Are You Ready? New Scholar Experience
Your orientation to Penn State and Schreyer Honors College begins now!
While Penn State is a large, multi-faceted institution, as a new Schreyer Scholar, you will quickly learn how easy it is to find community and belonging in Schreyer. Whether you are entering the College as a first-, second-, or third-year student at University Park or one of our campuses, we have designed a welcoming orientation program with you in mind.

Select Your New Scholar Experience
First-Year University Park Scholars
New Student Orientation (NSO)
Your orientation to Penn State begins during New Student Orientation (NSO). You will receive details about NSO directly from the Student Orientation and Transition Programs office.
Move In Information
As a Scholar, you will move onto campus early, August 21, which allows you to beat the crowds and attend our two-day orientation activities. For move in and arrival information, visit Penn State's Arrival website.
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME)
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME), is your required two-day introduction to the College. SHO TIME is where Scholars make connections and find their communities. You'll meet other first-year Scholars as well as more than 50 Peer Educators who were where you are today not long ago.
SHO TIME prepares you for success on your Schreyer journey and jumpstarts your semester. Peer Educators introduce the College's mission and values, community, student life, resources, and more through two days of entertaining and interactive experiences.

Schedule (August 21-22, 2025)
Schedule coming soon. All new Scholars are expected to attend SHO TIME. If you are unable to attend any or all of SHO TIME, email scholars@psu.edu to discuss your options.
Foundations of Scholar Success (LA 197)
Foundations of Scholar Success is the continuation of your orientation journey. This semester-long one-credit course helps you build key skills needed for success while fostering connections with peers and Scholar mentors. First-year Scholars are highly recommended to register for this course during their first fall semester in Schreyer Honors College.
Foundations of Scholar Success is different from a first-year seminar course offered through your academic college. This experience is about finding and strengthening your community and support systems within Schreyer. It will also help you understand how to bring and apply the Schreyer mission and values to your honors college journey.
Areas of focus include:
- Aligning your personal goals with external pressures and expectations
- Time management tools and techniques to manage your involvement
- Study tools and academic success strategies, including using AI
- Schreyer and Penn State resources for health and wellness, career explorationg, service opportunties and more
- Tackling tough topics and conflict resolution
- Connecting with professors
- Navigating funding, grants, and personal budgeting
- Insider tips to navigate Schreyer and Penn State

In this course, taught by credentialed Peer Educators, Scholars can expect a variety of activities, including engaging discussions, reflections, and group outings. The class meets weekly for one hour throughout the fall. It is focused on discussion during class, rather than homework, and is graded as satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
How to Schedule
Log into LionPath to add an available section of LA 197 to your schedule during New Student Orientation (NSO) or after.
Scholar Involvement Fair & Early Fall Activities

Welcome Week is a time for exploring Penn State, learning about involvement opportunities, and enjoying exciting campus events.
During this week, we invite you to check out the All-Scholar Involvement Fair to learn about student organizations in Schreyer. You are also encouraged to attend our Neighborhood Bash in the early fall. Get to know your fellow Scholars while enjoying live music, food, and games. Watch for details on the time and location for both events on our event calendar.
Peer Educators
Peer Educators serve as trusted friends, mentors, and advocates for all new Scholars, and they are eager to engage with and support you throughout your orientation experience. If you have questions, you are welcome to reach out to them at the email address listed.
Director

Lia Gerboc Biology (BS) she/her/hers Lake Mary, FL lng5172@psu.edu

Emma Khoury Biology (BS) she/her/hers Shrewsbury, PA emk5948@psu.edu
Peer Leader

Katie Estes Integrative Science (BS) Spanish (BA) she/her Hummelstown, PA kme5596@psu.edu

Shreya Gorawala Integrative Science (BS) she/her Ambler, PA sjg6326@psu.edu

Emilie Horton Accounting (MACC) Accounting (BS) she/her/hers Irwin, PA egh5219@psu.edu

Jackie Kiszka Meteo & Atmosph Scnce (BS) she/her York, PA jmk7074@psu.edu

Cameron Koch Biology (BS) he/him Coopersburg, PA cgk5194@psu.edu

Joe Mast Industrial Engr (BS) he/him Carlisle, PA jlm7935@psu.edu

Owen Nasal Mathematics (BS) he/him State College, PA omn5039@psu.edu

Ava Nociforo Comm Arts & Sciences (BA) Advt/Publ Relations (BA) she/her Horsham, PA agn5131@psu.edu

Katie Seidel Environmntl Sys Engr (BS) she/her Mount Airy, MD kjs6865@psu.edu

Aneesh Singh Data Sciences (BS) he/him Metuchen, NJ azs7281@psu.edu

Mabel Tong Biology (BS) she/her State College, PA mst5405@psu.edu

Matt Visomirski Physics (BS) Mathematics (BS) he/him/his Jenkintown, PA mav5583@psu.edu
Peer Educator

Kamryn Andes Vet & Biomedical Sc (BS) she/her Ephrata, PA kba5394@psu.edu

Jui Baliga Psychology (BA) she/her Mesaimeer Doha, QAT jmb9577@psu.edu

Siddhardha Basu Comp Sci - Univ Park (BS) he/him Mechanicsburg, PA syb5570@psu.edu

Pradham Bathini Biochem & Molec Biol (BS) he/him Mechanicsburg, PA pkb5363@psu.edu

Lillian Clayton Info Sciences & Tech (PMAJ) she/her Duncansville, PA ljc5970@psu.edu

Giorgio Corti Management (BS) he/him Oggiono, LC gzc5299@psu.edu

Alaina Cummings Nuclear Engineering (BS) she/her Brookhaven, PA anc6008@psu.edu

Cate Didenko Biobehavioral Health (BS) she/her Perkasie, PA cmd7071@psu.edu

Kevin Ding Biology (BS) he/him Hummelstown, PA kxd5524@psu.edu

Will Draper Science (PMAJ) he/him Springfield, PA wrd5107@psu.edu

Gracy Franco Prasanna Data Sciences (BS) she/her Nazareth, PA gjf5257@psu.edu

Effie Frank Imnlgy & Infctus Dis (BS) she/her Valencia, PA evf5331@psu.edu

Ethan Galley Criminology (BA) he/him White Oak, PA emg6053@psu.edu

Lianna Gardner Landscape Arch (BLA) Spanish (BA) she/her Oxford, PA lbg5362@psu.edu

Teja Gopalan Psychology (BS) Statistics (BS) they/them State College, PA tzg5122@psu.edu

Carter Henninger Mech Engr - Univ Park (BS) he/him Macungie, PA cjh6830@psu.edu

Emily Hidalgo Mathematics (BS) she/her Richboro, PA ebh5466@psu.edu

Alexandra Iosava Finance (BS) she/her Newtown, PA avi5217@psu.edu

Sakshi Jain Comp Sci - Univ Park (BS) he/him Chester, PA sbj5481@psu.edu

Tanvi Joshi Economics (BA) Telecommunications (BA) she/her West Grove, PA tsj5216@psu.edu

Rushil Kakkad Comp Sci - Univ Park (BS) he/him Pittsburgh, PA rkk5541@psu.edu

Nikitha Kanumuru Mat Sci and Engr (BS) she/her Chester, PA nsk5238@psu.edu

Leah Karwic Biochem & Molec Biol (BS) she/her Elverson, PA lek5428@psu.edu

Sarah Kircher Mathematics (BS) she/her Perkasie, PA shk5178@psu.edu

Emmanuel Kraft Public Policy (MPP) Comm Arts & Sciences (BS) Political Science (BA) he/him Chevy Chase, MD egk5217@psu.edu

Sam Kratman Biology (BS) she/her Lincoln, RI sak6244@psu.edu

Jackie Lewis Architectural Engr (BAE) she/her Leesburg, VA jpl6585@psu.edu

Aditi Maheshwari Physics (BS) she/her Breinigsville, PA afm6441@psu.edu

Samuel Martin Health Policy/Admin (BS) he/him Newtown, PA sam8048@psu.edu

Gianna Martinelli International Poltcs (BA) Spanish (BA) she/her Wilmington, DE gtm5192@psu.edu

Miguel Mascarenhas Psychology (BS) he/him Mechanicsburg, PA mmm8348@psu.edu

Kris Mendiratta Science (PMAJ) he/him West Chester, PA kfm5917@psu.edu

Sagufta Muktadir Biomedical Engneerng (BS) she/her King of Prussia, PA sjm7368@psu.edu

Damini Nair Biology (BS) Psychology (BS) she/her Thiruvananthapuram, KL INDIA dmn5491@psu.edu

UK Nam Biology (BS) he/him Media, PA yfn5069@psu.edu

Emilia Palmer Comp Sci - Univ Park (BS) she/her Garnet Valley, PA eap5759@psu.edu

Kira Perna Science (PMAJ) she/her Bridgeville, PA kkp5635@psu.edu

Leona Pierce Data Sciences (BS) Mathematics (BS) she/they Sammamish, WA ijp5139@psu.edu

Kathryn Pinto Film Production (BA) Glbl & Intrntl Studs (BA) she/her Shoreline, WA kxp5591@psu.edu

Shreya Rupesh Comp Sci - Univ Park (BS) she/her Wayne, PA smr7071@psu.edu

Douglas Sanders Liberal Arts (PMAJ) he/him Haymarket, VA dcs5821@psu.edu

Amanda Sargen Mech Engr - Univ Park (BS) she/her York, PA ajs9367@psu.edu

Samantha Sellmann Psychology (BS) she/her Brick, NJ ses6443@psu.edu

Madeline Shanafelt Political Science (BS) Educ & Public Policy (BS) she/her Hollidaysburg, PA mms8193@psu.edu

Maddie Christy Solano Comm Sci & Disorders (BS) she/her North Haledon, NJ mcs6300@psu.edu

Christopher Stauffer Political Science (BA) Economics (BA) he/him Lititz, PA cjs7913@psu.edu

Emily Stoller Earth Science & Plcy (BS) Geography (BA) she/her State College, PA ess5534@psu.edu

Sarah Taylor Telecommunications (BA) she/her Newtown, PA smt6314@psu.edu

Lisa Wang Biology (BS) she/her Palmyra, PA lzw5522@psu.edu
First-Year Commonwealth Campus Scholars
New Student Orientation (NSO)
Your orientation to Penn State begins during New Student Orientation (NSO). Your Campus will provide more information on NSO dates and requirements. Visit Penn State New Student Orientation (NSO) for details.
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME)
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME), is your required introduction to the College. You'll meet other first-year Scholars as well as Peer Educators who were where you are today not long ago.
SHO TIME prepares you for success on your Schreyer journey and jumpstarts your semester. Peer Educators introduce the College's mission and values, community, student life, resources, and more through a virtual program.

Schedule
Schedule coming soon. All new Scholars are expected to attend SHO TIME. If you are unable to attend any or all of SHO TIME, email scholars@psu.edu to discuss your options.
Peer Educators
Peer Educators serve as trusted friends, mentors, and advocates for all new Scholars, and they are eager to engage with and support you throughout your orientation experience. If you have questions, you are welcome to reach out to them at the email address listed.

Jackie Lewis Architectural Engr (BAE) she/her Leesburg, VA jpl6585@psu.edu
Current University Park Students
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME)
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME) is your introduction to the College. SHO TIME is where Scholars make connections and find their communities. It also prepares you for success in the College and helps you learn about the benefits and resources you will have access to.
Peer Educators introduce the College's mission and values, community, student life, resources, and more. You'll also get to meet Schreyer staff and get to know some of the people that are here to support you.

Schedule
Schedule coming soon. All new Scholars are expected to attend SHO TIME. If you are unable to attend any or all of SHO TIME, email scholars@psu.edu to discuss your options.
Scholar Involvement Fair & Early Fall Activities

In the early fall, Schreyer holds several events to help you get to know the College. We invite you to check out the All-Scholar Involvement Fair to learn about student organizations in Schreyer. You are also encouraged to attend our Neighborhood Bash in the early fall. Get to know your fellow Scholars while enjoying live music, food, and games. Watch for details on the time and location for both events on our event calendar.
Peer Educators
Peer Educators serve as trusted friends, mentors, and advocates for all new Scholars, and they are eager to engage with and support you throughout your orientation experience. If you have questions, you are welcome to reach out to them at the email address listed.
Peer Educator

Carter Henninger Mech Engr - Univ Park (BS) he/him Macungie, PA cjh6830@psu.edu
Current Commonwealth Campus Students
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME)
Schreyer Honors Orientation (SHO TIME) is your introduction to the College. It prepares you for success in the College and helps you learn about the benefits and resources you will have access to.
Peer Educators introduce the College's mission and values, community, student life, resources, and more through a virtual program. You'll also get to meet Schreyer staff and get to know some of the people that are here to support you.

Schedule
Schedule coming soon. All new Scholars are expected to attend SHO TIME. If you are unable to attend any or all of SHO TIME, email scholars@psu.edu to discuss your options.
Peer Educators
Peer Educators serve as trusted friends, mentors, and advocates for all new Scholars, and they are eager to engage with and support you throughout your orientation experience. If you have questions, you are welcome to reach out to them at the email address listed.
Peer Educator
