Graduating Penn State senior William D. Them has been selected as the first official student marshal for the School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST).
Them of Wysox, Pa., was among the very first students to enter IST when the school opened its doors in 1999 and is among IST’s first full class of graduates to be receiving bachelor of science degrees in information sciences and technology during the 2002-2003 academic year.
Them achieved marshal honors by having the highest grade-point average among the IST students expected to formally receive their degrees in commencement ceremonies in the Bryce Jordan Center at the University Park campus on Dec. 21. Them will be the first Penn State graduate ever to carry an IST banner in an academic processional. He will be accompanied at the ceremony by Dr. Frank Ritter, associate professor of information sciences and technology.
“I am proud and humbled to have been given this honor,” said Them. “I am extremely pleased and excited to represent the school along with Dr. Ritter.
“I’ve spent the last three and a half years studying long hours and working on all the projects and presentations along the way. It has been challenging and I’m glad I persevered,” he continued. “However, I know that being named college marshal does not imply that I am better than my peers. Their contributions have helped me throughout my education and I have learned incalculable amounts from them.”
Them has been the recipient of the President’s Freshman Award, the President Sparks Award, and the Evan S. Pugh Award. He has earned scholarships from Honeywell/Allied Signal and PricewaterhouseCoopers. And, he is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
He was a co-founder of Vasor Technologies, an information technology services company developed originally by IST students for a major business plan competition at Penn State. The IST team achieved final four honors in the contest. Further development of Vasor continues.
“I think the best part of my IST experience has been the degree of closeness with respect to students and the dean, faculty, and staff,” Them said. “I have always felt as though I could talk to anyone, including the dean, without worrying that my concerns would be too trivial for their time.
“The backing that IST gave Vasor Technologies helped our efforts extraordinarily. This is just another example of how IST helps its students succeed even outside the classroom.”
Them is the son of William W. Them of R.R. 2 Wysox, Pa., and Linda M. Them of Partridge Place, Endwell, N.Y. He is a 1999 graduate of Maine-Endwell Senior High School.
Them will begin his professional career in January at Lockheed Martin Enterprise Information Systems, Owego, N.Y., and will undertake graduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in June.
“Combined with internships, exposure to industry-leading speakers, and in-class projects sponsored by outside corporations, I believe that the program has provided me with a solid basis from which to launch my career,” Them said.
Across the Commonwealth, nearly 80 IST graduates will receive bachelor of science degrees at the close of the fall 2002 semester and more than 60 will receive associate degrees.
