Courtesy photo Taking part in the Sheetz Fellows induction ceremony are (from left): front row –– Sarah Weathersbee, Anna Batrus, Donna Bon, Steve and Nancy Sheetz, Dr. Ron Darbeau, Savanna Kelly and Jocelyn Carles; back row –– Tyler Mainor, Seth Conaway, Nikolas Wessel, Andrew Tornatore, Luke Pletz, Ty Wasserman, Jonas Ciprich, Forrest Schwinn and Nicolas Zoccoli.

The 13th class of Sheetz Fellows was inducted during a formal ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 24.

A competitive academic program, Sheetz Fellows offers unique opportunities that ignite and inspire the entrepreneurial mindset of students at Penn State Altoona by fostering critical thinking, ingenuity, leadership and problem-solving skills.

Thirteen students were inducted into the program: Anna Batrus of Altoona, Jocelyn Carles of Altoona, Jonas Ciprich of Hollidaysburg, Seth Conaway of Fallentimber, Savanna Kelly of Beech Creek, Tyler Mainor of Hollidaysburg, Luke Pletz of Pittsburgh, Forrest Schwinn of Julian, Andrew Tornatore of Tipton, Ty Wasserman of Rockton, Illinois, Sarah Weathersbee of Altoona, Nikolas Wessel of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Nicolas Zoccoli of Wantage, New Jersey.

“We want to support you, we want to help you grow and ultimately, we want to help you lead fulfilling lives,” said Steve Sheetz during his program remarks. “My wife and I are very proud of the Sheetz Fellows Program and especially proud of the Fellows.”

The Sheetz Fellows Program was established in 2009 as part of a historic gift to Penn State Altoona by Steve and Nancy Sheetz and has proven to be a visionary initiative that prepares students for professional, educational, personal and social success.

All Sheetz Fellows are required to maintain at least a 3.25 in major GPA in addition to completing an option in entrepreneurship or an entrepreneurship minor, a minimum of 80 hours of servant leadership, a mentor program, a study-away experience, an internship or research initiative and an ethics course.

Sheetz Fellows receive a $5,000 scholarship during their junior year and a $10,000 scholarship during their senior year in addition to other numerous leadership and travel opportunities.

All students graduating from Penn State Altoona as a Sheetz Fellow receive a medallion and special recognition at commencement.