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2023-24 Penn State Supplemental Essay – Prompt and Tips

September 6, 2023

With an acceptance rate still above 50%, it would be easy to misjudge how challenging the Penn State admissions landscape truly is. In fact, those entering the famed University Park campus sport mid-50 SATs of 1270-1450. They also boast an unweighted GPA range of 3.59-3.93 . Additionally, successful applicants in 2023-24 should prepare to write a strong Penn State supplemental essay.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Penn State? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Penn State University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

In a competitive admissions environment, every piece of the Penn State application takes on a high level of importance. Therefore, it is vital that all Nittany Lion applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to this optional essay. Below is the lone PSU supplemental prompt for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing a winning essay.

Penn State Supplemental Essay Prompt #1 (Optional)

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at penn state. this is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. we suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer..

This essay is technically “optional” but all serious applicants should view it as mandatory. Unlike many “optional” essays that may or may not apply to you (e.g. COVID impact, gap in education, gender identity etc.), just about every applicant has at least one extracurricular or experience worth elaborating on.

The activity/experience angle

With this prompt, Penn State is not necessarily asking you to write about the activity where you earned the most prestigious awards. Nor are they looking for the one where you held the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your activities in that section of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself which of your entries is crying out for more explanation and detail. Which one is closest to your heart and most representative of your unique passions? Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. For example, you may be a volunteer EMT and have compelling, drama-filled experiences to share.

Alternatively, you may have worked in local restaurant and learned more about the lives of your undocumented coworkers. Start this process by asking, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment I have experienced in my extracurricular activities?”

If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the Penn State admissions staff.

The more broad “about you” angle

Of course, this prompt has a wider scope than just an activity. You can also take this opportunity to share something personal. After completing your Common App, is there anything that you have yet to share that is absolutely elemental to who you are as a person/student? Without the benefit of an in-person interview, it may feel like you never fully had a chance to connect intimately with a PSU admissions officer. Perhaps you have not communicated the full you, your true essence, your je ne sais quoi. If you feel something important about yourself has yet to be communicated elsewhere in the application, then this essay is about to become your best friend.

Consider that the admissions reader is already familiar with your academic history, activities, and awards. What don’t they know, or, what could they understand on a deeper level. This could be a particular skill or talent or something about your character or personality. On the other hand, you may wish to speak more about your passions, hobbies, ideas, or beliefs. Any of those options are perfectly fine!

This one is intentionally open-ended so use this space to share your most cherished accomplishments or most winning attributes. The university itself is, in essence, inviting you to make a “closing argument” at the end of this admissions trial.

How important is the Penn State supplemental essay?

The essays (the Common App essay and supplemental essay) are not among the most important factors to the admissions committee. GPA and the rigor of one’s courses are at the top of the list. However, the essays can help borderline applicants push themselves over the edge toward an acceptance.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Penn State supplemental essay, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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College Essays

If you want to go to Penn State , then the Penn State essay is one of your big chances to show how you’re different from other students in your application for admission . In order to really make this component of the application work to your advantage, you’ll need a solid strategy for writing a concise, unique, and persuasive Penn State essay!

Writing your Penn State admissions essay might seem intimidating at first, but we’re here to guide you through the process. This article will help you write a stellar Penn State essay by: 

• Explaining purpose of the Penn State Essay
• Outlining the three steps to writing a solid Penn State Essay
• Providing a breakdown of Penn State essay examples
• Giving you three practical tips for writing an exceptional essay

Let’s dive in!

The Penn State essay is an important part of your Penn State application because it can make you stand out from other applicants!

What’s the Penn State Essay?

The Penn State essay, sometimes also called the Penn State supplemental essay, is a 500 word written response included in the Penn State application for admission . 

The prompt for this essay invites applicants to tell the admissions committee about themselves. Here’s the prompt you’ll have to answer:

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer. 

This essay prompt is essentially asking applicants to write a response that is very similar to what is known as a personal statement. College admissions typically use an applicant’s personal statement to better understand who the applicant is as a person and what strengths they will bring to the university. 

In other words, the Penn State Essay response is an applicant’s chance to show what makes them unique in the admissions process. 

3 Steps to Answering The Penn State Essay Prompt

If we break down the pieces of what the Penn State prompt is asking, we can identify three main tasks that you need to complete in order to write a killer essay . These tasks are as follows: 

• Identify something about yourself (e.g. a skill, ability, character trait), one of your experiences, or an activity you have been involved in, and 
• Explain the meaning or significance of that aspect of yourself in order to
• Prove that you embody what it means to be a Penn State student. 

While whipping out a 500 word essay response that covers these topics may sound easy, it’s a bit trickier in practice. It’s important that you think carefully about your strategy and come up with a clear plan for your essay response. Remember: your essay is an important part of your admissions application, so you want to spend time getting it right. 

Now, we’re going to walk you through how to address each of these three major points in your essay in order to make admissions counselors sit up and take notice. 

Step 1: Select a Topic to Write About

To begin the process of drafting your Penn State essay, you need to select a meaningful attribute, experience, or activity that makes a positive case for your ability to succeed at Penn State . You need to identify these meaningful experiences or attributes because of the first part of the Penn State essay prompt, which states: 

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. 

To do this, start by taking inventory of the character traits, experiences, or involvement in activities that you’re most proud of, passionate about, or are the most meaningful to you. We recommend you start by writing a list of the things that come to mind. If you want, you can divide it into categories based on character traits/abilities, experiences, and activities. As you put together this list, don’t worry about whether the things you’re coming up with are “good” or not — you’re just brainstorming ideas at this point!  

If you’re stuck and have no idea where to start, that’s okay, too. Try asking yourself these questions to get you started: 

• What is my favorite memory? And why? 
• What’s my favorite thing to do in the whole world? Why do I love it? 
• If my friends had to describe me in one word, what would they say?

Once you start jotting down ideas, you’ll probably find that you’re able to come up with quite a few. The traits, experiences, and activities that you list out can vary widely and come from different areas of your life, including experiences with friends and family, academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, work with community organizations and volunteerism, political activism, travels, strong memories from childhood, or challenges you’ve faced in life. The possibilities aren’t limited to the ones we just mentioned; this list is simply meant to give you a jump start for brainstorming. 

Once you’ve listed out all the meaningful traits/abilities, experiences, and activities that you can think of, evaluate them in order to select one item from the list that you will address in your Penn State essay. To narrow it down to one item, consider asking yourself the following questions: 

• Which of these items do I feel the strongest positive emotional connection to? 
• Which of these items am I the most proud of? 
• Which of these items could I tell a story about? 
• Which of these items makes me unique or different from other people? 

You don’t necessarily have to use these questions to select your essay topic, but if you find that you answer several of these questions with the same experience or activity, that might be a good clue that you should choose that item as the topic of your Penn State essay. 

Once you pick a topic, it's time to figure out what it says about you as a person. This essay is designed to help admissions counselors get to know you. 

Step 2: Think About What Your Topic Says About You 

Once you’ve selected a single character trait/ability, experience, or activity from your list, the second step of responding to the Penn State essay prompt is to tell a compelling story. 

You want to engage your reader while explaining what the trait/activity/characteristic you’ve chosen says about you as a person. 

To get started on this step, it’s a good idea to do some freewriting or brainstorming. Try to identify the ways in which the experience or activity you chose showcased a talent, skill, or ability you possess in a meaningful or valuable way. It’s important to be able to explain your perception of how this experience or activity shaped you into a person who will bring something positive to Penn State.

Here’s what we mean: say Katerina has decided that she wants to write about making the varsity squad for her school’s soccer team. In her freewrite, she writes about how the accomplishment makes her feel (proud, excited, enthusiastic), and she also writes a bit about the hard work it took for her to get there. Not only does she jot down ideas about going to the State tournament and making a game-winning goal, she also writes about how she missed making the squad in 9th grade, but instead of quitting, she got up an hour early every day over the summer to fit in extra practice. 

In this example, Katerina is trying to get a better understanding of why her topic is important to her, and what kind of story she can tell the admissions committee to help them understand her better. In this case, Katerina may decide to focus on how she didn’t give up and put in extra work to make her dreams come true...and it ended up paying off in a big way! 

Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter if the item you choose to write about is the most prestigious accomplishment from your résumé — you have the rest of your Penn State application to account for those accomplishments. Rather, the Penn State Essay is your time to tell the story of the real person behind your long list of accolades. If you can tailor this story to focus on a specific, detailed experience, activity, or positive attribute you possess, your essay will be more impactful.

Step 3: Tie Your Story Back to Penn State

After you’ve nailed down the way that you want to describe your uniqueness as an applicant, you need to define your understanding of what success at Penn State means to you . 

Why do you need to do this? Because of the instructions in the first sentence of the Penn State essay prompt, which states: 

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State . 

Penn State Admissions wants you to make a clear connection between your reflections on the experience you choose to write about and the opportunities for success that Penn State offers to its students. In order to make this connection effectively in your essay response, you need to explain how your story shows that you’re a perfect fit for Penn State. 

To get started, do your research on the culture, identity, and opportunities provided for students at Penn State . Use any information you may have gathered from visits to Penn State’s campus, attending admissions events, talking with current students or alumni, or perusing Penn State’s website to help you construct a complete picture of the culture of Penn State and what the school has to offer. 

Also, dig into specific opportunities you want to take advantage of while you’re attending Penn State. What does Penn State offer you that no other college can give you? Maybe that’s a specific degree plan, unique courses, or even a specific professor you want to work with. The more specific you are about how you’ll fit into the Penn State community, the better. 

So let’s go back to Katerina. Katerina wants to be an engineer, and in her research, she learned that Penn State’s BEST Center is working on improving battery technology. Since Katerina wants to work in the tech field, the BEST Center will help her prepare for her future career. 

So now Katerina needs to use her story about her soccer experience to explain how she’ll succeed as an engineering student at Penn State . One way she might do that is by saying that engineering is a demanding degree, and the persistence she learned on the soccer field will set her up for doing well as a Penn State engineering student. She could even take it a step further and explain that the creative problem solving she developed in her soccer training will help her succeed as she researches new battery technology as a part of the BEST Center, too.

This definition of “success” should inform how you tell the story of yourself in your Penn State essay. The admissions committee doesn’t expect every applicant to define success in the same way. In fact, Penn State admissions wants to see that you’ve really thought through your potential to be a good fit as a student at Penn State based on a thorough understanding of what Penn State has to offer a student with your past experiences and vision for the future. You should be able to define your path to success and explain how Penn State will help you get there.  

If you're still not sure what your Penn State essay should look like, take a look at our example essay below.

A Penn State Essay Example

There are many different ways that a Penn State essay can be successful but, in general, excellent essays talk about a specific experience, tell a memorable story, and connect the story of that experience to your definition of success at Penn State. 

To help you understand what these moves can look like in practice, let’s check out Penn State essay examples: 

Every morning during the spring of my junior year of high school, my alarm went off at 4:45 a.m. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people in my hometown were laid off from their jobs struggling to make ends meet. My family owns a farm, and we grow many different types of vegetables and have laying hens, too. So when my morning chores were completed, I would jump in the truck with my dad and my sister to drive into town and deliver free vegetables and eggs to families in need. 

My family could help others because of our farm. That made me think: what if other people could grow their own food and then share what they had with others? That’s why I started an online, community-based agriculture program at my school. I wanted to help others learn how to grow their own food, then share that food with others in their community. 

While the group started out small with just a few students, within three weeks, 40 of my classmates joined in. Together, we organized a seed, plant, and garden tool drive that helped give 70 families in our town enough supplies to start their own small gardens. And many of my classmates have committed to growing gardens of their own! This experience taught me how important agriculture is, but also how agriculture can directly impact the well-being of those around me. 

As a major in community, environment, and development at Penn State, I would have the opportunity to learn about and envision strategies for helping consumers in local communities become aware of and educated about the social and economic benefits to supporting their local farmers. By taking supplemental courses in computer programming, I would prepare myself to create user-friendly online spaces that are dedicated to sharing information about local food systems with consumers in local communities. Ultimately, I believe that Penn State will help me achieve my dream of starting a nationwide, online program to help people in undeserved communities start community agriculture programs of their own. 

Now, let’s break down what this example essay does well. In this essay, the writer provides a clear definition of what success at Penn State will look like for them as a student. This essay emphasizes the student’s personal goals, knowledge of the opportunities Penn State has to offer, and commitment to investing in the Penn State community and society at large . That will definitely make an impact with admissions counselors! 

This student also helps admissions counselors get to know them by telling a story that includes specific details and vivid imagery from an experience that other applicants may not have . The essay helps the reader get a better sense of who this person is, their background, and the things they care about by telling the short story about delivering homegrown care packages to people in the community. This story will help the admissions committee remember the applicant and will set them apart from other applicants as well. 

But most essays aren’t perfect, and this one isn’t, either. One thing this essay response can improve upon is the way in which it connects the student’s idea of success to Penn State . In the last paragraph, the student should focus more on how specific opportunities provided by Penn State’s agriculture department, like its collaborative research into sustainable agriculture , will help the student achieve their goals. 

All in all, t his Penn State essay provides a good example of how to address all aspects of the essay prompt , be clear and concise in your writing, and reveal important aspects of who you are as a person that your other application materials may not show. 

3 Tips for Writing an Excellent Penn State Essay

You want your Penn State essay to persuade admissions that you’ll be a fantastic addition to Penn State’s incoming class. To help you present yourself in a way that Penn State admissions will remember, check out our three tips for writing an outstanding Penn State essay to help you stand out from the crowd. 

Tip 1: Be Specific

If you want your Penn State essay to be memorable, you need to be specific . Throwing out a bunch of abstract character traits or claims as to why you’ll be successful at Penn State won’t help your essay stand out. Instead, give your essay a coherent focus by selecting one or two related character traits, experiences, or activities that show your ability to be successful at Penn State. 

The point of the Penn State essay is to shoot for depth, not breadth. You already showcase your grades, coursework, and awards through other parts of your Penn State application. The essay is the time to reveal more about who you are and what you will bring to Penn State by showing how you’ve been successful in a past situation. Choosing a specific experience and diving into the details of it will show that you’re more than just a list of achievements on a résumé—you’re a real human being. 

Tip 2: Give Concrete Examples

When writing your Penn State essay, examples are a crucial form of support. When you select one or two specific elements  to focus on in your essay, you need to be able to elaborate on those things through specific and engaging examples. 

For instance, you don’t want to simply say, “My adaptability to a range of situations predicts my potential for success as a student at Penn State.” An admissions committee may read that sentence and ask, What makes you so adaptable? What activities or experiences demonstrate evidence of your adaptability? What has your adaptability helped you achieve or accomplish? 

Instead of making a vague, abstract claim like the one in the paragraph above, you need to be more specific, which you can do by providing an example . 

Here’s how a writer could elaborate on their adaptability in their essay: 

Starting your senior year of high school at a new school probably sounds daunting, but after moving seven times in seven years, I was prepared for the ins and outs of being the new kid on my last first day of school. Moving so many times due to my father’s work in the military has given me the opportunity to experience different cultures, learn new languages, and cultivate the ability to make meaningful connections with new people who are very different from me in a matter of minutes. During my senior year at a new school, I used these skills to mobilize my fellow students for a school wide walkout in support of DACA. 

Do you see the difference? The example above gives specific details of what life experience led this student to become adaptable rather than simply making an unsupported claim .

This example is also memorable because it uses vivid language. When you read it, you can imagine the student traveling the world, confidently stepping foot into a new school, and building connections with fellow students for social action. 

In your Penn State essay, examples like this one can be used to make meaningful connections between your vision for your life as a student and a clear definition of success . Using examples in this way will make your essay memorable and unique. 

Tip 3: Don’t Rehash Your Résumé

It’s tempting to rehash the list of accomplishments on your résumé in your Penn State essay, especially if your résumé is packed full of prestigious awards and experiences. However, keep in mind that there are other areas of the Penn State application that explicitly ask for this information. 

When the admissions committee sits down to read your essay response, they’re looking to learn something new about you—something that your résumé can’t tell them . So, instead of listing off accomplishments or stating the facts of what you’ve achieved, pick an aspect of who you are that might not be super apparent. That can include personality traits (maybe you’re really funny), unique experiences you’ve had (maybe you rescued kittens one summer!), or something else that makes you uniquely you. 

Just remember: your essay is a chance for you to make a powerful impression on your readers, so don’t waste it! 

Next Steps 

If you’re applying to Penn State, you need to make sure you’re meeting some of the school’s other admissions requirements . Here’s a guide to the Penn State admissions process to get you started . You can also learn more about the Penn State ACT and Penn State SAT standards , too. 

Are you looking for more college essay tips and tricks? Don’t worry: we’ve got 13 more for you! 

If you’re applying to other schools besides Penn State, y ou may find that you have to write “Why This College?” essays . If you’re not sure what those are, be sure to check out this article.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Penn State Supplemental Essay Prompts

Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.

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Cari Schultz is an Educational Review Board Advisor at Scholarships360, where she reviews content featured on the site. For over 20 years, Cari has worked in college admissions (Baldwin Wallace University, The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky) and as a college counselor (Columbus School for Girls).

Pennsylvania State University , commonly known as Penn State, is a public land-grant research university located in State College, Pennsylvania. It is widely known for its high ranking athletics and undergraduate degree programs. We are here to help you respond to the Penn State supplemental essays , so keep reading!

The Penn State prompts

The Penn State supplemental essays might be optional for all applicants, but going the extra mile shows your interest in the university and showcases your talents. Your story is important, and Penn State wants to hear about it. This is why they also include a supplemental essay for potential students that have taken time off before applying to college. 

“ Optional : Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer.”

This prompt is the classic “who are you beyond academics?” question. Penn State and many other colleges want to get to know their applicants to determine if it’s the right fit. It’s important for your personality to shine through in this essay, and being authentic is a necessary component.

Make your Penn State supplemental essay specific to you and your journey. Start by figuring out a main topic for your essay that isn’t so general that it could apply to any of the other applicants.

However, the story you share with the admissions office should relate to what you hope to accomplish or contribute to the Penn State community. This includes hobbies that might have inspired you to choose your major as well as ways you contributed to your current community in a way that you hope to make a similar impact at Penn State. You might also want to mention a course that Penn State exclusively offers that relates to an interest you have. 

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Questions to consider.

• What is the story I want to tell Penn State?
• What are some notable experiences, interests, or hobbies that I have?
• Why did I choose to apply to Penn State?

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Remember: This prompt is only for applicants who are sending in their application sometime other than their senior year of high school.

“ Please use this space to explain any time that has elapsed between your high school graduation and your anticipated enrollment at Penn State. Please provide a summary of why that gap occurred. If you attended another college or university during that time, please note it below and ensure that you have entered the information in the Academic History section of this application . ( 500 words ) ”

Everyone’s college journey is different, with some not enrolling in college the fall after graduating high school. Whether you took a gap period to travel or to prepare for university, this is your opportunity to share your experience with Penn State. 

You might’ve taken the time to travel, recoup from years in school, or start an entirely new adventure. You might have taken the time to seek experience and save money by working. Whatever your reasons, this supplemental essay prompt allows you to emphasize the importance of your gap period and how it has shaped you.

When writing your essay, try to include why you want to attend Penn State after your time off. Make them a part of your story, and explain how you hope to further develop once you attend. 

Be aware of the word count, it’s a bit more fixed than the other supplemental essay prompt. It might be hard to hit the exact limit, so go back and proofread before adding any additional sentences. A couple words here and there are quick to stack up!

Also see: What is a gap year? Everything you need to know

• Why did I want to take a gap year?
• What did I accomplish during my gap year?
• How did taking this time shape me as a person?
• In what ways do I feel more prepared to start college now (specifically at Penn State)?

Don’t miss: Top reasons to take a break from college

Next steps for students

As you go through the college application process, mark your calendar with important deadlines! By doing this, you can accurately plan and get things done in advance. You could circle the date for admission notifications or schedule a campus tour.

Penn State has multiple campuses for applicants to choose from, and they also offer virtual tours, so you can get a quick look before visiting in person. The website even gives brief overviews of each location in Pennsylvania along with degrees, housing, and extracurriculars offered there. 

Remember to check Penn State’s social media pages to stay updated on important events and dates. You’ll also be able to get a glimpse of what Penn State is like and how you might fit in there. Good luck on your path toward success!

Additional resources 

Now you know how to ace the Penn State supplemental essays. But the work is not done! You can never be too prepared for college, so here’s a couple resources to make the transition smoother: 

• Figure out the major that’s right for you
• Decide on applying early decision or early action
• Choose different types of scholarships to apply to
• How to write an essay about yourself

Other colleges to consider

• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
• University of Illinois (Urbana-Campaign, IL)
• Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)

Frequently asked questions about the Penn State supplemental essays

Can i apply to penn state through the common app, is the penn state optional supplemental essay worth writing, how long should the penn state supplemental personal essay be, scholarships360 recommended.

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Pennsylvania State University Essay Guide 2019-2020

Found in the heart of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University (PSU) is a public, land-grant university with a multitude of locations and the primary campus being at University Park, Pennsylvania. PSU has an undergraduate body of over 40,000 students, with an admission rate hovering in the low to mid-50s over the past three years. For the Class of 2022, the middle 50% of applicants had a high school GPA between 3.55-3.97 out of a 4.0 scale and SAT score between 1250-1430 or ACT score between 28-32.

According to the 2017 US News & World Report , PSU ranks #50 overall for best college experience for undergraduates and is ranked #14 among national public universities. Many factors contribute to a student’s evaluation: academic record, standardized test scores, personal statements, cultural and geographic background, and activities. PSU strives to look at the holistic individual and chooses a diverse class of students in all aspects of life.

For students admitted for Fall 2019 and following, PSU has slightly modified its general education curriculum. The baccalaureate degree consists of no less than 120 credits, where students are permitted to take courses beyond the minimum. PSU allows for early action admission, direct application into a major of study granted the student satisfies requirements and also has several special accelerated programs. To list a few at the University Park campus, there is the seven-year BS/MD program, the five-year BS/MBA, the Schreyer Honors College, and many more at one of 18 other PSU affiliated campuses.

To help you with the writing process, we wrote this essay guide specifically for PSU’s supplemental essays. For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

The Penn State Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at penn state. this is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. we suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer..

With the incredible amount of applications submitted each year, try to make the admission officer’s job easier by writing a concise, unique, fluid essay . The essay should tell a story that gives the officer an idea of what kind of person you are while allowing yourself to show off a bit . For example, have you participated in community service or have volunteering experience that has taught you a lesson that can translate to your success at Penn State? Do you play any instruments or sports that have allowed you to travel or gain insight into other cultures? Are you from a military background, has the process of moving to different homes helped you learn to adapt quickly?

To find that desired topic I suggest creating a list of experiences or activities and then writing a short description for each one. This will help with the second prompt because, even if the topic you start with doesn’t end up being the final choice, you can start to pick the activities that mean the most to you. Also, you will have already started brainstorming and writing about your general experiences that may be useful in essays for other schools.

Prompt 2: Please use this space to list or discuss your activities other than academic work during the last several years (for example: school organizations, jobs, athletics, the arts, community service, religious groups, or other individual interests). You may already have an activities resume or list prepared and should feel free to paste it into the space below. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer.

The key to this prompt is to brainstorm a few categories (e.g. traveling) in addition to the ones listed and write a quick sentence or two about each activity within that category. Make sure that the description highlights the key takeaways from each activity as you want to try and keep the supplemental essay under 500 words. However, even if the word total exceeds 500, don’t fret as the flow and significance of the activities can mean more to the admissions officer.

If you have only a few activities you would like to describe, feel free to go into more detail and write a compelling story so that the admission officer can understand your passion for said activities. However, if you have too many topics and are unable to sufficiently describe each activity, you can pick one for each category or choose which are most important to you.

Other Program-Specific Prompts

5 year ms/mba of eberly college of science, prompt 3. select the scientific discipline above that is most interesting to you. why do you want to devote 4 years of college studying it (astronomy & astrophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, mathematics, microbiology, physics, statistics) (200 words max).

Think about what has interested you in and out of school, do you have a curiosity or passion for any of these subjects? Have you considered how business will factor into your academic plans?

Prompt 4: Inclusiveness and Diversity: In an increasingly global community, it is essential that students gain cultural competency. In what way have you demonstrated a commitment to this mission? (200 Words Max)

Cultural competency refers to your ability to communicate and interact with people of different cultures. This could be attributed to traveling to different countries or meeting people of various backgrounds in your neighborhood. In this essay, you should demonstrate that you are able to recognize your own views, acknowledge cultural differences, have a positive attitude towards others, and plan to continue doing all of these things in the future.

Prompt 5: Goals: Discuss your career aspirations. How would the Science BS/MBA program help you reach those goals? (200 Words Max)

Your career aspirations can be at any moment after graduation, even 20 years down the road. What is important is that you have some idea of where you what to be at each stage and that you include it in your response. You should also do research on this program, find out what previous graduates did, and look at the curriculum to determine what this program has to offer that is unique and interesting to you.

Prompt 6: Leadership: Please discuss your leadership and collaboration skills. Give recent examples of how they have been demonstrated. (200 Words Max)

Pick one or two examples at most to effectively paint a complete story of you as a leader. If you are unable to think of an example, explain a hypothetical but realistic situation where you can showcase your leadership and collaboration skills.

Prompt 7: Resiliency: Transitioning to college can be a challenge. Discuss the adjustments you believe you will need to make in order to be successful as you transition from high school to a college environment. (200 Words Max)

Whether you believe you need to make adjustments or have already made them, make sure you include a broader list and then narrow down the answers to respond to this prompt.

Prompt 8: Describe your biggest commitment. (150 Words Max)

This prompt allows some flexibility if you think one aspect of yourself has not been thoroughly showcased, you are able to go into more depth here.

Prompt 9: Describe a time when you helped someone else succeed. (150 Words Max)

Think about your family, friends, peers, or even strangers and create a list with a brief description under each potential answer.

Prompt 10: Using three adjectives, how would you like others to perceive you? (3 Words Max)

Do not overthink this answer , one solution could be to try and summarize your previous prompts so that each adjective has a supporting essay to go along with it.

Schreyer Honors College

Prompt 11: describe a typical day in your life in 2050. consider what your professional life will look like, what technologies you might use, and how you will interact with your personal network (friends, family, etc.) and the world at large..

This prompt allows you to be creative, but you should contain your answers to what you would be able to gain specifically from being a Schreyer Honors student (i.e. the network perks and additional educational benefits). Try to look for previous Schreyer Scholar testaments to the benefits of being one of these students.

Prompt 12: Describe a situation in which you moved outside your comfort zone, interacting with people whose experiences and/or beliefs are different from your own. What was your initial response and how did you adapt? Walk us through the situation and explain what impact it had on you.

Approach this question in a multitude of ways:

• Have you traveled to a new country with family or by yourself?
• Have you met anybody during community service who has left a lasting impact?
• Did you partake in work that involved being adaptive?

Regardless of the specific situation, be sure to include how you were initially presented with an uncomfortable situation, how you thought to remedy the situation, what you chose to execute in action, and the overall response.

Prompt 13: “A picture is worth a thousand words” refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single picture. If you could submit a selfie from anywhere in the world that would tell us about your beliefs and passion, where would you take this photo? What insight would this photo provide about you?

Again, think about what you want to show the admissions officer that you have been unable to explain in previous essays or your resume.

This essay guide was written by Victor Shen , PSU Class of 2018. If you want to get help writing your PSU application essays from Victor or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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• FRONT MATTER
• TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 4: Sample Personal Statements and Application Essays

Easy writing makes hard reading.

—Ernest Hemingway

As a graduate student taking fiction writing workshops many moons ago, I recall what was most motivating to me as a creative writer. It wasn’t the reading of published or award-winning work, and it wasn’t the classroom critique given on high from the professor nor the scribble from my classmates on my manuscripts. All these things were helpful and valuable, but nothing motivated me more than comparing my fiction to the work of my peers. As I read their work carefully, both objectively and subjectively, I found myself thinking at times that I was sure I could write better than the others around me at the seminar table—then I’d read an artful, poignant story that made me wonder whether I could ever even compete.

Perhaps somewhere between these two attitudes is the most profitable approach when studying the work of your peers. In critiquing the work of others who essentially represent your competition, you should take a respectful stance both critical and kind, just as selection committee members are likely to do. The sample essays in this chapter represent personal stories that are intriguing, diverse, complex, honest, and humanizing. These samples present opportunities for you to study, admire, question, emulate, reject, and—most importantly—consider how to present the best, truest, most effective picture of yourself, carefully refined for the eyes of others.

Websites with sample personal statements abound. Here are two:

Sample personal statements from indeed.com

Sample personal statements including reader comments from studential.com

• Short Essay Samples
• Sample Resumes
• Lengthy Essay Samples
• Professional Essay Samples

Best of Freshman Writing

My body, his choice by jenna vincenti.

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My Controversial Joy by Alex Wiemer

On an afternoon in early November, the leaves had finally fallen from their branches, and I was curled up on the brightly colored carpet, being screamed at by my psychiatrist. After a few minutes of him screeching about how I…

Size Doesn’t Matter by Samantha Warner

My name is Samantha, but people call me Sam. Over the course of 19 years, I have always been a  petite girl, with a passion for a large dream to pursue a career in large animal veterinary medicine. This whole…

Ethics in Journalism by Takara Connally

An Analysis of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again Stolen Focus is a book that attempts to understand you before you have even read the first page. Author Johann Hari sets out with…

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Education by Serenity H. Fullem

Major technological progress has historically been met with mixed responses varying on a spectrum from vehement opposition to open-armed acceptance. The Industrial Revolution, beginning in the mid- to late-eighteenth century, for example, both created optimistic visions of an industrialized future…

A Brown Child in a White World by Serena Leax

As a mixed-race child growing up in a primarily white school with an all-white family, I really struggled with looking different from other kids. When I say “primarily white school,” I mean I was one of seven children of color…

A Town Like Mine by Merrick Morneweck

Hardwick, Vermont, as described by Judith Levine in “White Like Me,” is a small town with sprawling hills, farmland, and woods. Hardwick is decidedly White and dissimilar to Brooklyn, the diverse multicultural and multiethnic city Levine lived in for 22…

Pray You Love, Remember by Halle O’Neil

An Analysis of Juliet and Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Tragedies The tragic female character is an archetype audiences have come to know in numerous books and movies: the stereotypical woman with next to no rights whose destiny is linked to the…

Satire in the Works of Oscar Wilde vs. Evelyn Waugh by Jenna Vincenti

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The Importance of Selenium for Ruminants by Samantha Warner

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The sound of the engine roaring back to life filled my ears as I hopped into my papa’s tricycle – a tricycle,  “sometimes called a ‘trike,’ is a three-wheeled public utility vehicle consisting of a motorcycle and an attached passenger’s…

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Ready to start your Penn State story? Learn more about admission requirements, important dates, and other information to get you ready to apply.

Review the basic requirements for two-year and four-year degrees, as well as the additional requirements for special programs.

Follow these steps to complete your Penn State application.

Learn about the review process and what happens after you submit your application to Penn State.

Find out when you should apply and when you can expect a decision.

Compare your high school record with the academic credentials of our incoming first-year class and get a look at the University’s enrollment statistics.

Frequently asked questions regarding Penn State's new Early Action filing deadline. 

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the Test-optional evaluation process.

The MyPennState portal is where Undergraduate Admissions will collect and share information with you as you move through the admission process.

Access the application for admission in MyPennState .

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Information about Penn State's participation in the Common App.

Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses have partnered with Pennsylvania Community Colleges to provide a seamless Dual Admissions Program for students seeking to complete a four-year degree at Penn State. 

Penn State accepts online applications through the MyPennState Application and the Common App.

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Obama Is a Surprise Guest Among Allies at Biden’s State Dinner for Kenya

The state dinner was held in honor of the African nation, but it was clear that the night was about keeping Democratic allies close as President Biden heads into the heat of the 2024 campaign season.

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By Katie Rogers and Zach Montague

Reporting from Washington

Yes, Barack Obama was there.

State dinners are best known as bear hugs for overseas allies, and Thursday’s honoree was Kenya . But the sixth state dinner of President Biden’s term was designed to clutch domestic allies — not the least of them Mr. Obama, whose father was Kenyan — even tighter as the president makes the long slog toward November.

The 500-person event, held on the South Lawn of the White House on a humid May evening, was attended by dozens of influential Kenyans, of course. The list included President William Ruto of Kenya and his wife, Rachel, along with three of his daughters. It also included some of the country’s wealthiest figures, like James Mwangi, the chief executive of the global banking conglomerate Equity Group Holdings Limited.

“We share a strong respect for the history that connects us together,” Mr. Biden said to his guests during a toast. He quoted from a speech given by President Jimmy Carter, who honored Kenya with a state dinner in 1980: “Neighbors do not share a border but share beliefs.”

But the evening, along with the guest list, was just as notable for what it said about Mr. Biden’s current political obstacles. Aside from Mr. Obama — the former president was not on the initial guest list published by the White House, and he departed before Mr. Biden’s speech — the list name-checked the people Mr. Biden will want to bring closer into the fold in the months ahead. The lineup included elected officials in several battleground states, influential Black political operatives, and powerful philanthropists, like Melinda French Gates .

Choosing their guests, the president and Jill Biden, the first lady, mixed supporters of the president’s re-election effort with several Biden family members — granddaughters and Mr. Biden’s son Hunter, who is scheduled to stand trial on gun charges next month. (Hunter Biden’s wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, walked the red carpet alone.) There were few Hollywood types, though one notable attendee was the actor Sean Penn. Mr. Penn was photographed by the gossip website TMZ as he spent time with Hunter Biden, who has been working on a documentary about his life , in California earlier this month.

And then there was a lengthy list of members of the administration, including Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, whose Department of Justice charged the younger Mr. Biden with tax fraud in December. The Bidens designed a similarly fraught guest list almost a year ago, when Hunter Biden attended the state dinner in honor of India.

In other ways, the evening seemed designed to give several overworked Biden officials the night off — if you can call it that. Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff, and Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director, were invited, as was Carlos Elizondo, the White House social secretary, who has helped plan the last six state dinners.

Some attendees, like the veteran political strategist Donna Brazile, tried to dodge the talk of the 2024 election, but reality had a way of creeping into the gauzy event.

LeVar Burton, a former “Star Trek” officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise and a onetime host of the PBS literacy-building program “Reading Rainbow,” was asked by reporters to use a single word to describe the political climate.

“Just one? Can I swear?” asked Mr. Burton, a national treasure. “I will say it is fraught, indeed. With possibility. That’s three words.”

All three of those words could apply to Mr. Biden’s campaign. According to recent polls, he is trailing his competitor, former President Donald J. Trump, in several battleground states, and several representatives from those states were in attendance: The mayors of Charlotte, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Augusta and Atlanta all traveled to Washington to dine on chilled heirloom tomato soup and fruitwood-smoked beef short ribs within a few tables of the president.

Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State, arrived for their second state dinner this spring — the last one, for Japan , was held just over a month ago. Mr. Biden is relying on Mr. Clinton and Mr. Obama for their support, advice and fund-raising abilities: An event the three hosted in New York in March raised $25 million .

Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia, made the cut, as did Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, a longtime friend and confidant of the president’s.

(Mr. Coons was recently dining on cooked muskrat in Delaware, at a function intended to shore up relations back home. On his plate on Thursday, though, was butter-poached lobster and baby kale with sweet corn purée, with a white chocolate basket for dessert.)

The lone Republican, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, is an ally of Speaker Mike Johnson , and was thought to be instrumental in urging Mr. Johnson to support the last round of military funding for Ukraine.

Even Brad Paisley, the night’s musical entertainment, enjoys a friend-of status. He and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, have headlined several events with the first lady since Mr. Biden was elected. Mr. Paisley, who was the musical guest at a White House dinner for governors in February 2023, also performed with the Howard Gospel Choir.

“I can’t wait to see what kind of audience this is,” Mr. Paisley said brightly to reporters, telling them that he was planning to start the festivities with his song “American Saturday Night” — such a hopeful tune for a group that doesn’t really observe weekends .

At several points, attendees briefly offered their thoughts about investment in African economies and programs. Adam Silver, the commissioner of the National Basketball Association, said that he supported the development of sports programs in Africa, and said that the White House should rebuild its basketball court. (Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the National Football League, sped by reporters.)

The author Barbara Kingsolver, who has drawn inspiration from the continent in several of her novels, was circumspect when asked what it was about Africa that had so influenced her work.

“Everything,” the Pulitzer Prize winner said before slipping inside.

Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent. For much of the past decade, she has focused on features about the presidency, the first family, and life in Washington, in addition to covering a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. She is the author of a book on first ladies. More about Katie Rogers

Zach Montague is based in Washington. He covers breaking news and developments around the district. More about Zach Montague

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race: News and Analysis

President Biden’s campaign released a new advertisement aimed at Black voters . It comes as Donald Trump railed against Biden and the migrant crisis at a rally in the Bronx , the latest in a series of stops campaigning in New York City  in a push to win his home state.

Trump has baselessly and publicly cast doubt about the fairness  of the 2024 election about once a day, on average, a significant escalation since he announced his candidacy for president.

A state dinner held in honor of Kenya, with Barack Obama as a surprise guest , was more about keeping Democratic allies close as campaign season intensifies. Here is the full guest list .

Trump praised Nikki Haley , once his bitter rival for the Republican nomination, a day after she said that she would vote for him , opening the door to bringing Haley into his circle.

Special Legislative Session:  Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio has called a special session to resolve an issue  that would prevent Biden from being placed on the November ballot there.

Protest Zone Clash:  The Republican National Committee, alarmed by what it sees as a significantly worsening security threat, asked that the director of the Secret Service intervene  and move a designated protest zone farther away at an upcoming convention.

A.I.’s Role:  The era of A.I. has officially arrived on the campaign trail. But so far, the political uses of the much-anticipated, and feared, technology are more theoretical than transformational .

Meet the Best & Brightest class of 2024

• Updated: May. 20, 2024, 11:21 a.m. |
• Published: May. 14, 2024, 6:12 p.m.

• Deb Kiner | [email protected]

Drones, robotics, sports, dance and art are just a few of the interests of the Best & Brightest class of 2024.

The high school seniors are musicians, athletes, scholars and Scouts and they want to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, accounting, computer science, education and economics.

They all have an incredible work ethic, superior time management skills, boundless energy, dedication and enthusiasm.

They have founded nonprofits and businesses, worked part-time jobs and reached beyond central Pa. to expand their knowledge.

The Best & Brightest class of 2024 includes 20 high school seniors from 17 high schools in seven counties that represent the potential of the class of 2024. They were selected from 135 applications that were submitted by students from Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties.

The Best & Brightest were honored during a ceremony on Tuesday, May 14, at Colonial Golf and Tennis Club. The speaker was Danielle Conway, Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law.

The presenting sponsor for the ceremony was Renewal by Andersen of Central PA. The supporting sponsor was UPMC.

During the ceremony, each winner was given a framed portrait taken by award-winning PennLive photographer Sean Simmers, along with a gift card. Dean Conway also presented each winner with a gift card.

At the awards ceremony, the winners saw a video submitted secretly by their family and friends expressing their support and encouragement.

Students are invited to apply for the Best & Brightest award themselves. They submit an application along with two letters of recommendation and an essay describing how they have made a difference in their community and/or school and how that experience will help them to contribute to a better society.

The process of evaluating the applications starts with a panel of nine current and former educators that determine a list of semifinalists.

Then, a panel of nine judges representing various parts of the community such as faith, education, the arts, government and business, evaluate the semifinalist applications and selected the 20 winners.

The goal of the Best and Brightest program, founded in 1993, is to highlight high school seniors who are making a difference in their schools and communities while achieving academic success and in some cases, overcoming tremendous obstacles.

These are the members of the Best & Brightest class of 2024. Their profiles are written using information they provided in their applications. Not all awards, activities and honors are listed. The honors listed are primarily for the 2023-24 school year.

Grace Akande

Grace Akande, a senior at Central Dauphin East High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Central Dauphin East High School

Parents: Jonathan Akande and Teclaire Ngayo

In her words : In her essay, she wrote about Culture Day at Central Dauphin East High. “Celebrations like these grant me all the reason to attend school with positivity each morning. Even as I prepare to become an undergraduate, I aspire to continue to invite diversity to flourish as it does at East High. Emphasizing the importance of cultural inclusion allows students to present their heritage and gives their peers the opportunity to appreciate it. From displaying international flags across school, preparing authentic meals from one’s origin to share, and even performing artistic demonstrations, students can find their home away from home. As an individual who is passionate about learning from other backgrounds, these celebrations must not get lost behind a single annual event but be welcomed in all situations. Although I cannot bring my community with me, I can advocate for love and acceptance no matter what new environment I encounter.”

In their words: “Grace is an outstanding, hardworking, and intelligent student, and truthfully, there are not enough adjectives to describe her character or what she contributes to our CD East High School Community and stakeholders. .. Grace is academically ranking among the top of her senior class ... Being a part of her educational journey is a blessing.” – Luther Green Jr., principal, Central Dauphin East High School

Honors: Universal Cheerleaders Association All-American (3 times), Big 33 cheerleader, National High School Cheerleading gold medalist 2024, cheerleading captain, captain of the lacrosse and field hockey teams, Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist, Temple University provost scholar, DePaul University presidential scholar, Niagara University trustee scholar, University of Southern California presidential scholar, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, French Honor Society, College Board African-American Recognition, College Board PSAT recognition, Quest Bridge College Prep Scholar, Elks MVS scholarship semifinalist.

Activities: Cheerleading, lacrosse, field hockey, president of Key Club, president of Tri-M Music Honor Society, French Club, student council, class president for four years, African-American History Club, secretary of National Honor Society, school Student Voice and ATSI committees.

Mentor: Bria Mosley, cheerleading coach, Central Dauphin East High School

Plans: Grace plans to major in accounting at the University of Pennsylvania.

Leah Allewelt

Leah Allewelt, a senior at Susquenita High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Susquenita High School

Parents: Sean and Sarah Allewelt

In her words: She made it her goal to increase the participation in and success of mini-Thon, managed by student council. She was elevated to the roll of president of student council as a junior and is president this year. The event has raised more than $20,000 in the past two years and set a school record. “I have worked exceptionally hard to inspire others and to revive the school spirit at Susquenita. I have put hundreds of hours into organizing, which, in turn, has aided in raising thousands of dollars for children with pediatric cancer. This money has made a difference in so many lives inside and outside of my community.”

In their words: “Over the course of the last [20] years as a building principal I have worked with many talented students, but every once in a while, a student comes along whom embodies ‘THE’ ideal model student. Leah is this student and as a professional educator, working with her as a student leader has been a highlight in my career.” – Craig Funk, principal, Susquenita High School

Honors: 2023 Tri-Valley League field hockey champions, PIAA District III 1A runner-up, PIAA state quarterfinals; girls varsity basketball co-captain; National Honor Society; Spanish National Honor Society; PSAT National Rural and Small Town Award.

Activities: Basketball, field hockey and track and field, shotput and discus; student council president; National Honor Society vice president; mini-Thon organizer; student representative on the school board; principal’s advisory committee; Constitutional Convention Debate team best delegate award; concert band; jazz band; saxophone; Leo Club; Varsity Club; and environmental/fly fishing club.

Mentor: Blaine Leonard, girls’ varsity basketball coach, Susquenita High School

Plans: She will major in veterinary and biomedical sciences at Penn State University before pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.

Enjalai Baillie

Enjalai Baillie, a senior at Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus

Parent: Chemeka McQuay

In her words: “Most people who come from similar backgrounds as myself tend to settle, but waiting taught me to never settle and that if I am persistent on what I want, I will achieve it. My whole life has been filled with waiting and honestly, I am glad. Most people keep their lives moving and never have the opportunity to reflect. I did. All the times I waited for the bus I thought about what I wanted to do with my life and how I could rewrite my own story. All the times I sat in an Uber or Lyft, I met someone new who opened my eyes to new perspectives. … My life wasn’t bad, it was just different. You can rush all you want and get the same results on the outside, but when you take a deeper look within you will know who is fit to succeed.”

In their words: “Enjalai possesses a unique combination of academic excellence, involvement in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities that make her an exceptional student. Her determination, curiosity, and strong work ethic have consistently impressed me and those around her. … She is a remarkable individual who possesses the necessary skills, determination, and passion to succeed.” – Ryan Anderson, math department lead teacher, Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus

Honors: College Board African-American recognition, Dr. George Love award (twice) at Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, homecoming queen, Lisa M. Waller Striving for Excellence scholarship, National Honor Society.

Activities: Girls’ volleyball team captain, snare drum line leader and drum section leader in marching band, school district “tooth fairy” for elementary students; Key Club president; National Honor Society vice president; Nu-Vizion step team captain; student council vice president; softball team; Black Student Union; Harrisburg City Parks and Recreation summer program site leader.

Mentor: Elijah Ellis, Nu-Vizion step team coach, Dream Believe Achieve Academy of Arts & Development

Plans: She will major in biology on a pre-dental track at Swarthmore College then attend dental school.

Yanni Rose Chau

Yanni Rose Chau, a senior at Milton Hershey, School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Milton Hershey School

Parent: Thanh Chau

In her words: Yanni talks about the Student Government Branch: Spartan Community Outreach. “Until I step across the stage and pick up my diploma, I will continue to share my voice, my belief that everything can be better. Before I go, I hope to leave a legacy in SCOR, guiding future members through the basics, such as proposal writing, and creating a stepping stone to bigger ideas. By creating templates and documents that can last forever, I can be assured that I left opportunities behind for others: the opportunity to grow. This may be the end of my story at Milton Hershey, but my growth as a leader and my craving for improvement has only grown stronger over the years.”

In their words: “Academics aside, Yanni is one of the strongest young women I know. She has faced challenges in her life that most cannot begin to comprehend, and despite all of this, she has persevered and come out on top. As a teacher our job is to educate, but also to nurture students and help them grow into young adults. I am humbled in saying that Yanni has done the same for me, and taught me how to be a better teacher and genuine individual.” – Frank Komykoski, engineering and design instructor, Milton Hershey School

Honors: First place regionals, Skills USA in related technical math; second place regionals, FBLA, business calculations.

Activities: Residential assistant, president of Student Government Branch: Spartan Community Outreach, Mu Alpha Theta, cross country, Skills USA, runs half marathons, volunteers at Spartan Spirit Store; The Hershey Company internship.

Mentor: Ashley Spence, Milton Hershey School student

Plans: She will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.

Cara Cronin

Cara Cronin, a senior at Hershey High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Hershey High School

Parents: Art and Donna Cronin

In her words: Her sister, Ali, was her first field hockey and lacrosse coach and inspired her to coach younger players.

“Ali’s love for playing and competing was contagious and made me passionate about both sports. I wanted to have the same impact Ali had on me on other kids. Every summer since 7th grade, I volunteer to coach at the same Hershey youth field hockey and lacrosse camps that I attended. I also get to coach my own teams during the fall and spring seasons for each sport. When Covid hit, camps were cancelled, and seasons were cut short. I missed the opportunity to coach during much of my freshman year. After Covid, I was excited to resume my role. Despite having multiple bilateral leg surgeries during my sophomore year, I did not let it stop me. I love teaching skills and game strategies, and especially being a part of their development in becoming better players and teammates. My goal is to make the sports that I love, adored by younger players, like Ali did for me.”

In their words: “I have known Cara as a student leader from her freshman year when she would come into my classroom to work on projects or to collaborate with others in our Student Council. Cara impressed me, even then, for her willingness to approach others with kindness and her openness to volunteer for anything that needed to be done. Cara is not the type of person to shy away from a challenge nor the type of person to allow others to be uncomfortable in their environment. ... Cara is a calm, introspective leader who makes it a point to connect with others.” – Erin Ives, English teacher, Hershey High School

Honors: AP Scholar, College Board; National High School Coaches Association Academic All-American; dual enrollment with Elizabethtown College and Princeton University in senior year; National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School National Academic Squad; PA High School Field Hockey Coaches Association GPA Award; National Honor Society; Mu Alpha Theta math national honor society;

Activities: Captain of the field hockey and lacrosse teams, homecoming court, vice president of her class, student council, founder and president of Hershey High School Play It Forward Club, mentor with high school Link Crew, technology intern, classroom assistant for AP computer science, youth field hockey coach, youth lacrosse coach, volunteer with Joy of Sports Foundation, piano, snowboarding.

Mentor: Andrew Maya, computer technician and head soccer coach, Hershey High School

Plans: She will study computer science at Harvard University.

Caroline Cunningham

Caroline Cunningham, a senior at Trinity High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Trinity High School

Parents: Sarah Yerger and Martin Cunningham

In her words: “During my senior year, I was selected by the student body and school administration to be School Captain, the highest student leadership position at Trinity, and expanded my mission to promote kindness among all 500 students. Although my experience as House Captain gave me the skills to organize events and foster student engagement, it is in this new role that I have learned the art of mediating issues between students, working to make sure that all students feel included, collaborating with administration, and championing student initiatives and ideas - all while honing my own leadership skills. To build inclusivity, I organized themed training sessions, including one on kindness to highlight that leadership is about uplifting others.”

In their words: “ Over these past four years, it has been one of the greatest joys of my teaching career to watch her flourish in her leadership roles. I have seen her unite students who would typically not work together, grow from challenges, and learn to pivot while planning and implementing school activities. She has surpassed my expectations in every way, and she not only possesses but excels in the soft skills effective leaders embody. Her humility, compassion, and integrity are remarkable, especially for someone her age.” – Michele Stager, director of house system and English department chair, Trinity High School

Honors: National Merit Scholarship commended student, AP Scholar with Honor, Certificate of Merit from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for outstanding performance on SAT or ACT, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, French Honor Society, Math Honor Society.

Activities: Student Government captain, captain of the girls’ soccer team (PIAA 2A District III champion 2023); track and field; Trinity Social Justice Committee; DECA Business Club, first place awards in district and state competitions; mini-Thon; Model UN; Mock Trial; Key Club; Biomedical Club; French Club; Spanish Club; World Cultures Club.

Mentor: Michele Stager, director of house system and English department chair, Trinity High School

Plans: She will major in public health and international relations at Tulane University with a minor in Spanish.

Dayasia Drayton

Dayasia Drayton, a senior at Central Dauphin East High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

Parents: Mark and Stacy Hawthorne

In her words: “The passion I grew for art therapy has helped me tremendously by helping me learn more about myself, others, and my community. It even inspired me to be interested in psychology, which may be my field of study in college. My devotion to helping one another find their peace within themselves is what matters to me. By spreading awareness about these underlying issues of mental health through bringing art therapy to my club. Through my leadership in the Self-Care Club, we practice ways to maintain balanced well-being and love ourselves.”

In their words: “Beyond her academic achievements, Dayasia possesses a heart full of kindness and empathy. She consistently demonstrates compassion and understanding towards her peers, creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere in our classrooms. Dayasia has a unique ability to connect with others on a personal level and offer assistance when needed. Dayasia was adopted and prior to being so, experienced pain and challenges that no child should. To this day, there is a layer of her heart that gives to others so that they can always know kindness.” - Taylor Bigler, director of partnerships, professional experiences and outreach for Shippensburg University, former Central Dauphin East High School teacher

Honors: Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg youth of the year, Turner Memorial Missionary Baptist Church youth ministry president and ushers ministry leader, National Honor Society.

Activities: Student council senior class secretary, African-American Club president, summer camp junior art staff, Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg.

Mentor: Aaishah Muhammad, Boys & Girls Club art instructor

Plans: She plans to study psychology at Hood College.

Anderson French

Anderson French, a senior at Red Land High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Red Land High School

Parent: Richard French and Erin Gay

In his words: Anderson’s brother, Adley, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer when he was 3 years old. He and his father created Adleys Army to raise money and promote awareness of ATRT. “Cancer sucks. Every day my little brother has to fight for his life. It makes me appreciate all of my blessings and I am thankful for every day that I have with Adley. Each day that I have with my brother is a gift whether he is running and playing at my baseball games or in the hospital going through another treatment. Helping others and bringing community together is the biggest lesson that I learned. I hope to carry this life lesson with me as I start the next chapter of my life.”

In their words: “One thing that has always been so evident in his life is his respect and kindness toward other people, not just to me as a pastor, but toward his teachers, his coaches, his parents, and even his peers. ... You could ask anyone who has known or interacted with Anderson French, whether in athletics, in the classroom, in church, or in the cash register line at Walmart, and they would observe and tell you the same story, because this is just who Anderson is! He really is an amazing young man, head and shoulders above so many of his peers not just in stature, but in his character and integrity.” - The Rev. Kristian Walker, Christian Life Assembly

Honors: National Honor Society; numerous awards for football, golf, basketball and baseball including Mid Penn and district qualifying for golf and qualifying for districts in basketball; PennLive All-Star golf team.

Activities: Captain of the baseball, basketball and golf teams; founder of Adleys Army platform to support brother with brain cancer; Patriots Helping Patriots at Red Land; youth basketball camp counselor; youth baseball camp counselor; founder of Cornhole Club at Red Land; mini-Thon; internship with Lobar Associates; baseball umpire for Red Land Youth Baseball League.

Mentor: Doug Enders, travel baseball coach

Plans: He is committed to Virginia Tech to study general engineering and construction management and play baseball. He also is expected to be selected in the MLB Draft this summer as a catcher.

Namya Jindal

Namya Jindal, a senior at Dallastown High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Dallastown Area High School

Parents: Deepti and Rohit Jindal

In her words: “The Distinguished Young Women program has been an inspiration for me, and through it, I have met some of the strongest, most unique, talented young women. The most important message of the program has been to be your best self. I had the opportunity to spread this message with my family and local schools around me. It was incredibly important to me to teach my younger siblings about the importance of working to be your best in all aspects of your life. I was able to teach them about having ambition, trying to be healthy, and the importance of giving back to your community. My siblings were able to learn about the importance of each of these aspects of their life, and it was very important to me to spread this message to the younger generations of students in my school as well.”

In their words: “Namya’s character is marked by her integrity, responsibility, and humility. She is well-respected by peers, teachers, and coaches alike. Namya demonstrates concern for other students by taking time out of her school day to tutor students in mathematics. Her positive attitude, resilience in the face of challenges, and willingness to help others make her a role model for fellow students.” - Matthew Striebig, mathematics teacher, Dallastown Area High School

Honors: Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist, National Merit Scholarship commended student, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences merit scholarship; Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society; Distinguished Young Women county winner.

Activities: Tennis team; Rasika School of Dance, classical Indian dance graduation in Bharatnatyam, volunteer tennis coach with Special Olympics of York; cello and piano; FBLA president; president, Future Health Professionals Club; president, National Art Honor Society; research intern at Aptagen in biotechnology; volunteer at WellsSpan York Hospital; Model UN; speech and debate; mini-Thon.

Mentor: Ellen Connelly, gifted support teacher at Dallastown Area High School

Plans: She will attend the seven-year B.S. + M.D. program at Penn State University.

Julianna Lindberg

Julianna Lindberg, a senior at Manheim Central High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Manheim Central High School

Parents: Andrew and Emily Lindberg

In her words: “I am passionate about helping families who, like me, have struggled financially and faced familial hardships. I have witnessed the power of education, and know that learning English provides better job opportunities, a chance for higher education, and better healthcare. Through teaching English to both parents and students, I hope to lower the language barrier and break the cycle of poverty that so many non-English-speaking families find themselves in, making an impact for generations to come.”

In their words: “As her coach, I have found Julie to be an exceptionally well-rounded individual. She is the most diligent high school athlete I have ever worked with, as she shows commitment not only to her academic and athletic endeavors, but to her personal growth and to community outreach as well. ... Julie is currently the salutatorian of her graduating class of over two hundred students — a testament to her academic excellence and her unwavering pursuit of bettering herself through academic knowledge. ... Julianna Lindberg is truly an exceptional individual that represents academic, athletic, social, and altruistic responsibility in a way that is remarkable among her peers.” - Alissa Winters, mathematics teacher, Manheim Central Middle School and varsity cross country coach

Honors: National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, National Spanish Exam Plato Award, AP Scholar Award, Quiz Bowl League All-Star.

Activities: Grace Church and Manheim Brethren in Christ youth groups; cross country team captain; co-president, Fellowship of Christian Athletes; treasurer of Interact Club; vice president, National Honor Society; track and field; Quiz Bowl; Science Olympiad; student council; Spanish Club; ENGin tutor to people in Ukraine and algebra tutor.

Mentor: Amy Burdyn, teacher, Manheim Central High School

Plans: She plans to major in elementary education with a minor in Spanish at Grove City College, where she also will be on the cross country and track teams.

Yanwei Liu, a senior at Hershey High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

Parents: Lan Kong and Guodong Liu

In her words: “As a volunteer at the Hershey Medical Center, I’ve discovered how simple interactions can uplift the spirits of those going through struggles. During my time at the hospital, I’ve met with many elderly patients, talking about various topics from our favorite pies to our top vacation destinations. No matter the subject, every time I leave the room, I’m gifted with smiles that let me know how powerful just listening to others can be. ... I’ve learned that volunteering is not one person donating their time to benefit others. Volunteering is a reciprocal relationship where both sides benefit. As these elderly patients have enjoyed our conversations, I have begun to understand how kindness is something that resonates with all ages, races, and genders.”

In their words: “Yanwei is a determined, involved, and caring student who actively seeks out new opportunities to challenge herself. ... In the future, Yanwei hopes to either have a career as a data scientist, statistician, and/or professor. She is passionate about using STEM to improve healthcare and the overall quality of life for people. She also hopes to participate in health-related research in order to positively impact the lives of others. Yanwei has my enthusiastic recommendation. She is a kind, driven, and determined student.” - Allison Gergenti, school counselor, Hershey High School

Honors: Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences, National Merit Scholarship commended scholar, AP Scholar with distinction.

Activities: Cross country, track and field; PULSE program at Penn State College of Medicine; violin, Harrisburg Youth Symphony Orchestra; Youth & Government: Science for All club; volunteer, Hershey Medical Center HELP program.

Mentor: Brian Buterbaugh, director of orchestra, Hershey High School

Plans: She will major in computer science at Cornell University.

Aidan Mahaffey

Aidan Mahaffey, a senior at Palmyra Area High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Palmyra Area High School

Parents: Keith and Abbie Mahaffey

In his words: “Bringing attention to a neglected sport as well as bringing my town to the forefront within the sport has been a great honor to me. I have helped transform our program from a mediocre program without accomplishment to a proud program with a great team culture and a team celebrated by the community. Kids in the community can see that where you come from does not impact what you can accomplish. Just because where you are does not have a path to what you want to achieve, athletically or otherwise, does not mean that you cannot forge your path. If I could do it over again, I would not change a thing. All the stress, sacrifice, and long days have been worth it to bring pride and contribute to the community.”

In their words: “He understands the value of humans for who they are, he loves others unconditionally, and he cherishes the viewpoints and life journeys that others bring with them. I am eager to watch Aidan continue to mature and am thrilled to walk along with him as he ventures off to do far greater things in life, on, but more importantly, off the tennis court. If our country had more young men like Aidan we would be in a far greater place. Whatever he decides to do in life, he will do so passionately, filled with love, and with purpose.” - Mitchell Davis, owner and head coach, War Bird Fitness

Honors: College Board AP Scholar with Distinction, PHEA Certificate of Merit for SAT score, Maquis Scholar at Lafayette College, National Honor Society, PennLive male tennis athlete of the year in 2022 and 2023.

Activities: Captain of the tennis team; volunteer tennis coach, Lebanon Valley Community Tennis Association; student council; three time PIAA 3A state doubles champion; three time PIAA District 3 3A doubles champion; three time Mid Penn Conference 3A doubles champion; two time Mid Penn Conference 3A singles champion; three time Lebanon County singles champion; nationally competitive player, United States Tennis Association, junior circuit; top 10, USTA Middle States Region.

Mentor: Mitchell Davis, owner and head coach, War Bird Fitness

Plans: He will study economics and play tennis at Lafayette College.

Sara Miller

Sara Miller, a senior at Eastern Lebanon County High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Eastern Lebanon County High School

Parents: Robert and Caryn Miller

In her words: “Throughout high school, I’ve positively impacted my community by playing varsity football as a female. I am the first non-kicker to play in Lebanon County and many other areas. ... Football has been the best journey of my life and I would be incomplete without it. I’m very fortunate to share the journey with my community and show them the lessons and experiences I’ve encountered along the way.”

In their words: “Having retired from three decades in public safety, coaching high school football has brought me immense joy. Coaching Sara Miller has been an honor and a true pleasure. Sara doesn’t just face obstacles; she confronts them with unwavering determination and grace. In today’s uncertain times, my generation often worries about the future, lacking exposure to bright young minds like Sara Miller. If my peers knew individuals like her, they’d share my optimism. Sara embodies this generation’s sensitivity and concern for others and the world, superior of past eras but with a work ethic of a past generation.” - John Wetzel, volunteer football coach at ELCO

Honors: National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Academic Second Team All Star, wide receiver; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 second team and defensive all-star award.

Activities: Football; captain of the basketball team; track and field; RaiderTHON Club secretary; football and basketball youth camp volunteer; youth track coach; Intermediate School mentor.

Mentor: Luke Williams, family friend

Plans: She will attend Flagler College but has not decided on a major.

Vraj Patel, a senior at Cumberland Valley High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Cumberland Valley High School

Parents: Nagendrakumar and Hetalbahen Patel

In his words: “As I continue on this path as an aspiring medical professional, I strive to further my passion for improving patient care through biological research and gaining a strong understanding of medical sociology to make well-informed diagnoses for diverse patient circumstances in college. I aim to serve a multidimensional purpose, considering situations from both a sociological and ethical standpoint to help patients in my community and around the globe return to their healthy lives.”

In their words: “Academically, Vraj is among a hall of two students in my 7 years teaching three academic disciplines who have left me in shock at a student’s ability to excel. He is and has remained the valedictorian of his graduating class throughout high school. As if this was not enough, he has done so without showing any signs of stress, ego, or even a hint of strain. ... Through his care and commitment to others, future-focused mindset, and possession of numerous responsibilities, he is an excellent example of what it means to be a strong, capable, and compassionate leader.” - Erick Hoffman, social studies department, Cumberland Valley High School

Honors: Scholar in Mumbai Power Plant Project, first place in HOSA State Biomedical Debate Competition, National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, youth representative for the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Nuclear Division.

Activities: School Model UN founder and president; president of school DECA; American Cancer Society youth chapter leader; radiation oncology treatment LINAC operator/shadower; ANATA Initiative communications director; volunteer at Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center; Key Club; Penn State PULSE program.

Mentor: Erik Hoffman, social studies department, Cumberland Valley High School

Plans: He will major in biomedical engineering and biosciences at Rice University.

Heaven Poles

Heaven Poles, a senior at Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

Parent: Jezebel Freytes-Burgos

In her words: “I was born with all odds against me. Growing up in America as an Afro-Latina & plus-sized female, it always felt like I would never be able to win: because of the looks, the stares, and the spiteful comments. At times it pulled me down and made me feel less confident in my abilities in this world. ... I took the societal currents working against me and used them as opportunities to educate myself and learn about the importance of building self-worth among young ladies who come from a similar background as me. And I put those lessons into action. I began by helping to start a Black Student Union at school; here, we allow ourselves to be both transparent and vulnerable, intending to share what we believe are our failures. We find ways to support each other in overcoming these perceived deficiencies. Knowingly, we can help each other overcome the negative stereotypes and expectations of so many.”

In their words: “I selected Heaven to work as my Biology Lab Assistant, this school year. In addition to the prepping, setup, and cleanup of lab experiments and dissections, having Heaven has been an asset to the current students in the Human Biology course. Heaven has been able to act as a teaching assistant, providing support and instruction to students during lab activities. In all my years of teaching, I have not had a student like Heaven. Her unending drive for perfection and amazing organizational skills set her apart from the average teen. Her level of responsibility and competence in the lab far exceeds her peers. It will be extremely difficult to find another student to replace her, after she graduates.” - Rebecca Hardie, science teacher, Harrisburg School District

Honors: University of Denver, first team pick, Collegiate World Series; volunteer of the quarter, National Hispanic Institute; National Honor Society

Activities: Owner and head baker, Heavenlyy Creationz LLC; chief student recruitment officer, Harrisburg, National Hispanic Institute; marching band section leader; vice president, Black Student Union; senior class treasurer; student council; student ambassador; LatinX member; Key Club; Be My Eyes; high school representative on William Penn task force; lab assistant; tutor.

Mentor: Rebecca Hardie, science teacher, Harrisburg School District

Plans: She will double major in nursing and public health at New York University.

Paige Reddig

Paige Reddig, a senior at Ephrata High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Ephrata High School

Parents: Michael Reddig and April Rodgers-Reddig

In her words: She has been a member of the Ephrata Robotics Team since ninth grade when she said there was a belief that girls “should not be in robotics.” “I had the most amazing experience as a junior and was able to offer more to the team. We opted to put all of our efforts into one robot. I would act as co-programmer and have major responsibilities for the first time. The team backed me every step of the way, my successes and even my failures. My co-programmer had more experience but never dismissed my ideas and helped me to improve. I was responsible for the 15 second autonomous programming and later reprogramming of the firing mechanism. It was hard and took hours of work with testing and retesting of the code. We won the Think Award for programming, qualified for States, and Worlds. While at Worlds, there were complications and I was able to help my team.”

In their words: “The first thoughts that come to anyone’s mind who knows Paige are, devoted, diligent, hardworking, and an out-and-out willingness to go that extra mile to do what it takes to achieve. In class, she has always shown a desire to succeed, has a great attitude, and a willingness to allocate more time when needed. ... Paige is a very dedicated and distinguished individual. I feel overly confident that she will be able to continue her success in her studies and will develop into a strong leader and pillar of our community in the future.” - Bret Marzock, mathematics teacher, Ephrata High School

Honors: Robotics - think, sportsmanship and create awards; school recognition for competing in robotics at the state and world levels; Flash Fiction Award publishing contract for a book she wrote, “Three Sisters of Doom.”

Activities: School robotics team and lead programmer; Karate black belt and instructor; best of show awards for seven years in youth needle art at the Ephrata Fair; crafting, sewing and quilting; art; book club; assistant to the costume director for school theatrical production of “Mamma Mia!”; photographer; piano; tennis.

Mentor: Kimberly Houck, martial arts instructor

Plans: She will major in computational biology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Eliana Roof

Eliana Roof, a senior at Dauphin County Technical School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Dauphin County Technical School

Parents: Christopher and Sharon Roof

In her words: “I’ve always loved building things - getting to use my hands while my mind moves a mile a minute - turning one thing into another - two-by-fours into tables, or presumptive gender-based stereotyping into respect. Getting to build my future in the construction industry has allowed me to help others obtain their own futures, too. I’ve had the unique privilege of getting to manufacture change in my community - constructing places to help better us all. ... My fight to be a woman in the trades will help pave the way for all those who come after me, showing other nontraditional students that they can do it too, and empowering myself and those around me to see the good that one small action can do - allowing me to keep building up my community one nail at a time.”

In their words: “It’s difficult to talk about her intellectual promise, as I’ve yet to find her limits. Eliana is one of the most intelligent and empathetic students I’ve known. She enjoys research and desires to understand the world. This curiosity, blended with her capability, is impressive. ... Eliana has overcome myriad challenges. Being a female in a male-dominated industry has pushed her to tap an inner-strength allowing her to discount any who question her place. Additionally, she’s confronted stereotypes of the intersectionality of being an intellectual female in the construction trades. She’s consistently overcome these to find her place. Eliana has been a leader in and out of school. ... Eliana is an inspiring young woman with an amazing future ahead of her.” - Jeff Williams, English language arts, Dauphin County Technical School

Honors: Hershey Theater Apollo Awards, honorable mention, outstanding supporting actress in a play; Lower Paxton Twp. Lions Club John Osuch outstanding student award; Innerview Community Service awards; National Honor Society; National Technical Honor Society; International Thespian Society.

Activities: Dancer, student leader and teaching assistant at The Studio; building a mini food pantry as part of The Studio; school theatre program; Building Construction Cares program at the school; United Student Ministries at Crosspoint United Methodist Church; Ridgeway Youth at Ridgeway Community Church of the Brethren; TBfighters.org; speech and debate team; Skills USA.

Mentor: Robert Brightbill, instructor, Dauphin County Technical School

Plans: She will study construction management at Drexel University.

Henry Rumbaugh

Henry Rumbaugh, a senior at Spring Grove Area High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Spring Grove Area High School

Parents: Jim and Melissa Rumbaugh

In his words: “I have always been naturally competitive and a hard worker who strives to do my best, but my personal challenge really amped up when I realized I was ranked first in my class during the winter of my freshman year. Since then I have pushed myself in school, helping me learn so many new things and encouraging my peers to do their best at the same time. Through my three sports, I have built relationships with many different kinds of students and have tutored some of them along the way. ... Early in the wrestling season this year, I sustained a shoulder injury which crushed the goals I had for my senior season. I had to learn patience, reliance on my doctor and trainer, and prioritization given my skill levels each week with my teammates supporting me both on and off the mat. I realized even more the importance of the team and enjoyed watching and encouraging my younger brother during his matches. Throughout my many sports, academic, and service experiences over the last four years, I have seen the difference that engagement with others can make.”

In their words: “I met Henry during his freshman year in gifted seminar. He immediately made an impression on me. I could tell there was just something special about him and I’ve noticed it time and time again in the years since. Maybe it is because Henry always takes the time to say hello and casually chat with me when I see him outside of class. Perhaps it’s because Henry is gracious when it comes to helping others and adds good insight and discussion to our classroom setting. Or maybe it’s the fact that Henry is brilliant yet remains humble. I don’t know exactly what makes Henry so special, but I’ve come to realize that there are some students that just make your day a little brighter and a little better, and Henry is one of those students.” - Melissa Grim, AP calculus and gifted seminar teacher, Spring Grove Area High School

Honors: National Honor Society; third place at Harrisburg Area Community College regional math competition in 2023; Crispus Attucks Rev. Michael D. Jefferson “Living the Dream” award; only student certified to fly the school’s drones.

Activities: Captain of the boys’ soccer team; captain of wrestling team; president of National Honor Society; captain of Physics Olympics and Quiz Bowl teams; passed written exam for a private pilot’s license; Rocket Siblings program; tutoring; People’s Bank apprenticeship; Hanover Rotary Club; youth group; mountain biking club; orchestra.

Mentor: Derrick Henning, teacher, Spring Grove Area High School

Plans: He plans to study mechanical engineering at Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University.

Leah Talkington

Leah Talkington, a senior at Bermudian Springs High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Bermudian Springs High School

Parents: Jason and Stacia Talkington

In her words: “Over these past four years, I have worked to improve my school by starting new traditions and re-instilling old ones. As class president, I spear-headed a Senior Sunrise with my fellow students, and we gathered on the football field and watched the sunrise to kick off our senior year. I also worked with the administrators at the high school, and this year, the seniors could paint their parking spots for the first time. I partnered with the VFW in East Berlin and held tailgates every Friday before home football games so the student section could build team spirit and camaraderie. I also started my school’s first-ever homecoming parade. I felt a loss and disconnection in the community. I wanted to plan something to unite the community, and the parade did just that. ... Every day, I have pushed myself to make a difference, a change, and an improvement. I will continue to work hard and as we say in 4-H continue to make the best better.”

In their words: “Leah is the lifeblood of our high school community. She is involved in a wide variety of school activities, including National Honor Society and student council, and frequently maintains leadership positions in these organizations. Whenever there are significant school events occurring, such as our pep rallies, homecoming festivities, or trunk-or-treats, Leah is always at the forefront of their implementation. She has high expectations for her projects, and works incredibly hard to ensure that these expectations are met. She navigates the delegation of tasks appropriately, and is always willing to work alongside the committees she leads. Despite her tenacity in leadership, Leah is also able to accept feedback and adjust her plans accordingly to meet the needs of the team.” - Nate Mattis, mathematics teacher, Bermudian Springs High School

Honors: National Honor Society; FBLA, third place in leadership in the district; PAIAA Division III Second Team All-Star, field hockey; Girl Scouts of the USA Silver Award.

Activities: Class president, student body vice president, secretary National Honor Society, FBLA, varsity field hockey, Girl Scouts, Hanover Fellowship Church, West Virginia 4-H, earning her charting pin.

Mentor: Micala Matatis, social studies teacher, Spring Grove Area High School

Plans : She plans to major in business management and double minor in finance and marketing at Penn State University.

Michael Thieblemont

Michael Thieblemont, a senior at Susquehanna Twp. High School, is a Best & Brightest 2024. Sean Simmers | [email protected] Sean Simmers

School: Susquehanna Twp. High School

Parents: Dr. Michael and Sandra Thieblemont

In his words: For his Eagle Scout project, he created a prayer garden with seating at his church, Word of Grace Ministries. “Today, this prayer garden is used by many churchgoers as a serene place to relax, pray, and meditate. Though this was the end of my road as a Boy Scout, it was just the beginning of many community undertakings to come. The invaluable life skills I have learned and the many experiences I have gained in Boy Scouts has prepared me to be able to continue to be a contributing member of society who values community service to help promote a better society. Furthermore, volunteering has truly given me joy and happiness as I have seen the positive impacts of my time and commitment to various organizations.”

In their words: “Michael is a highly respected student leader at Susquehanna Township High School. In my classroom he produced quality work and invested significant time to improve his writing skills and perform well on the AP Exam at the end of the school year. ... He has shown a desire to build community through his volunteer service with several community organizations ... Michael has many talents beyond the classroom. Michael has been an important team leader on the tennis team and has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches. He helped younger players learn to build mental strength and compete with class and sportsmanship. He also shows this type of leadership in the plethora of other activities he is involved in. ... He cares about making the world a better place and having a positive impact.” - Jack Port, social studies teacher and head tennis coach, Susquehanna Twp. High School

Honors: National Merit Scholarship program finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, PHEAA Certificate of Merit, Penn State Harrisburg STEM summer enrichment program certificate of completion, Eagle Scout, National Outdoor Achievement Award for camping, Pennsylvania Game Commission Junior Wildlife Conservation award, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Forest Conservation award.

Activities: Boy Scouts; president, Chess Club; vice president, Robotics Club; cross country, indoor track and tennis; student government; school theater; jazz band; Key Club; Interact Club; Science Olympiad; Esports Club; Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Interaction Ionizing Radiation with Matter Drone Challenge; volunteer with United Way Day of Caring, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Hanna’s Pantry, Zembo Shrine, Caitlin’s Smiles, Downtown Daily Bread, Susquehanna Twp. Parks and Recreation summer lunch program.

Mentor: Jack Port, social studies teacher and head tennis coach, Susquehanna Twp. High School

Plans: He will attend Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University to major in computer science.

The Best & Brightest judges

The preliminary round judges were a group of current and retired educators. They were: John Brenneman, John Bricker, Sharon Caba, Susan Cohen, Takia Colston-Krow, Albert Parrillo, John Rubisch, Jill Sedor and Deb Wire.

The final round judges represent areas of the central Pa. community such as government, nonprofits, faith and the arts.

This year, those judges were:

• Susan Anthony, retired, community service director, The Patriot-News and board member, Susquehanna Art Museum, HANNA Foundation
• John Friend, Harrisburg University vice president for admissions and secondary schools
• Rogette Harris, PennLive editorial board, chairwoman of the Dauphin County Democratic Party, chairwoman of the South Central PA Regional Caucus for the state Democratic Party
• Mike Hawthorne, York author and comic book artist
• Linda Johnston, Renewal By Andersen of Central PA, chief cultural officer
• Dr. Sharee Livingston, Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Lititz, founding partner Patients R Waiting and Diversifying Doula Initiative
• Nathan Mains, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association
• Pastor Joshua Robertson, pastor of The Rock Church, Harrisburg
• TaWanda Hunter Stallworth, M.Div., program manager, Penn State Dickinson Law Antiracist Development Institute

The 2024 Best & Brightest semifinalists (excluding the winners)

Emma Adair, Manheim Central High School

Catie Baker, Susquenita High School

Alexandra Bandura, Boiling Springs High School

Brooke Barcavage, Halifax High School

Brooke Beamesderfer, Northern Lebanon High School

Molly Beittel, Bishop McDevitt High School

Holly Best, Fairfield Area High School

Penelope Brosius, Northern York High School

Isaiah Brown, Red Land High School

Raytel Bryant, Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus

Sophia Chripczuk, Boiling Springs High School

Nolan Chronister, Hanover Senior High School

Alexis Clouse, Big Spring High School

Kaitlyn Do, Cedar Crest High School

Ashley Doyle, Red Land High School

Courtney Foose, Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School

Joseph George, Boiling Springs High School

Jenna Green, Boiling Springs High School

Elizabeth Howard, Trinity High School

Braylee Klinger, Lower Dauphin High School

Christopher Koehler, Milton Hershey School

Gracie Kohler, Upper Dauphin Area High School

Lael Laing, Central Dauphin High School

Selina Lin, Hershey High School

Xander Lozada-Delzell, Milton Hershey School

Alexis Lubart, Boiling Springs High School

Caleb Masshardt, Cedar Cliff High School

Priyanka Nambiaa, Hershey High School

Cindy Ni, Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School

Sydney Plesco, Central Dauphin High School

Meilynn Poletti, Central York High School

Finn Royer, Cedar Crest High School

Shiza Saad, Hershey High School

Kiersten Sabolsky, Dauphin County Technical School

Nathan Sauder, Manheim Central High School

Sadaf Sharifi, Big Spring High School

Ashley Spence, Milton Hershey School

Jacobi Tate, Bishop McDevitt High School

Leahnata Tejan, Milton Hershey High School

Macy Trostle, Boiling Springs High School

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Penn State Named Best Program To Never Make College Football Playoff

A lthough perennially one of college football's top teams over the last decade, Penn State never made the four-team College Football Playoff.

The Nittany Lions have gone 88-39 under James Franklin in 10 seasons since the CFP's introduction and ranked as high as No. 8 during each of the last eight seasons. Yet Penn State has consistently fallen short to Michigan and Ohio State, with at least one of those Big Ten rivals competing in the last five playoffs.

Looking ahead to an expanded 12-team field, 247Sports' Brad Crawford named Penn State the top school to never make the CFP.

"The program that should benefit the most in this ranking from playoff expansion is Penn State," Crawford wrote. "Under the 12-team rules, the Nittany Lions would have made six trips to the playoff already under James Franklin, highlighted by four 11-win finishes. Ohio State and Michigan beat up Penn State in recent Big Ten years, keeping this program at bay from competing in the national title hunt."

Penn State has finished back-to-back regular seasons with two losses, both to the Wolverines and Buckeyes. Franklin led the Nittany Lions to three other 11-win campaigns in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

A similar result would give Penn State a ticket to a 12-team postseason bracket. But the prestigious program hasn't defeated a top-five opponent since upending No. 2 Ohio State in 2016, so Franklin's squad must prove capable of beating a formidable foe to make any playoff noise.

Friday, May 24

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Baseball defeats Columbia in Ivy tournament before falling against Penn

The Tigers fought hard but were eventually eliminated by the Penn Quakers in their third game of the tournament.

Courtesy of @putigerbaseball / x.

Returning to the Ivy League Tournament for the second time in as many years, the Princeton baseball team (18–26, 12–9 Ivy) sought to avenge last year’s finals loss to the University of Pennsylvania Quakers (24–23, 11–10) and secure a berth to the regional NCAA baseball tournament. Hosted by Columbia University, the Tigers crossed the Hudson River to fight for a title and a ticket with their season on the line. The second-seeded Tigers, who finished the year four games behind the conference-leading Columbia Lions (26–18, 17–4 Ivy), were challenged by a rotation depleted by injuries amid a busy schedule that would see them play in three or more games in just three days. The Tigers fought hard and won a crucial game against Columbia, but fell in the double-elimination tournament to the eventual champions, Penn.

The Ivy League Tournament, similar to the NCAA regional tournament, uses a double-elimination format to determine its champion. In this format, each team must lose twice before it is eliminated, rather than the single-elimination format used in NCAA basketball tournaments or the best-of-three, -five, or -seven format used by most professional leagues. If Princeton fell in its first game against the Cornell Big Red (17–21, 11–10) on Friday, they would get another chance to play the loser of Columbia and Penn for the chance to remain in the tournament. Lose that game, and they would head home early.

Tigers claw back from behind but fall to Cornell

In the opening game of the tournament, the Tigers coaching staff gave the ball to freshman starter Sean Episcope in hopes of a strong opener. Plagued by injuries for much of April, Episcope had put together a strong stretch of starts throughout the middle of the season after a rough beginning to his Princeton career. In a March outing against Cornell, Episcope tossed a quality start, pitching six innings and allowing just three runs.

Taking the mound in the top of the first inning, Episcope was greeted by an offensive onslaught from the Big Red. After allowing a walk and a single, Episcope surrendered a long three-run home run to Ivy League Rookie of the Year Mark Quatrani.

In the bottom of the second, Princeton’s all-time home run leader senior Kyle Vinci smashed a double to deep center field, plating two and bringing the score back to 3–2. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out, but senior center fielder Matt Scannell grounded into a double play to limit the scoring and leave key runners on base. The Tigers paid for this soon after, as Episcope hit the showers early after allowing four more earned runs in the top of the fourth to bring the score to 7–2. Episcope was removed for junior pitcher Andrew D’Alessio, who took the Tigers the rest of the way.

The Tigers’ lineup chipped away at the five-run deficit, with Scannell launching a three-run blast to cut Cornell’s lead to 7–5 in the bottom of the sixth, a Vinci homer to cut it to 7–6 an inning later, and a double that plated junior outfielder Jordan Kelly to tie the game and close out the eighth.

Princeton 7, Cornell 7 | Bot 8 Five run deficit - NO MORE! A clutch two-out hit by @JakeKernodle has us tied! 💻 - https://t.co/mdZMKeDa9D pic.twitter.com/HfAZb4izzf — Princeton Baseball (@PUTigerBaseball) May 17, 2024

Tigers entered the ninth inning with a chance to win the game and push Cornell into the losers’ side of the bracket. Manager Scott Bradley sent D’Alessio back to the mound in hopes of preserving the tie, but the Big Red quickly loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks. With the corners in and middle infield back at double-play depth, Cornell’s Caden Wildman poked a ground-ball single between third base and shortstop, scoring two and bringing the score to 9–7. The Tigers went down quietly in the bottom of the frame, losing the opening game of the tournament. 

Offensive explosion helps Tigers tame Lions

In a shock result, the Tigers defeated powerhouse Columbia in the second game of the tournament. The Lions were overwhelming favorites to win the tournament with their 17–4 record across the season and home field advantage. The hosts, however, fell to Penn 8–4 in their opening game. As such, they found themselves in the same position as the Tigers: win and survive, or lose and go home.

Facing Columbia starter Joe Sheets, who shut down the Tigers earlier this month, Princeton’s offense wasted no time getting right to business. Five of their first seven batters reached base in the top of the first inning, with doubles by senior shortstop Nick DiPietrantonio and sophomore second baseman Jake Koonin bringing the Tigers out to an early 3–0 lead against Sheets and the Lions. 

Columbia answered in the bottom of the second, bringing the game to 3–2 with a trio of singles off junior Jacob Faulkner. Just one inning later, a two-out error prolonged the inning and allowed the Lions to plate three more runs against Faulkner and the Tigers. A bases-loaded double by Columbia’s Cole Fellows did the damage, putting the Tigers behind for the first time all game.

In the top of the fourth, Princeton’s potent offense responded to put the game out of reach for the Lions. An RBI double by freshman designated hitter Jake Kernodle followed by an RBI single from freshman infielder Tommy Googins tied the game at five apiece as the Tigers continued their march. When all was said and done, all nine starters came to bat, with four scoring to give the Tigers a 7–5 lead that they would not relinquish.

“Our players played really well, we got offensive production from the entire lineup,” head coach Bradley told The Daily Princetonian postgame.

The rest of the game saw Faulkner dominate as the Tigers continued to pad their lead. Home runs by Kernodle and junior outfielder Caden Shapiro in the fifth tacked on five more runs, and a parade of walks, errors, and wild pitches from Columbia brought the score to 16–5 in the top of the ninth. At the end of the day, the Tigers had scored 16 runs on the clear tournament favorite and sent them home in their own stadium.

Princeton 9, Columbia 5 | Top 5 Stay 🔥 @JakeKernodle ! His two-run blast extends Princeton's lead! 💻 - https://t.co/GTRIQ3IUYU pic.twitter.com/rEZKd2TPHc — Princeton Baseball (@PUTigerBaseball) May 18, 2024

“Managing our pitching staff and all of the injuries was very challenging, but we figured out how to get Jacob Faulkner on the mound when it mattered most,” head coach Bradley told the ‘Prince.’ The Ivy League named Faulkner to the All-Tournament Team on the strength of just this appearance alone.

The Lions hadn’t lost a game this badly since out-of-conference play, with their worst performance in conference play coming when it mattered most for them. Conversely, the Tigers hadn’t scored this many runs since a 17-run outburst against Brown earlier in the season. In the biggest moment of the season so far, the Tigers’ stars shone brightest as they outhit, outpitched, and outplayed a supposedly superior opponent. Heading into the third game of the tournament, the Tigers had plenty to hold their heads high about as they confronted Penn for the second straight year.

Tigers’ season ends with late-game collapse against Penn

In an interesting turn of events, Princeton’s game against the Penn Quakers, who had just lost to Cornell, was played in an entirely different state than their first two games. After a malfunction in which the turf landing spot on the pitcher’s mound ripped and was deemed unsafe, the remainder of the Ivy League Tournament was moved away from Columbia’s Robertson Field to the Yogi Berra Stadium in Montclair, N.J. 

In yet another sign of the Tigers’ depleted pitching depth, the coaches sent freshman Jackson Baldrate to the mound against the Quakers. Though Baldrate had performed well as a reliever throughout his first college season, he had never pitched more than 3 1/3 innings in one outing. On Sunday, he was asked to do far more and displayed an admirable show of pitching excellence.

Baldrate’s outing got off to a rough start, as the Quakers scattered two singles and a walk to bring the score to 2–0 in the bottom of the first inning. Baldrate settled down quickly, finishing the inning and pitching a scoreless second to keep the Tigers within striking distance. After Scannell was hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning, Shapiro smashed a two-run homer to tie the game at two apiece. Penn starter Will Tobin was removed from the game immediately after, giving the Tigers the edge on the mound as Baldrate continued to shove.

“Jackson Baldrate pitched a gem,” assistant coach Joe Haumacher told the ‘Prince.’ “He overcame some defensive miscues and threw five great innings against an intimidating lineup. What’s not to love?”

After two more scoreless frames, Baldrate finally cracked in the bottom of the fifth inning as a walk and a single were enough to plate the go-ahead run for Penn. Despite limiting the Quakers to three runs across five strong innings, the freshman reliever-turned-starter departed the game in line for the loss. Luckily for him, that would soon change.

In the top of the sixth inning, a single by Googins set the table for Scannell to do some damage yet again. For the second time in three games, the center fielder stepped up in a huge situation and went yard, giving the Tigers the lead once again. His bat had been crucial to the team’s offense throughout the season, and his dominance continued through the most important stretch of the year. Junior pitcher Max Zdimal entered the game with a lead and worked around a walk and hit batsman to set down the Quakers in the bottom of the sixth inning.

https://t.co/MBrvq5BT7c pic.twitter.com/3oomBn5U5f — Ivy League (@IvyLeague) May 19, 2024

Zdimal did not hold the lead for long. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Penn’s Nick Spaventa tattooed a two-run homer to erase Scannell’s own home run and bring the score to 5–4 Penn. Spaventa, one of the Ivy League’s best rookies, beat the Tigers throughout the game in a three-hit, four-RBI performance in which he drove in as many runs as the entire Tigers offense. 

After Zdimal came Scannell and Shapiro, who surrendered three more runs and brought the score to 9–4 in the bottom of the eighth inning. The pair of outfielders, forced into pitching in emergency situations due to the Tigers’ lack of depth, have been called on sparingly throughout the season to limit damage in blowouts or unimportant games. Calling on them in such a crucial situation spoke to just how depleted the Tigers’ pitching staff is. Unfortunately, their efforts failed to change the trajectory of the game, as the Tigers could not muster another run and with their season coming to a close with a 9–4 loss in Montclair. 

Season Recap

After a season filled with injuries in which the Tigers still managed to finish second in a competitive Ivy League, the coaching staff sung their praises for their resilient team.

“With so much craziness of our season, our pitchers learned a very simple game plan which allowed us to use a plug-and-play system,” assistant coach Haumacher told the ‘Prince.’ “We had seven guys start [regular-season] conference games for us, which is unheard of. They understood a very simple game plan and they executed it very well.”

“This really was a great year for us,” head coach Bradley told the ‘Prince.’ “Seniors displayed incredible leadership and played hard every inning of every game.”

Senior Matt Scannell was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Faulkner and fellow senior Nick DiPietrantonio was named to the All-Ivy League Team for the regular season. Replacing them will be difficult, but the Tigers can take solace in the fact that they will not lose much pitching with this year’s graduating class.

“We just did not have enough pitching depth to win a double elimination format,” Bradley said.

Starters Justin Kim and Will Sword, who were key to much of the Tigers’ success in the first half of the season, were just two of the notable names to go down with injuries over the course of the year. In the absence of them and others, Princeton was put in a position where they had position players pitching in an elimination game. Bradley and Haumacher hope that will not be the case next year. 

“The staff was young this year and took its lumps understanding the responsibility in preparing themselves for a grueling season,” Haumacher told the ‘Prince.’ “They are a smart, competitive group who I believe will adapt and find their improved diligence as a reason they reach new heights in the coming seasons.”

Joseph Uglialoro is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

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Negotiations on divestment from Israel continue as arrested students return to campus

Students organizing with Princeton Israeli Apartheid Divest (PIAD) met with the Resources Committee of the Council of the Princeton University Committee (CPUC) the afternoon of Thursday, May 23, and welcomed students arrested for pro-Palestine activism back onto campus this week as the school year draws to a close.

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Where penn state ranks in espn's post-spring top 25, share this article.

Now that spring football practices are in the rearview mirror, the next round of assessments of teams heading into the 2024 season is making the rounds. Penn State is hoping for big results this fall with a new offensive coordinator looking to inject new life into the offense and a new defensive coordinator looking to simply keep things chugging along at a high level the program has grown accustomed to in recent years. And with the Big Ten set to open a new era with another round of expansion in the same year the College Football Playoff is ready to expand once again, Penn State could be right in the thick of an exciting playoff chase.

So where does Penn State fit into the national picture now that spring football practices are all wrapped up? According to ESPN’s post-spring top 25 rankings , the Nittany Lions are right on the cusp of a spot in the College Football Playoff.

ESPN ranked Penn State at no. 12 in the post-spring rankings, which puts them on the brink of a spot in a 12-team College Football Playoff. The addition of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is viewed as a strong positive for the program this fall, but the biggest concern is a pretty obvious one with wide receiver depth in the spotlight.

There are three other Big Ten teams getting a higher post-spring ranking from ESPN, however. Ohio State (no. 2 overall) takes the top ranking among Big Ten programs. Only Georgia comes out ahead of the Buckeyes in these rankings. Incoming Big Ten contender Oregon takes the no. 4 ranking and defending Big Ten and national champion Michigan is ranked no. 10 by ESPN.

Other teams ahead of Penn State in ESPN’s post-spring top 25 are Texas (no. 3), Notre Dame (no. 5), Ole Miss (no. 6), Alabama (no. 7), Missouri (no. 8), Utah (no. 9), and Florida State (no. 11).

Where Big Ten teams rank in ESPN post-spring top 25 rankings

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How To Write the Penn State All Applicants Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by admissions counselor Robert Crystal in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

What is penn state’s all applicants essay prompt, how to approach the penn state all applicants essay, how to make your admissions essay specific to penn state, things to avoid in your penn state all applicants essay.

Penn State asks all applicants to answer the following:

“ Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. We suggest a limit of 500 words or fewer. ”

Are you looking for advice on other Penn State Essays? Read CollegeVine’s guide on How to Write the Penn State Supplemental Essays .

One of the main objectives in all college essays, including the Penn State All Applicants Supplemental Essay, is to depict yourself as a strong addition to a specific college’s campus community. To write a good essay, you will need to include significant reflection on particular experiences and demonstrate how your specific personal qualities would benefit you as a member of the community. 

The first part of the prompt is where you are asked to tell the reader something about yourself and your experiences that is reflective of your values, talents, and strengths. The second part is about your ability to succeed at Penn State. Considering what you need to succeed at the university and how your personal strengths will be an asset to you is helpful when starting to brainstorm.

Then, and perhaps most importantly, you need to link the two parts and create a bridge between you and the school. Talking about yourself in a vacuum is ineffective. Rather, describe how and why you will impact this community positively and contribute to this university.

As part of the prompt, Penn State specifies that they want you to write about something not already reflected in your application or academic records. You should take that advice seriously, as they’ve found it important enough to emphasize.

This is an opportunity to write an essay that complements your other application materials, reveals new parts of you, and presents the reader with unexpected information.

Instead of saying that you participated in an extracurricular already listed on your application, for instance, try to “show, not tell” through a specific anecdote.

Don’t Be Too General

First, avoid being too broad. Specificity is key. Almost any poor topic can be strengthened if you make it more specific.

If a student wants to write about friendships they’ve formed, for example, they could consider specific questions to ensure it’s detailed adequately:

• What specific settings have allowed you to form friendships? 
• What is meaningful about the friendships you’re describing? 
• How did you meet those in the friend group you’re describing, and what was challenging in developing those relationships? 
• How have you learned to thrive in new social communities?
• How do you anticipate forming a social network at Penn State?

These kinds of questions exist for any topic, and thinking about what questions to pose about your own topic can help develop your essay.

Don’t Be Overly Cliche

Second, avoid talking about experiences that virtually any applicant will, can, or would share. Persevering through and graduating high school, for example, is something all applicants already have in common.

Topics that may be frequently discussed, though, can be improved through specificity and unique stories. If a student wants to discuss an illness, for example, they could explain how they developed time management skills and sense of perseverance.

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Penn State Football 2024 Forecast: A Secondary Ready to Take Flight

Max ralph | may 17, 2024.

• Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State’s offensive line and defensive back positions are jockeying for the 2024 award for most turnover. The line had three starters selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, while the secondary lost four major contributors, including two starting cornerbacks who were drafted.

The departure of Manny Diaz and the subsequent addition of Tom Allen as defensive coordinator will shake up Penn State’s secondary this fall. Penn State will introduce the “Lion,” a position similar to nickel cornerback with some added linebacker-type responsibilities. Penn State also seems likely to play with four linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs more frequently, making this year’s personnel even more important. Let’s dive into the secondary in the next installment of our Penn State Football 2024 forecast.

The Storyline

Penn State lost multi-year starters Daequan Hardy (sixth round to the Buffalo Bills), Kalen King (seventh round to the Green Bay Packers) and Johnny Dixon (undrafted) from the cornerback group, along with safety Keaton Ellis, who signed with Tennessee, from the safeties room. That group, along with recent NFL selections Joey Porter Jr., Jaquan Brisker and Ji’Ayir Brown, helped brand Penn State’s secondary as "Lockdown U" and earn more national recognition.

Safeties Jaylen Reed and Kevin Winston Jr., along with cornerback Cam Miller, are the familiar names tasked with continuing that trend this year. But a pair of transfers, Georgia’s A.J. Harris and Florida’s Jalen Kimber, look to be plug-and-play options at cornerback, and safety Zakee Wheatley should build on a strong spring. Penn State’s corner depth will be tested this season, especially considering the lack of experience beyond Miller and Kimber, but there’s upside all around the secondary. Sophomores Elliot Washington II and Zion Tracy, who experienced a bit of trial by fire in the Peach Bowl, will factor in heavily after playing primarily on special teams last season.

After becoming an important contributor as a freshman and a full-time starter last year, Reed is first in line to be the full-time Lion this fall, at least according to all signs from spring ball. He’s a bigger body at safety (6 feet, 210 pounds) who has never been shy to stuff the run but also picked up the first two interceptions of his career in 2023. In his final season at Penn State, Reed is a true X-factor, continuing his leadership among the defensive backs while taking on a new and pivotal position.

Winston, meanwhile, is a budding star. He led Penn State with 61 tackles in 2023, adding five pass breakups, an interception, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. With stats like that and a 6-2, 206-pound frame, it’s no surprise he’s already garnering attention as a first-round NFL Draft selection in 2025. Accounting for Reed’s potential move to Lion, Winston will be the top dog at safety and once again will do a little bit of everything. Pro Football Focus already mocks Winston as a first-rounder in 2025.

The Players You Don’t Know Yet

Harris’ transfer to Penn State should excite fans. He appeared in just eight games at Georgia as a freshman but had an extremely high recruiting pedigree out of high school, rated as a 5-star by some outlets. His first impression with Penn State was unique, too, after head coach James Franklin recruited him in high school. Harris apparently did a ton of his own scouting on the Nittany Lions after they contacted him in the transfer portal, studying up on the coaching staff and their style of play. He had an excited energy about him the first time he spoke to local media, too, and after making seven tackles and a pass breakup in the Blue-White Game, Harris has generated some deserved hype. The only question is whether he can build on a 6-1, 188-pound frame.

Wheatley is familiar to Penn State fans, as he was the Lions’ camp turnover king with three takeaways in 2022. He’s lined up for a much more significant role this season, as Franklin said multiple times that Wheatley had by far the best spring of his career. The head coach added that the idea of having Reed, Winston and Wheatley on the field at the same time certainly excited the coaching staff.

The Issues at the Position

How does Penn State’s young and inexperienced cornerback group shake out? Kimber, while perhaps among the less-hyped names at the position, should bring a steady presence with his two years of SEC experience. Miller has been around Penn State for a while now, too, and has shown physicality on the edge. But it’s going to take more than two guys, and Penn State has some questions beyond those two.

Harris is exciting but has yet to do it on the field. Kalen King last season compared Zion Tracy to NFL star Jalen Ramsey because of his fluidity on the field. Washington is one of the fastest players on Penn State’s roster. Audavion Collins, an unheralded transfer from Mississippi State one year ago, has received some of the highest praise in the group. Then there’s the pair of early enrollee freshmen — Jon Mitchell and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter — whom cornerbacks coach Terry Smith likes a lot, especially in potential special teams roles.

But that’s the key — potential is only potential until it plays out on the field. Penn State’s secondary is extremely talented, and safety should continue to be a consistent group with experienced names (though losing King Mack to Alabama affects depth). However, a lot of eyes will be on the cornerbacks because of the strong work King, Dixon and Hardy did in their careers.

Can Penn State Win the Big Ten with this Position Group?

Most likely, yes. The athleticism Penn State that will be on the field this fall is very good. It’s just going to take some time to see how the group gels and adapts to Big Ten play, and Penn State will have to hope any bumps in the road are minor,

The Penn State Football 2024 Forecast Series

A defensive line ready to crunch

At tight end, a game-changer returns

An important season for the running backs

The offensive line takes new shape

Why we should be talking more about special teams

How offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki could deploy the quarterbacks

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.

Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.