholar awards and their recipients are:

• The Paul Axt Prize goes to engineering sciences major Coltrane Conner. This award honors a graduating Scholar who exemplifies a commitment to inquiry, intellectual curiosity and daring; qualities that Paul Axt, founding director of the University Scholars Program, fostered through the honors program. First awarded in 1987, the prize was established by the University in recognition of Axt’s distinguished service.
• The Douglas G. and Regina C. Evans Award for Research Achievement goes to chemical engineering major Wezi Mkandawire. The Evans Award recognizes a graduating Scholar’s extraordinary research achievement, which is distinguished by high quality, outstanding intellectual value, creativity, commitment and significance. The award was endowed in 2003 by Scholar alumnus Douglas G. Evans and his wife Regina C. Evans.
• The Robert W. "Bear" Koehler Award for Distinguished Service goes to fourth-year finance major Chimwemwe Mitole and second-year finance major Ryan Banks. This paired award is given to a graduating Scholar and a rising second- or third-year Scholar from the Smeal College of Business. The honorees are selected for their record of service that exemplifies Bear Koehler’s accomplishments and service while on the faculty and throughout his Penn State career. The award was established by Scholar alumnus Noah Barsky; Smeal College of Business faculty member Charles Smith; and Bear Koehler’s friends, family, students and colleagues.
• The Usharani C. and C. Channa Reddy Mission Award goes to international affairs and international politics major Lillian Aronson, international politics major Luisina Kemanian-Leites, and anthropology major Casey Sennett. The Reddy Mission Award honors graduating Scholars who best exemplify the mission of the college through academic excellence, globalization and civic engagement. It was inaugurated in 2000 and endowed by faculty member Channa Reddy and his wife Usharani Reddy.
• The Esther Entina Memorial goes to engineering pre-major Holly Mullin. This award recognizes a high achieving, first-year Scholar studying engineering. Paul Russ, a 2010 Penn State graduate and Scholar alumni, created the scholarship in memory of his grandmother, Esther Entina, who immigrated to the United States to study engineering. She went on to spend her entire career as a project manager.
• The Schreyer Honors College Excellence in Honors Advising Award goes to Stephen Schaeffer, professor of biology and associate department head of graduate education.
• The Schreyer Honors College Excellence in Honors Teaching Award goes to Andrea Arguelles, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics.

Each Scholar will receive a financial award and a certificate to recognize their achievements, and the faculty members will receive replica Lion Shrine statues.