UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Health and Human Development has announced the student marshals who will represent the college and each department during the spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
Health and Human Development program marshals
Biobehavioral Health
Natalie Meriwether, daughter of CaroLyn and Steve Meriwether, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, will receive a bachelor of science degree in biobehavioral health.
Meriwether was the co-founder and president of the Penn State chapter of the United Nations Association and served as the young professionals director on the board of directors for the United Nations Association of Central Pennsylvania. She was a Shot@Life Champion for the United Nations Foundation, advocating for equitable vaccination access globally.
Additionally, Meriwether was the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Frank Ahern Student Award and won second place at the Biobehavioral Health Founder’s Day Undergraduate Research Exhibition in 2024 for her project with the Water, Health, and Nutrition Lab. She was awarded a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates fellowship to travel to northern Kenya with the Koobi Fora Field School to assist in collecting data for her honors thesis, “Dietary Strategies as Mediators of Food Security and Nutritional Status During Severe Drought Among Daasanach Pastoralists in Northern Kenya, 2019-2024.” Meriwether’s work on the project earned her the Hilde Spielvogel Award for Outstanding Presentation by an Undergraduate Student at the 2025 Human Biology Association Conference.
On campus, Meriwether served as president and THON finance chair for the Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity. She was a research assistant in the Water, Health, and Nutrition Lab and an undergraduate teaching intern for “BBH 440: Principles of Epidemiology.”
Meriwether was the inaugural recipient of the Global Citizen Award from the United Nations Association of Central Pennsylvania. She also received the Evan Pugh Scholar Senior Award, the President Sparks Award and the President Walker Award.
Following graduation, Meriwether will attend the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University to pursue a doctoral degree in nutrition and health sciences.
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Carolynn Buckley, daughter of Joseph and Maureen Buckley, of Aldie, Virginia, will receive a bachelor of science degree in communication sciences and disorders. Buckley was a member of Best Buddies Penn State, most recently serving as membership coordinator, and was a volunteer for Harmony at Penn State. She also served as secretary of the State College Area School District Lifelink Mentor Society.
Buckley worked as an undergraduate researcher in the Collaborative Language Use Lab, researching speech in adults with Down syndrome, and was a member of the Penn State chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.
Following graduation, Buckley will continue her studies at Penn State to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Health Policy and Administration
Alyssa Altstaedter, daughter of Barry Altstaedter and Jacqueline Walpole, of Plainview, New York, will receive a bachelor of science degree in health policy and administration. Altstaedter was a member of the Penn State Public Health Club, most recently serving as president. She also served as service director of the Schreyer Honors College Student Council. She was an undergraduate teaching intern for “HPA 440: Principles of Epidemiology,” and an undergraduate research assistant in the Center for Health Care and Policy Research and the Prevention Research to Optimize Health Lab within the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center.
Altstaedter was a member of the Health and Human Development Honor Society. She was a Schreyer Honors Scholar, completing a thesis titled, “From Settlement to Solution: Analyzing the Impact of the National Opioid Settlement on Remediation Efforts.”
Following graduation, Altstaedter will attend the University of Pennsylvania to pursue a master of public health degree with a concentration in epidemiology, preparing her for a career as an epidemiologist studying intervention strategies for chronic health conditions.
Hospitality Management
Grace Bachrach, daughter of Brian and Suzanne Bachrach, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, will receive a bachelor of science degree in hospitality management.
Bachrach was a member of the Penn State student chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, a student club that provides a platform for interpersonal and student leadership development. Additionally, she was a member of Eta Sigma Delta, the International Hospitality Honor Society at Penn State.
Following graduation, Bachrach has been accepted into the food and beverage manager in training (MIT) program at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia.
Human Development and Family Studies
Julia Hollowell, daughter of Jamie and Brian Hollowell, of Medford, New York, will receive a bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies.
Hollowell served as the donor and alumni relations chair of Springfield Benefitting THON and as a peer assistant for the College of Health and Human Development. She served as vice president, secretary and treasurer of the Public Health Club at Penn State, as well as president, vice president and social chair of the Triota Honors Society for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Penn State. She was an organizer for the HDFS Votes initiative and a NextGen Pennsylvania volunteer, educating young people about voting and supporting voter registration. She also was an LGBTQ+ peer educator.
Hollowell received the Anthony R. D’Augelli Undergraduate Scholarship in LGBTQ Research and Service.
After graduation, Hollowell will attend St. John’s University School of Law to become an estate-planning attorney.
Kinesiology
Eric Carlson, son of Scott and Lisa Carlson, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, will receive a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. Carlson was a clinic intern at Penn State’s University Health Services and a patient care assistant at St. Luke’s Hospital. He also was a member of the THON committee, Kinesiology Club, Health and Human Development Honors Society, Pre-PA club, and served as an undergraduate learning assistant in a functional human anatomy lab.
Carlson was a recipient of the President Walker Award, the President Sparks Award and Evan Pugh Scholar Award.
Following graduation, Carlson will attend DeSales University to pursue a master’s degree in physician assistant studies.
Nutritional Sciences
Adeline Peat, daughter of Jennifer and Andrew Peat, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, will receive a bachelor of science degree in nutritional sciences. Peat was the co-founder and president of the Food Recovery Network at Penn State, which received the 2025 Campus Sustainability Champion Award by the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium and Penn State’s 2024 Outstanding Sustainability Efforts and Community Impact awards.
Peat also was a Sustainability Programs Scholar and the Health and Wellness Executive Chair of Phi Epsilon Kappa Professional Health Fraternity. Additionally, she was an employee at the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm, a research assistant for the POLARIS Project, and a learning assistant for the Department of Nutritional Sciences. Peat volunteered for Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, served as a medical volunteer in Peru for MEDLIFE, and was a farm volunteer in Alaska.
Peat was a recipient of the Sustainability Scholars Scholarship, the Sandrea Schlicker Renfro Scholarship, and the Guthrie Honors Scholarship in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She also received the Alumni Board Life Promise Award in the College of Health and Human Development, the Five Star Internship Award and the Africa and Latin American Abroad Scholarship. She also holds published research on endometriosis from her internship with the POLARIS Project.
Following graduation, Peat will be attending Tufts University to pursue a master’s degree in nutritional sciences. She seeks to become a registered dietitian with a mission to increase nutrition awareness, accessibility and equity to support both environmental and human health.
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Gabrielle Lamprou, daughter of Van and Lisa Lamprou, of North Carolina, will receive a bachelor of science degree in recreation, park, and tourism management. She also will receive a minor in sports studies.
As a contributor and employee of Penn State Outdoor Adventures, she held the positions of senior student manager, trip leader and group programs supervisor. Her initiatives focused on enhancing the well-being of students and professional staff. Throughout Lamprou’s time at Penn State, she also earned the Alumni Recognition of Student Excellence Award, President Sparks Award and President Walker Award.
Following graduation, Lamprou plans to learn more about her field by attending outdoor expos, meeting individuals from all walks of life, and traveling across the United States while exploring countries worldwide. She intends to focus on working in the cycling industry, motivating others through speaking and storytelling, and engaging in hands-on roles within the adventure recreation field.
Reserve Officer’s Training Corp (ROTC)
Meredith Frey, daughter of Hope Frey, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, will receive a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. Frey most recently served in the Naval ROTC, in Operation Blue and Gold and was the president of the Future Naval Officers Organization.
She received the Captain Sam Schultz Memorial Scholarship, the Health and Human Development Alumni Society Student Service Award, and the ROTC Award of Merit.
Following graduation, Frey will attend The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, beginning a career in the military as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.