JoAnne Day Student of the Year Awards
PennACE recognizes the achievements and contributions made by undergraduate students enrolled at member institutions who have completed an internship or co-op with the JoAnne Day Student of the Year Awards.
There are four award categories: Business, STEM, Liberal Arts, and Associate's Degree. One recipient in each category is recognized and awarded with a plaque and $250.00 check.
2025 Winners! Congratulations
Liberal Arts: Estefany Granados Saravia, Strategic Communication major, minors in Spanish and management at Juniata College
Business: Warren Shope, Marketing & Finance major at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
STEM: Harleen Kaur Dhasi, Biological Sciences major at Point Park University
DEFINITION OF INTERNSHIP:
Internships may include intern, co-op, student teaching, clinical or other academic experiential learning experiences.
AWARD CATEGORIES:
Select the category that best represents the nature of your internship/co-op; not the employer’s industry.
Undergraduate students in a baccalaureate degree program may apply in one of the following three categories:
- STEM Award: Undergraduate students must have completed an internship or co-op assignment that is related to (or similar to) engineering, computer science/information technology, sciences or research.
- Liberal Arts Award: Students must have completed an internship or co-op assignment that is related to educational services, social science/service, humanities or human services, government, communication, arts, entertainment.
- Business Award: Students must have completed an internship or co-op assignment that is related to business, marketing, management, accounting, business development or strategy, finance.
- Undergraduate students in an associate degree program are eligible for:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Applicants must have started and completed an undergraduate internship during the time period of August 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025 while enrolled in an undergraduate program at a PennACE member institution. Internships completed outside of this time frame shall not be considered. References to experiences outside of that time period on the student essay or support statements will not be considered by the selection committee. Internships completed outside of this time frame shall not be considered.
- Applicants may only apply for one award category.
- The internship/coop can be for credit, non-credit, paid or unpaid.
- Past recipients of the award are not eligible
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered for the award, online application packets must be complete and include:
1) Application Form with student essay, resume, and professional headshot
2) Letter of Support from Internship Supervisor 3) Letter of Support from University personnel (faculty, staff or administrator)
Application Packet Forms:
- Application Form and Student Essay and Resume (uploaded as a document or pdf in Application Form and Student Essay)
- Internship Supervisor Support Statement
- College/University Personnel Support Statement It is the applicant's responsibility to 1) contact your internship site supervisor and your university/college to request completion of the appropriate Support Statement, 2) send them the appropriate online Support Statement links, 3) follow up with them to verify online submission prior to the October 17, 2025 deadline.
Note: The professional contacts you use will be asked to describe your internship experiences, challenges or recognitions, as well as accomplishments. If your experience was held at your University, you must still submit two letters of support.
SELECTION AND RECOGNITION TIMELINE:
October 17, 2025: Applications Due
February 2026: Recipients will be featured in an article in the PennACE Newsletter
May 2026: Recipients will be featured at the 2025 PennACE Conference
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Online Student Essay Information should address these topics:
- Where and when the internship/co-op occurred with a brief description of the site
- Projects that you worked on (alone or in a team)
- Skills and/or abilities attained or further developed as a result of your experience
- How the internship/co-op is connected to your academic experience
- How it has influenced your college and future career plans or goals
Internship/Coop Site Supervisor Support Statement should address these topics:
- Outlined and provided examples of students duties and projects along with quantity and quality of work and initiative.
- Examples of how the student was challenged
- Reflection on the overall impact that the student had on the department or organization. May include published work, presentations, awards or special
recognitions.
College/University Personnel (faculty/staff/administrator) Support Statement should address these topics:
- How the internship/co-op experience has contributed to the student’s overall career readiness and skill development
QUESTIONS:
Email: SOTY Chairperson: [email protected] or [email protected]
2025 Committee Members:
Please Note: Applications submitted outside of the required time frame will not be considered.
JOANNE DAY STUDENT OF THE YEAR PAST WINNERS
2024: Emily Campbell (Liberal Arts), Jana Schmidt (Business), Alicia Elder (STEM)
2023: Emma Hope (Liberal Arts), Cecelia Eidsvoog (Business), Bridgette Gorg (STEM), Jacob Welsko (Associates)
2022: Allison Rutledge (STEM),
2020: Minnie Jones, CCAC (Associate), Madison Shick, Clarion University of PA (Business), Christopher Anderson, Central Penn College (Liberal Arts), Cailyn Hall, Univ. of Pittsburgh (STEM)
2019: Taylor Mahan, Clarion University (Business), Kaitleen Brady, California University of PA (Liberal Arts), Vanessa Maybruck, Kutztown University of PA (STEM)
2018: Marshall Tutuen, Slippery Rock University (Business); S. Devon Farmer, Clarion University (Liberal Arts); Taylor Baum, Penn State University (STEM); Courtney Stump, Penn State University (Associates Degree)
2017: Makenna Kuntz, Clarion University (Business); Emily Parker, Juniata College (Liberal Arts); Paige Laughlin, Penn State University (Technical); Katelyn Fyock-Myers, Clarion University (Associates Degree)
2016: Ariana Heter, Slippery Rock University (Business); Christopher Cizek & Sophie Herzing, Lycoming College (Liberal Arts); Kristen Wilson, Waynesburg University (Technical)
2015: Shalen Perehinec, Juniata College (Business); Leah Handwerk, Lycoming College (Liberal Arts); Mario Soliman, Penn State Harrisburg (Technical)
2014: Matt Lee, The Pennsylvania State University (Business); Cassiah Stahl. Muhlenberg College (Technical), Laura Brennan, Lycoming College (Liberal Arts); Xiaying Huang, Lehigh Carbon Community College (Associates Degree)
2013: Melissa Lee, Susquehanna University (Business); Jamielyn Samper (Technical); Tricia Johnston (Liberal Arts); James Szabo, Lehigh Carbon Community College (Associates Degree)
2012: Jennifer Hoppe, Millersville University (Business); Grace Evans, Slippery Rock University (Non-Profit); Emily Galli, Penn State University (Technical)
2011: Kenton Filipowicz, Lock Haven University (Business); Hana Yasaki, Grove City College (Non-Profit); Zachary Robinson, Penn State University (Technical)
2010: Rachit Tiwary, Dickinson College (Business); Leo McFarland, Franklin & Marshall College (Non-Profit); Alex Kossar, Muhlenberg College (Technical)
2009: Caitlin Miller, DeSales University (Business); Kaitlin Porter, Ursinus College (Non-Profit); Lindsey Draper, Juniata College (Technical)
2008: Sara DiNardo, The Pennsylvania State University (Technical) and Sarah Inskip, York College of Pennsylvania (Non-Technical)
2007: Nicholas Cimino, Juniata College (Technical) and Joseph Donohue, Shippensburg University (Non-Technical)
2006: Jack D. Flicker Penn State University (Technical) and Katherine T. Ringler, Ursinus College (Non-Technical)
2005: Donald Hackworth (Technical) and Kristina Tamny (Non-Technical)
2004: Angela Capece (Technical) and Ryan Richards (Non-Technical)
