This gallery of photos shows the variety of ways Penn State students enriched their education in faraway places or participated in service projects in communities around the world during spring break. From providing hurricane relief in North Carolina to gaining hands-on international reporting experience in Kazakhstan, students took advantage of numerous experiential learning and service opportunities offered through the University.
The John Sr. and Kimlyn Patishnock Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy is awarded to University Park students who achieved outstanding undergraduate student research at the Undergraduate Research Exhibition. From left, Isaac Gray, second place; Dalimar Flores-Torres, first place; Paige Fino, grand prize; Gabrielle Mu, honorable mention; Natalie Meriwether, honorable mention; Kimlyn Patishnock and John Patishnock Sr. Not pictured: Lucas Beddick, third place; Jaacob Kohler, honorable mention; Abigail Silberman, honorable mention.
The John Sr. and Kimlyn Patishnock Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy is awarded to University Park students who achieved outstanding undergraduate student research at the Undergraduate Research Exhibition. From left, Isaac Gray, second place; Dalimar Flores-Torres, first place; Paige Fino, grand prize; Gabrielle Mu, honorable mention; Natalie Meriwether, honorable mention; Kimlyn Patishnock and John Patishnock Sr. Not pictured: Lucas Beddick, third place; Jacob Kohler, honorable mention; Abigail Silberman, honorable mention.
Penn State University Libraries presented the 2025 Undergraduate Research Awards: Excellence in Information Literacy honors to 104 students at 20 undergraduate Penn State campuses this spring.
Vasant Honavar, professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, stands before a screen presenting his current research focuses during the AI for Science panel, hosted by the Penn State Center for Artificial Intelligence Foundations and Scientific Applications (CENSAI), which Honavar is the director of.
Suhas Bettapalli Nagaraj, fourth-year doctoral student in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, stands for a photo in front of his research poster during the Penn State AI Week poster session on April 16. The poster is titled "Generative AI for Efficient and Empathetic Conversational Models in Mental Health." He was awarded third place in the poster session judging.
Penn State's AI Week, coordinated by the Penn State AI Hub, brings University faculty, students and staff together to showcase ongoing artificial intelligence research, activities, education and outreach across campuses. Above, AI Week poster session and AI Awards winners stand with Vijaykrishnan Narayanan, associate dean for innovation in the College of Engineering, and Patrick Dudas, associate director of the Penn State Center for Immersive Experiences, who coordinated AI Week events.
Penn State's AI Week, held April 14-17 across Penn State campuses, showcased faculty and student research and excellence through panels, research showcases, immersive workshops and a poster session. The weeklong event is coordinated by the Penn State AI Hub, which is housed under the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences.
The Startup Spark Award, issued by Penn State's Inc.U, recognizes one Penn State campus applicant with a $1,000 prize for exceptional innovation and potential. This award represents the spark of innovation that fuels bold ideas, inspiring student entrepreneurs across Penn State campuses to take their next big leap. This year, Brandon Everett, Penn State Berks student and founder of Bapanada Catering, won the award. Bapanada is redefining affordable, grab-and-go dining by addressing food security and accessibility in communities.
