The student marshals for Penn State Harrisburg's spring 2024 commencement are: (top row, l-r) Greg Jacobs, Conner Breitenbach, Ashon Calhoun (bottom row, l-r) Kayla Clare, Tracy Kinzer, Sukaynah Al Haji.
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg has selected six graduates to serve as student marshals at the spring 2024 commencement ceremony. The graduates will bear the banners representing each academic school and, together with the faculty marshals, lead the graduating students during the ceremony processional.
Student marshals were selected based on their GPAs from among students eligible to graduate. Other criteria considered included engagement with the academic school and the college, involvement in research, involvement in leadership activities, and faculty recommendations.
Penn State Harrisburg has selected six graduates to serve as student marshals at the spring 2024 commencement ceremony. The graduates will bear the banners representing each academic school and, together with the faculty marshals, lead the graduating students during the ceremony processional.
The spring 2024 student marshals are:
Greg Jacobs
School of Behavioral Sciences and Education: Greg Jacobs (Enola, Pennsylvania), bachelor of science in kinesiology.
Jacobs, graduating with a cumulative GPA of 3.99, transferred to Penn State Harrisburg in 2021 from Central Penn College, where he participated in the physical therapy assistant program.
As president of the Kinesiology Club, Jacobs has actively planned and organized campus events including the “Exercise is Medicine” events; the National Student-Athlete Appreciation Day with the Faculty Senate Athletics Committee; and an event honoring Black History Month with the African Student Association.
Jacobs has been involved in faculty research, has regularly helped students with kinesiology-related studies, and has run information sessions for students interested in physical therapy programs.
He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a squad/team leader, earning a rank of sergeant. He received several awards and medals and a letter of commendation for honorable service. He also previously worked as an orthopedic surgical technical representative and as a nuclear security officer. He volunteers in the community, including recently serving as a judge at an elementary school science fair.
Jacobs received the President Walker Award, and in August, he will begin a doctoral program in physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.
Jacobs will be escorted by faculty marshals Rebecca Mallinson, assistant teaching professor of kinesiology, and Laura Heisick, assistant teaching professor of psychology.
Conner Breitenbach
School of Business Administration: Conner Breitenbach (Sykesville, Maryland), bachelor of science in finance.
Breitenbach has completed his bachelor’s degree in finance in three years while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. His dedication to his studies earned him induction into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society, and he received the Beta Gamma Sigma Undergraduate Student Award. Outside of the classroom, Breitenbach is vice president of the Finance Club and is an active member of the Investment Committee.
Breitenbach dedicated his summers to gaining real world experience in the field. As an employee benefit plans audit intern at CliftonLarsonAllen, his responsibilities included financial and tax auditing and he acquired valuable insights into industry best practices.
Breitenbach has secured an internship at Fidelity Investments, where he will gain experience in financial planning. After graduation, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in finance at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State.
Breitenbach will be escorted by faculty marshals Indrit Hoxha, associate professor of economics, and Zeliha Ozdogan, assistant teaching professor of economics.
Ashon Calhoun
School of Humanities: Ashon Calhoun (Pottstown, Pennsylvania), bachelor of arts in communications.
Calhoun, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, has balanced his school responsibilities with being a sergeant in the Army National Guard.
Calhoun began studies at Montgomery County Community College in fall of 2018, and in May 2019, he signed a six-year contract with the Army National Guard. He attended sergeant school, graduating in the top 20 percent of the class, and was selected to represent his class on the Leadership Board and was promoted to sergeant. He completed his studies at Montgomery County Community College in 2022, earning an associate’s degree in psychology.
Calhoun then transferred to Penn State Harrisburg, where he worked in the Office of Student Engagement, participated in intramurals and published poetry and photography in the campus literary magazines. He was selected for a fellowship from the Emma Bowen Foundation, which earned him an internship with Hearst Television at WGAL 8.
He was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and into the honor society Phi Kappa Phi. He earned the President Walker Award and the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, and he was named to the Dean’s List all semesters.
Calhoun, who will also serve as student speaker at commencement, plans to finish his Hearst internship and attend Defense Information School, the Army training school for communications. He hopes to one day work as a creative advertiser using photography and videography.
Calhoun will be escorted by faculty marshals Amy Sauertieg, assistant teaching professor of communications and public relations, and Yonatan Tewelde, assistant teaching professor of communications.
Kayla Clare
School of Public Affairs: Kayla Clare (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) bachelor of arts in political science and bachelor of arts in American studies
Kayla Clare, a self-supporting full-time student, pursued dual degrees in political science and American studies.
With a 3.9 GPA, Clare demonstrated consistent excellence in her studies, which earned her induction to Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, and recognition on the Dean’s List.
Outside of the classroom, Clare completed internships with the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and with Commonwealth Strategic Partners. She also interned with the University’s Development and Alumni Relations office, which transitioned into a part-time role. Additionally, she volunteered at the WE cARE Pantry on campus.
Clare was recognized with the prestigious 2024 Steven A. Peterson Political Science and Public Policy Award. She plans to attend law school in fall 2024.
Clare will be escorted by faculty marshals Daniel J. Mallinson, associate professor of public policy and administration, and Seth Robert Wright, assistant teaching professor of political science and public policy.
Tracy Kinzer
School of Science, Engineering and Technology: Tracy Kinzer (Boonsboro, Maryland), bachelor of science in civil engineering.
Kinzer came to Penn State Harrisburg in fall 2022 from Penn State Mont Alto. As a student in the Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate program, Kinzer has maintained a 4.0 GPA in both his undergraduate and graduate work and has made the Dean’s List each semester. He received the President’s Freshmen Award in 2021, the President Sparks Award in 2022, and the Evan Pugh Award in 2023.
Kinzer has been active in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) steel bridge and concrete canoe competition teams. Last year, he was a fabricator for the student steel bridge, which won three third-place awards, and he also served as a marshal at the National Steel Bridge Competition. This academic year, he captained the concrete canoe team for the student ASCE chapter.
Last summer, he completed an internship at NTM Engineering in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. He is also a Red Cross-certified lifeguard. After graduation, Kinzer plans to begin working in the bridge engineering field while completing his graduate studies.
Kinzer will be escorted by faculty marshals Grady F. Mathews, associate professor of civil engineering, and Shashi Marikunte, associate teaching professor of civil engineering.
Sukaynah Al Haji
Graduate Studies: Sukaynah Al Haji (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania), Master of Science in Information Systems.
Al Haji, who holds a bachelor’s degree from McMaster University in Canada, has earned her master’s degree in information systems with a GPA of 3.93.
Al Haji is actively engaged in research and presented her work on "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Adult Lung Cancer Detection" at the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute 2023 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. She has been recognized for her scholarly achievements, winning the University Libraries Research Award for Excellence in Information Literacy in April 2023, and also receiving the Outstanding MSIS Student Award.
In addition to her academic acheivements, Al Haji — a devoted mother of two — also volunteers her time to teach Arabic to children at the IMIEC Community Mosque. After graduation, Al Haji plans to continue her research efforts and pursue a career in the information systems field.
Al Haji will be escorted by faculty marshals Roderick Lee, associate professor of information systems, and Teng Zhang, assistant professor of management.
