Courtesy photo Taking part in the induction of the recent class of Sheetz Fellows at Penn State Altoona are (from left): front row –– Evan Toth, Abigail Quinn, Andrew Duey, Hollie Keller, Peter Nusbaum, Kionna Habinyak, Eric Laratonda and Kiersten Baker; middle row –– Isabella Rhoades, Kennedie Lauver, Connor Stayer, Nancy Sheetz, Steve Sheetz, Emma Giang, Mason Diehl, Tirenioluwa Roluga and Donna Bon; back row –– Dr. Ron Darbeau, Ethan McDowell, Cortlynd Rhoades, Jacob Sensenig, Peter Shivas, Adam Dotts, Wyatt Treece and Alan Wedel.

The 14th class of Sheetz Fellows was inducted during a formal ceremony on Saturday, March 1.

A competitive academic program, the 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.

Twenty-one students were inducted into the program: Kiersten Baker of James Creek, Mason Diehl of Martinsburg, Adam Dotts of Hummelstown, Andrew Duey of Hollidaysburg, Emma Giang of West Springfield, Mass., Kionna Habinyak of Altoona, Hollie Keller of Tyrone, Eric Laratonda of Hollidaysburg, Kennedie Lauver of New Berlin, Ethan McDowell of Armagh, Peter Nusbaum of Pittsboro, N.C., Abigail Quinn of Altoona, Cortlynd Rhoades of Tyrone, Isabella Rhoades of Tyrone, Tirenioluwa Roluga of Finksburg, Md;, Jacob Sensenig of Woodbury, Peter Shivas of Duncansville, Connor Stayer of Altoona, Evan Toth of Loretto, Wyatt Treece of Everett and Alan Wedel of Duncansville.

“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 are 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.