Honoring Excellence

Undergraduate and graduate students achieving academic excellence at Penn State Harrisburg are recognized annually. Although the award names and the number of students honored have changed throughout the years, the tradition is longstanding.

Friday, April 11, 2025
Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre, Student Enrichment Center

Registration

By March 20, honorees should register to attend the appropriate ceremony by following the link in the notification email they will have received.
If a student is unable to attend a ceremony, they should indicate that in the RSVP field and refer to the instructions included in the email notification about whom to contact.

Note: Students with multiple awards being presented at different ceremonies should RSVP for each ceremony they wish to attend.

Arrival time

Award recipients should be at the Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre 30 minutes before their ceremony to check in and locate their assigned seats. The ceremonies will begin promptly at their scheduled times. 

Ceremony length

Approximately 60 minutes, followed by a 30-minute ice cream social. 

Awards presentation

After each award is announced, the presenter will invite the recipient to the platform for the award presentation. The honoree will be introduced to the audience, and brief comments will be made about their achievements. Honorees are not expected to give a response.

Assigned seating

Honorees will be required to sit in assigned seating according to the award they are receiving. Family members and guests will be directed to sit in the open seating area.

Attire/Dress Code

Due to the formality of this occasion and safety concerns when walking on the steps and stage, recipients should wear appropriate footwear — loose-fitting shoes are not recommended. Business attire is appropriate.

Guests

Honorees should complete the online registration form to indicate the number of expected guests.

Parking

Complimentary parking is available in all parking lots on campus. Visit the Penn State Harrisburg online map for complete driving directions and location.

Professional Photography

Photographers from GradImages™ will be at the ceremony to take photographs of each award recipient. Recipients who are interested in being contacted by GradImages™ with an opportunity to purchase photos should provide U.S. mail and email addresses on the reverse side of the name card they will receive at the registration desks on the day of the ceremony. GradImages™ will be in touch soon after the ceremony.

Faculty Instructions

  • Faculty presenters should arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony and locate their assigned seats in the Kulkarni Theatre. 
  • Reserved seating is available for all other faculty and staff participating in the ceremony. 
  • Academic regalia is not required for this event. 
  • Event staff will be present to assist and position faculty in the academic processional. 

Special Accommodations

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Recipients or guests who anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or who have questions about the physical access provided, should contact the Special Events Office by March 15.

Questions/Contact Info

For any other questions, call the Special Events Office at 717-948-6002 or email [email protected].