Spring 2024 Student Marshals
The Penn State College of Engineering has named its student marshals for the spring 2024 commencement ceremony. One student is selected to represent each of the 14 majors associated with 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.
William Corvino
Aerospace Engineering
William Corvino will receive a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and a bachelor of engineering science with a minor in engineering mechanics.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, he completed a bachelor’s thesis on the state space structure and global stability of Hof inverted pendulum walking models.
Corvino earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the President Walker Award, Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Erickson Discovery Grant, Steva Award, Joseph Marin Memorial Scholarship, and the Andrew Pytel Scholarship.
Corvino was an active member of Sigma Gamma Tau; Engineers Without Borders, serving as the project sub-lead from 2022-23 and project lead from 2023-24; and the Penn State Robotics Club, serving as quartermaster from 2022-23 and vice president from 2023-24.
As an undergraduate teaching intern in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, he graded homework and quizzes and held office hours for EMCH 210H: Statics and Strength of Materials, Honors in fall 2022.
Upon graduation, Corvino plans to pursue a graduate degree in aerospace engineering.
Brendon C. Little
Architectural Engineering
Brendon C. Little will receive an integrated bachelor and master of architectural engineering in architectural engineering.
Little earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the EwingCole Inc. Endowed Award in Architectural Engineering, Outstanding Fourth Year Performance in Mechanical (sponsored by WSP), ASHRAE Willis H. Carrier Scholarship, BCxA Building Commissioning Association Scholarship, Kurt J. and Catherine E. Scheeren Endowed Scholarship in Architectural Engineering, The Good Steward Scholarship in Architectural Engineering, Simpson Strong Tie Academic Scholarship, COAA Albert E. Phillips Scholarship, and M. Dean and Jean L. Underwood Scholarship from the Department of Architectural Engineering.
Little was a member of the Penn State student chapter of ASHRAE through his undergraduate program, serving as treasurer/secretary 2022-23 and vice president 2023-24; an Engineering Peer Advising Leader for the College of Engineering from 2021-22; and a member of Penn State Track and Field Club from 2019-23.
He participated in the Architectural Engineering Institute International Student Design Competition in the 2023-24 academic year, American Institute of Architects /Academy of Architects PDC Student Challenge 2023, and Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design ASHRAE Student Design Competition.
As a commissioning engineering intern for the Penn State Office of Physical Plant, Little identified and resolved issues and energy-saving opportunities in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning building automation system for the University Park campus. He developed energy conservation measures from existing conditions and assisted with commissioning efforts as an engineering services intern for McClure Company. Little also conducted energy model simulations and airside system design and developed field reports for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades for Barton Associates and managed field reports from designers and compared field installation with project construction documents to verify compliance for Alexander Building Construction.
Little has served as a teaching assistant for AE 202: Architectural Engineering Concepts and AE 310: Fundamentals of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning in the Department of Architectural Engineering.
Upon graduation, Little will join McClure Company as a commissioning specialist.
Andrew J. Kuczala
Biological Engineering
Andrew J. Kuczala will receive a bachelor of science in biological engineering with a minor in off-road equipment.
Kuczala earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the President Sparks Award, Remi Gurcay and Laura Ehrhart Gurcay Scholarship, George Shute Scholarship in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, N.C. Harris Scholarship Fund, PHEAA Ready to Succeed Scholarship, and Ray and Jan Evans Scholarship in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Kuczala was an active member of Alpha Epsilon; the student branch of ASABE, serving as special events coordinator from 2023-24; the Dairy Science Club; and the Penn State Puller's quarter-scale tractor competition team, serving as member in 2022, X-Team captain in 2023 and president in 2024.
As a design engineering intern for John Deere, Kuczala completed work in large tractor engine integration and auxiliary design. He assisted with field and cattle operations as a farm hand intern for Mar-Anne Farms.
Upon graduation, Kuczala will join Sterman Masser Potato Farms as a farm technician III.
Alexandria C. Ziegler
Biomedical Engineering
Alexandria C. Ziegler will receive a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, Ziegler completed a bachelor’s thesis on predicting 2D geometrical shapes using partial contour data and principal component analysis.
Ziegler earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the President Walker Award, President Sparks Award, Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Academic Excellence Scholarship, Singh Scholarship in Schreyer Honors College, Paul S Hagan Scholarship, Weiss Breakthrough Scholarship, Eberhardt Endowed Engineering Scholarship, R.P. Drenning Memorial Engineering Scholarship, Gaelen Endowed Engineering Scholarship, and the L. Hood Bucks County Penn State Alumni Chapter Scholarship.
Ziegler was an active member of Tau Beta Pi; Penn State Club Soccer; Biomedical Engineering Society; Special Olympics; and Tri-STATE Benefitting THON, serving as family relations chair from 2021-24 and a dancer in 2024. She competed in the Penn State Yard Game Ventures Champions Competition, winning second place in 2021 and first place in 2022.
As an operations engineering intern for Wawa, Inc., Ziegler created CAD models, validated customer satisfaction, and performed testing on new product lines. As a customer service agent for Keystone Answering Service, Ziegler supported heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and home health care calls. She helped to facilitate the Penn State Jump Start program, mentoring students new to Penn State University Park and serving as a teaching assistant.
Gianna A. Caputo
Chemical Engineering
Gianna A. Caputo will receive a bachelor of science in chemical engineering and a minor in engineering leadership development.
As a Schreyer Honors College Student, Caputo completed a bachelor’s thesis on kinetic analysis of flame-retardant additive effects during polypropylene pyrolysis.
Caputo earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the Honors Fall Achievement Award, President Walker Award, President Sparks Award, Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Joelle Leadership Award Honorable Mention, Academic Excellence Scholar, Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship, Ferguson Honors Scholarship in Engineering, Pennsylvania Space Grant Scholarship, Van Dyke Memorial Scholarship, Vought Scholarship in Engineering, Fick Honors Scholarship in Engineering, George Gleason Memorial Scholarship, and Spencer Memorial Award in Chemical Engineering.
She completed research in computational catalysis at Penn State, performing density functional theory calculations using UNIX code to model catalytic cycles.
Caputo was an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, serving as special events director in 2022, professional development director in 2023, and global outreach director in 2024; and THON Rules and Regulations Committee, serving as portal closure specialist in 2023. Through her involvement with the Engineering Leadership Development program, Caputo served as a learning assistant from 2022-24, and completed ENGR 422: International Leadership of Virtual Engineering Teams, participating in the embedded Maymester study abroad experience in Switzerland. In 2023, Caputo also served as an engineering peer advising leader for the Engineering Advising Center and participated in The GREEN Program’s Renewable Energy Innovation and Sustainability program in Iceland.
As a process engineer intern for PPG Industries, Caputo led a lab process standardization project to increase correlation between teams to lower cycle time. She also developed a data-processing Python script to model thermal transients for nuclear reactor design during her engineering consultant internship for MPR Associates.
Upon graduation, Caputo will join Parker Hannifin’s technical sales leadership development program.
Marabelle O. DeLaurentis
Civil Engineering
Marabelle O. DeLaurentis will receive a bachelor of science in civil engineering with minors in environmental engineering and watersheds and water resources.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, she completed a bachelor’s thesis on life cycle assessment of duckweed vertical farming for household protein production. DeLaurentis also analyzed the equity of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure as part of a case study of Pennsylvania with the Penn State PA Space Grant Research Internship Program.
DeLaurentis earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the President’s Walker Award, NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant, Academic Excellence Scholarship, Kenneth David and Marilyn Stevens Tracy Early Career Professorship Scholarship, Paul Morrow Endowed Scholarship, Student Leadership Scholarship, Walter J. Kinsey Honors Scholarship, John and Brenda Myers Study Abroad Scholarship, and Global Engineering Fellows Scholarship.
DeLaurentis was an active member of Chi Epsilon, serving as president from 2023-24 and treasurer from 2022-23; EcoReps, serving as an RA collaborator APC and Earth Day APC; Global Engineering Fellow; the Penn State Blue Band; THON, serving as committee member in 2020-23) and Tri-State special interest organization member in 2023-24; and Student Sustainability Advisory Council, serving as zero waste working group member in from 2021-23.
Upon graduation, DeLaurentis will join Dewberry as a water resources engineer.
Ismael Youssef
Computer Engineering
Ismael Youssef will receive a bachelor of science in computer engineering.
Youssef earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, President Sparks Award, President Walker Award, and Dean’s list each semester.
He represented Penn State in the 2023 ECNA ICPC regionals competition.
Upon graduation, Youseff plans to attend graduate school.
Daniel R. Stebbins
Computer Science
Daniel R. Stebbins will receive a bachelor of science in computer science and a master of science in computer science and engineering.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, Stebbins completed a master’s thesis on additional contour properties for the hard-core model on Z2.
Stebbins earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the President Walker Award, President Sparks Award, Evan Pugh Scholar Award, National Merit Scholarship, the Academic Excellence Scholarship, Madden Honors Scholarship, and Morrow End Scholarship.
Stebbins was an active member of Tau Beta Pi, Penn State Club Cross Country, Python Learning Organization, and DevPSU Startup. He competed in CodePSU in 2021, earning second place, and regionals for the International Collegiate Programming Contest in 2022 and 2023, earning second and third place respectively.
As a software development intern for GES Automation, Stebbins designed and developed software tools to streamline common edits to CAD documents. As a learning assistant in CMPSC 132: Programming and Computation II: Data Structures, he guided students during recitations, office hours, and weekly assignment orientation videos. Stebbins also prepared weekly quizzes and homework assignments and guided students during office hours as a teaching assistant for CMPSC 465: Data Structures and Algorithms.
Michael C. Licata
Data Science
Michael C. Licata will receive a bachelor of science in data sciences with a minor in mathematics.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, he completed a bachelor’s thesis on the evaluation of stein thinning for the post-processing of Markov Chain Monte Carlo linear regression output.
Licata earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including Dean’s list each semester, the President Sparks Award, the President Walker Award, and an Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Licata was an active member of THON, serving as technology captain in 2023 and a Rules and Regulations Fundraising Safety Committee member in 2021. He also held several THON roles through his membership in Alpha Kappa Psi, including THON dancer in 2023, THON chair in 2022, and new member educator in fall 2022.
He completed multiple internships during his undergraduate career including a client services intern and technical systems coordinator with Meddkit, sales operations intern with Exertis Almo, and quality engineering intern with Appian Corporation.
Upon graduation, Licata will join Appian Corporation as an associate solutions consultant.
Brett R. Volker
Electrical Engineering
Brett Robert Volker will receive a bachelor of science in electrical engineering.
Volker earned multiple awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including Dean’s list recognition and the Heim Family Scholarship.
He completed research in obstacle detection and avoidance drone systems through Penn State and Boeing, programming configuring, and interfacing with a flight control system for Pixhawk flight controller.
Volker was an active member in the Penn State Esports Club: Halo division in 2023-24.
As a radio frequency sensor intern with the Applied Research Lab at Penn State, Volker developed radio communication systems using Internet of Things devices.
Jonathan Andrew Whitby
Engineering Science
Jonathan Andrew Whitby will receive a bachelor of science in engineering science with minors in engineering leadership development and engineering mechanics.
Whitby earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, President Walker Award, President Sparks Award, Engineering Science Award, Robert and Myrtle Vierck Award, David and Rena International Travel Program, Gabron Scholarship in Engineering, and Chas Turner Scholarship in Engineering.
He completed research in metal additive manufacturing research through CIMP-3D for the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State, where he completed radio antenna research with support from the Engineering Leadership Development Grant and performed his thesis research on thermal imaging of the directed energy deposition process.
Whitby was an active member in the Society of Engineering Science, serving as the student relations chair since spring 2023, and “The Well” Christian Fellowship at Penn State, serving as president since fall 2022.
As a mechanical engineering intern in Victaulic’s Tools Technology Department, Whitby designed and prototyped peripheral products for pipe grooving power tools.
Whitby has served as a teaching assistant/learning assistant for several classes including ENGR 407: Technology-Based Entrepreneurship, CAS 100A: Effective Speech for Engineers, ESC 460W: Multidisciplinary Design Project, and ENGR 97: Intro to Engineering Leadership.
Upon graduation, Whitby will attend Purdue University in pursuit of a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in solid mechanics.
John A. Pimley
Industrial Engineering
John A. Pimley will receive a bachelor of science in industrial engineering.
Pimley earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the President Walker Award, Dean’s list each semester, Endowment for the Harold and Inge Marcus Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, John B. and Catherine B. Nelson/McGraw Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Industrial Engineering, Kenneth S. Moffitt Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Scholarship, James W. Grove Industrial Engineering Scholarship Fund, and the Samuel C. Stinner Scholarship.
He completed research in robotic assembly through the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Pimley was an active member in the Newman Catholic Student Association, serving as THON primary chair 2023-24 and THON family relations chair 2022-23; Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Ambassadors; and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
As an operations manager intern for Target Corporation, Pimley co-managed an operations floor of 60 employees in Target’s largest sortation center in the United States. As a special task intern for A. Duie Pyle, he performed general warehouse work, quality assurance, managerial assistance, and data analysis.
Upon graduation, Pimley will join Lockhead Martin’s operations leadership development program.
Kaylie Alexandra Barber
Mechanical Engineering
Kaylie Alexandra Barber will receive a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering with a minor in mechatronics.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, she completed a bachelor’s thesis on designing and implementing an origami-based steering mechanism for controlling the swimming direction of a laminated compliant origami robot.
Barber earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, President Sparks Award, President Walker Award, National Merit, Paul Morrow Endowed Scholarship, and a gold award from the United States Figure Skating Association.
Barber was an active member in the Disney Club at Penn State, serving as co-alumni chair from 2021-22 and president from 2022-23, and the Theme Park Engineering Group, serving as project manager in 2022. She received the most affective design award for her EDSGN 100: Cornerstone Engineering Design project as a first-year student, and was named a finalist for the Toronto Metropolitan Thrill Design Invitational. Along with her team, she was also named champion in the 2021 Iron Lion Design Challenge.
As a robotics researcher for the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Barber co-led development of foldable compliant origami swimmer. She operated construction equipment and assisted in designing and testing prototype machines as a product validation and verification intern for the Construction and Forestry Division of John Deere.
Upon graduation, Barber will participate in the John Deere Dubuque Works Summer Internship program and attend the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Kylie Marie Barber
Mechanical Engineering
Kylie Marie Barber will receive a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering with a minor in mechatronics.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, she completed a bachelor’s thesis on analyzing the effect of additional compliant joints on the swimming efficiency of a laminated origami robot.
Barber earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including the Evan Pugh Scholar Award, President Sparks Award, President Walker Award, National Merit, Paul Morrow Endowed Scholarship, and a gold award from the United States Figure Skating Association.
She completed research in foldable compliant origami swimmer at Carnegie Mellon University and design and evaluation of bistable hyperelastic hinges at Penn State.
Barber was an active member in the Disney Club at Penn State, serving as co-alumni chair from 2021-22 and treasurer from 2022-23, and the Theme Park Engineering Group, serving as project manager in 2022. She received the most affective design award for her EDSGN 100: Cornerstone Engineering Design project as a first-year student, and was named a finalist for the Toronto Metropolitan Thrill Design Invitational. Along with her team, she was also named champion in the 2021 Iron Lion Design Challenge.
As a robotics researcher for the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Barber co-led development of foldable compliant origami swimmer. She operated construction equipment and assisted in designing and testing prototype machines as a product validation and verification intern for the Construction and Forestry Division of John Deere.
Upon graduation, Barber will participate in the John Deere Dubuque Works Summer Internship program and attend the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Scout H. Bucks
Nuclear Engineering
Scout H. Bucks will receive a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of science in nuclear engineering.
As a Schreyer Honors College student, he completed a bachelor’s thesis on the development of an empirical correlation for the manganese sulfate bath neutron absorption in manganese fraction using the Monte Carlo N-Particle radiation transport code.
Bucks earned several awards and scholarships while at Penn State, including Dean’s list all semesters, the President Walker Award, Evan Pugh Scholar Award, Department of Energy’s University Nuclear Leadership Program Scholarship, William R. and Mila Kimel Nuclear Engineering Scholarship, John J. Brennan Excellence in Nuclear Engineering Award, Francine Battaglia Mechanical Engineering Scholarship, and Exelon Corporation Endowed Scholarship in Nuclear Engineering.
Bucks was an active member of Alpha Nu Sigma; the Penn State Navigators, serving as bible study leader since August 2022; American Nuclear Society Chapter; and American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
He served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the Learning Factory from August-December 2021 and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensed reactor operator for the Penn State Radiation Science and Engineering Center since November 2021.
Upon graduation, Bucks will attend Penn State in pursuit of a doctoral degree in nuclear engineering.
Phillip L. Brou
ROTC
Phillip L. Brou will receive a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.
Brou was a member of the team which received the first-place award and Lockhead Martin Best Project Award at the fall 2023 Learning Factory Showcase.
Brou has served in the United States Navy for ten years and is completing a commissioning program known as STA-21 (Seaman to Admiral-21) through ROTC. Previously, he served as a submarine reactor operator aboard the U.S.S. Helena and U.S.S. Wyoming.
Upon graduation, Brou will return to Nuclear Power School in South Carolina.Student Marshals
William Corvino, Aerospace Engineering
Brendon C. Little, Architectural Engineering
Andrew J. Kuczala, Biological Engineering
Alexandria C. Ziegler, Biomedical Engineering
Gianna A. Caputo, Chemical Engineering
Marabelle O. DeLaurentis, Civil Engineering
Ismael Youssef, Computer Engineering
Daniel R. Stebbins, Computer Science
Michael C. Licata, Data Science
Brett R. Volker, Electrical Engineering
Jonathan Andrew Whitby, Engineering Science
John A. Pimley, Industrial Engineering
Kaylie Alexandra Barber, Mechanical Engineering
Kylie Marie Barber, Mechanical Engineering
