16-03-2025
Campus notes and scholarships: March 16, 2025
The following area students were elected to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, which recognizes accomplishments in all academic disciplines: Katherine Kummerer, Gilbertsville, at Ithaca College; Lisa Lewis, Reading, at Florida State University.
Research work
Lebanon Valley College students Jordan Shekalus, Ontelaunee Township, and Samantha Miller, Richmond Township, presented research in the Human Cognition Lab at the Eastern Psychological Association Meeting in March.
Shekalus, an exercise science major, gave a presentation on psychological and developmental correlates of science denial.
Miller, a sociology major, presented on defining academic success via GPA and effective school-based behaviors/attitudes and psychological and developmental correlates of science denial.
Psychology meeting
Lebanon Valley College student Lydia Crespo, Mohrsville, delivered a presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association meeting.
Crespo, a creative arts and psychology major, co-presented 'Does Infant Gaze Influence Inexperienced Caregivers' Perceptions of Infant Vocalizations?' and 'Factors Impacting Conversational-Turn-Taking in Infant-Toddler Classrooms.'
Car restoration
Brenda Bravo, Reading, a collision repair technology student at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, was part of a team that received high honors for restoring an iconic antique vehicle.
A 1948 Tucker No. 1013 restored by the Penn College students won the Best in Class Award at the American Dream Collection show in Coral Gables, Fla.
About a dozen students spent six weeks last fall restoring the Tucker, owned by Patricia B. Swigart, president of the William E. Swigart Jr. Antique Automobile Museum in Huntingdon. For over 10 years, Swigart has given Penn College students the opportunity to work on the museum's large collection of vintage and antique cars.
The Tucker restoration required students to replace clamps and hoses with ones dating to its manufacturing era, correct dents in the body and blend the car's paint to match its original silver-like color.
Previously, the Tucker received the First Junior Award (in the limited production and prototype vehicles through 1998 class) at the Antique Automobile Club of America's Eastern Division National Fall Meet in Hershey.
The vehicle was one of 51 designed by Preston Tucker and manufactured by the Tucker Automobile Corp. The 1988 motion picture 'Tucker: The Man and His Dream' chronicles the story behind the car. Tucker No. 1013 was used in the movie.
Grow PA Grant
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is accepting applications for the 2025-26 Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program, also known as the Grow PA Grant. The applications are available at on Thursday, March 13.
The Grow PA Grant Program is intended to help reverse the trend of young Pennsylvanians seeking education and job opportunities in other states. It offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in an in-demand occupation and agree to work in that occupation in Pennsylvania after graduation.
Grant recipients are required to work in Pennsylvania for 12 months for each year they receive the grant; failure to meet this requirement will result in the grant converting to a loan that must be repaid.
A list of eligible programs of study or majors can be found at
Items are submitted by the college or organization involved.
