Fall 2025 Student Marshals
The Penn State College of Engineering has named its student marshals for the fall 2025 commencement ceremony. One student is selected to represent the college and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.
Student marshals are selected for their outstanding academic achievement and contributions to engineering student life.
Zachary Vinitski
Zachary Vinitski, of Lansdale, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a minor in biomedical engineering. He earned a 4.0 GPA and was named to the dean’s list for five semesters.
During his time in the Penn State College of Engineering, Vinitski conducted undergraduate research in Andrew Zydney’s lab, where he investigated protein separations and biophysical phenomena in hollow fiber and tangential flow membranes. Vinitski has received numerous honors, including the President Walker Award, the Evan Pugh Award for Seniors, the Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship and multiple chemical engineering scholarships. He has completed internships with Merck & Co., Inc., Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., contributing to biopharmaceutical research and process development.
Outside the classroom, Vinitski is president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers student chapter and has held leadership roles in THON and the Biomedical Engineering Society. He also serves as an emergency medical technician.
After graduation, Vinitski will begin a position as a vaccine drug substance commercialization associate scientist at Merck while continuing his EMT work..
Brennan Manns
Brennan Manns has been named the fall 2025 Joint Services Student Marshal for Penn State. Manns will receive a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in military studies.
During his time at Penn State, Manns was recognized with multiple honors and scholarships, including the Morrow End Scholarship, the Army ROTC Scholarship, the Nale Scholarship of Engineering Excellence, the Award for Excellence in Engineering from the Society of American Military Engineers, and the Schiring Memorial Scholarship for Engineering.
Outside of the classroom, Manns is deeply engaged in the campus military community. He has been an active member of Penn State Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and the Penn State Army ROTC Tactics Club, developing his leadership skills and tactical knowledge.
Manns also completed an internship at MIT Lincoln Laboratory during the summer of 2024, working as a military liaison intern. There, he gained radar systems knowledge and conducted a study related to counter–unmanned aircraft systems operations.
After graduation, Manns will be commissioned as an active-duty officer in the United States Army, continuing his commitment to service and leadership.
