The College of Information Sciences and Technology has two awards that recognize the outstanding contributions of its alumni: The IST Outstanding Alumni Award and The IST Emerging Professional Award.
Learn more about each award, eligibility criteria, and the awarding process below to determine which award would best reflect the accomplishments of the nominee. To submit a nomination for either award, please complete the nomination form.
Note that to nominate someone for either award, you must include a letter of support (up to 300 words) from someone other than the nominator. When preparing your letter for submission, be sure to answer these questions, which will also be answered on the form by the nominator:
- Describe the impact this individual has had since completing their IST degree.
- How has this person used their IST degree to make the world a better place?
The IST Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed by the college upon its graduates. The award recognizes IST alumni who have demonstrated a record of outstanding accomplishments and who have made significant contributions leveraging their expertise and knowledge gained through their degrees.
Purpose
- Recognize outstanding alumni for their professional accomplishments and highlight the impact of IST alumni.
- Foster and cultivate a relationship between alumni and the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
- Provide enhanced opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to interact with accomplished alumni.
Eligibility
- Individuals who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State.
- Individuals who have made a significant professional impact in their field.
Nomination and Selection Process
- Nominations must be submitted through the online form by May 31.
- Nominations can be submitted by Penn State faculty, staff, alumni, friends and students.
- The nominator must submit a letter of support with their nomination form. This letter must be from someone other than the nominator.
- Normally one, but up to three, outstanding alumni will be selected as awardees in June for the academic year. Awardees will be notified shortly after the selection process.
- The college’s Alumni Relations and Stewardship Officer will schedule a visit to campus for the award recipient(s). This will normally happen in coordination with the fall semester and will allow the college to formally recognize the award recipient(s) while allowing the recipient(s) to interact with faculty, staff, and students.
If you have any questions please contact Kim Woodward, alumni relations and stewardship coordinator, at kms40@psu.edu or (814) 865-6459.
Past Recipients
- 2023 – Nathan McNeese ‘14g
- 2022 – Scott Robertson '13g
- 2017 – Steve Garguilo ’09
- 2016 – Mark Poblete ’07
- 2015 – Sean Cooney ’06
- 2014 – Margaret (Maggie) Sapovchak ’03
- 2013 – Nick Berardi ’03
The IST Emerging Professional Award recognizes alumni who have graduated from the college within the last 10 years. Awardees are recognized for earning notable achievements by leveraging their IST degree while making a positive impact on the world.
Purpose
- Recognize IST alumni from the last decade for their professional accomplishments and highlight the impact of IST alumni.
- Foster and cultivate a relationship between alumni and the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
- Provide enhanced opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to interact with accomplished alumni.
Eligibility
- Individuals who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State within the last 10 years.
- Individuals who have made notable achievements impacting their field.
Nomination and Selection Process
- Nominations must be submitted through the online form by May 31.
- Nominations can be submitted by Penn State faculty, staff, alumni, friends and students.
- The nominator must submit a letter of support with their nomination form. This letter must be from someone other than the nominator.
- Normally one, but up to three, outstanding alumni will be selected as awardees in June for the academic year. Awardees will be notified shortly after the selection process.
- The college’s Alumni Relations and Stewardship Officer will schedule a visit to campus for the award recipient(s). This will normally happen in coordination with the fall semester and will allow the college to formally recognize the award recipient(s) while allowing the recipient(s) to interact with faculty, staff, and students.
If you have any questions please contact Kim Woodward, alumni relations and stewardship coordinator, at kms40@psu.edu or (814) 865-6459.
Past Recipients
- 2023 – Christy Grim ‘17
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
411 Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub
123 S. Burrowes Street
State College, PA 16801
alumni@ist.psu.edu
(814) 865-6459