Undergraduate Student News

'Powered by Chocolate Milk,' Penn State hosts first in-person esports tournament

'Powered by Chocolate Milk,' Penn State hosts first in-person esports tournament

May 16, 2023

The Penn State Esports club hosted its first in-person tournament last month. The Nittany Invitational welcomed seven teams, 65 competitors and nearly 300 spectators in what the club said was one of the largest annual collegiate video gaming tournaments on the East Coast.

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Congratulations Graduates

Congratulations Graduates

May 6, 2023

A gallery of photos providing a look at just a few of the more than 14,000 newest Penn State graduates as they complete their successful journey at spring 2023 commencement ceremonies.

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Student team places 3rd in Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition regional finals

Student team places 3rd in Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition regional finals

May 5, 2023

A team of Penn State students recently took third place in the regional finals of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

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Alumnus Scott Robertson receives College of IST’s highest honor

Alumnus Scott Robertson receives College of IST’s highest honor

May 3, 2023

Scott Michael Robertson, an alumnus of the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State, was selected as the 2022 recipient of the IST Outstanding Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the college upon its graduates.  

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College of IST names student marshals for spring 2023 commencement 

College of IST names student marshals for spring 2023 commencement 

April 28, 2023

The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology has named its student marshals for the spring 2023 commencement ceremony. Elissa McNeil will represent the IST’s undergraduate majors, and Daniel Manolesco will represent the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.  

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Head of FEMA set as College of IST commencement speaker

Head of FEMA set as College of IST commencement speaker

April 26, 2023

Deanne Criswell, the 12th administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will present the commencement address for the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology on May 6. The ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. in Pegula Ice Arena. 

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Positive triggering method reduces nationality bias in large text generators

Positive triggering method reduces nationality bias in large text generators

April 25, 2023

Large language models that use internet files to learn how to respond to user prompts about different countries worldwide repeat biased ideas – both positive and negative – found online.

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App to prevent allergy attacks wins first place in IdeaMakers Challenge

App to prevent allergy attacks wins first place in IdeaMakers Challenge

April 10, 2023

Meallergies, an app that can help avoid allergy attacks when ordering meals from restaurants, was the winning idea in the 2023 Bardusch Family IdeaMakers Challenge, held March 22 during Penn State Startup Week.

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5 student startups win funding in Inc.U Competition

5 student startups win funding in Inc.U Competition

March 24, 2023

Student startup Bindr, a dating app that provides a safe space online for bisexual individuals, won $15,000, the largest prize amount, in the 2023 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition.

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IST’s 'Be You in Tech' Summit celebrates diversity, encourages empowerment

IST’s 'Be You in Tech' Summit celebrates diversity, encourages empowerment

March 8, 2023

The College of Information Sciences and Technology recently partnered with RMS US LLP to present the 2023 Be You in Tech Summit.

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Entrepreneurs share strategies during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC

Entrepreneurs share strategies during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC

March 7, 2023

Each spring, Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC brings together the best and brightest Penn State student and alumni entrepreneurs and innovators for a weeklong celebration of what happens when Penn State’s inspired doers put their ideas into action.  

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Thought leaders headline TechCon at Penn State Abington

Thought leaders headline TechCon at Penn State Abington

March 3, 2023

Technology thought leaders will share their vision for building smart, sustainable communities at the TechCon and Innovation Challenge at Penn State Abington on Saturday, March 25. The event is open to the public.

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IT students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre get experience in cybersecurity lab

IT students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre get experience in cybersecurity lab

February 21, 2023

Cybersecurity is a growing field full of career possibilities, and students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre are able to study the field firsthand thanks to an on-campus lab.

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A focus on leadership helps World Campus IST student make a difference

A focus on leadership helps World Campus IST student make a difference

February 15, 2023

Being a leader is both a goal and a mission that College of Information Sciences and Technology student Daniel Serfass has set out to accomplish.

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Information Sciences and Technology faculty, staff recognized with annual awards

Information Sciences and Technology faculty, staff recognized with annual awards

February 8, 2023

Faculty and staff in the College of Information Sciences and Technology were recognized at the college’s annual awards event this week. Recipients were nominated by their IST colleagues and selected by a review committee for their excellence in teaching, research and service.

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IST Career Spotlight: Ryan Hartzfeld

IST Career Spotlight: Ryan Hartzfeld

February 2, 2023

As a lead software engineer at Disney Streaming, Ryan Hartzfeld is leading efforts to make impactful changes to a variety of streaming services offered by the Walt Disney Co.

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Penn State cybersecurity team places third in CyberForce Competition

Penn State cybersecurity team places third in CyberForce Competition

February 1, 2023

A team of Penn State students recently placed third out of 169 universities in the U.S. Department of Energy’s annual CyberForce Competition. The team, which was comprised of members from the University’s Competitive Cyber Security Organization, also earned third place in last year’s event.

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IST Career Spotlight: Josh Stine

IST Career Spotlight: Josh Stine

January 26, 2023

As manager of pricing strategy for Elevate Sports Ventures, Josh Stine is drawing on his industry experience to lead a pricing team serving more than 100 professional and collegiate partners. 

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IST student wins Westin Scholar Award for skills in privacy and data protection

IST student wins Westin Scholar Award for skills in privacy and data protection

January 25, 2023

Alexei Hooks, a fall 2022 graduate from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, was recently awarded the 2022-23 Westin Scholar Award for his outstanding skills and dedication to the field of privacy and data protection.

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IST students create innovative, user-focused technology solutions

IST students create innovative, user-focused technology solutions

January 23, 2023

Students in the capstone course for the Human-Centered Design and Development program major are asking questions, finding solutions and using knowledge from previous classes to pursue a semester-long group project focused on creating user-centered technology.

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Mentors help first-generation IST alum find the right path

Mentors help first-generation IST alum find the right path

January 9, 2023

Joel Gill Jr. has established himself in a tech consulting career and has learned from a variety of experiences and mentors.

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IST students gain real-world experiences in new distributed team project course

December 16, 2022

A new course offered by the College of Information Sciences and Technology is helping students prepare for their required internships by focusing on teamwork and real-world projects.

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Arts and Architecture’s fall student marshal is first ever from World Campus

Arts and Architecture’s fall student marshal is first ever from World Campus

December 8, 2022

Carly Mojica, from Colorado Springs, is the first-ever Penn State World Campus student to serve as student marshal for the College of Arts and Architecture's commencement ceremony. 

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Real-world internship helps IST student make a meaningful impact

Real-world internship helps IST student make a meaningful impact

December 7, 2022

Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Djante McLaughlin is bringing his knowledge and passion for cybersecurity to life through his leadership with the IST Student Government and his work with the Department of Homeland Security.

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Erica Mi named College of IST student marshal for fall 2022

Erica Mi named College of IST student marshal for fall 2022

December 6, 2022

The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology will honor Schreyer Honors Scholar Erica Mi as student marshal at its fall 2022 commencement, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 17. 

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IST faculty, students develop digital solutions to help mushroom farmers

IST faculty, students develop digital solutions to help mushroom farmers

December 1, 2022

A team of researchers at Penn State is aiming to speed up and streamline the collection of important environmental data that impacts the mushroom farming industry through a new digital solution.

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On the Bridge — December 2022

On the Bridge — December 2022

November 30, 2022

A compilation of recent news, highlights, and achievements from the College of Information Sciences and Technology community.

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IST student helps make Penn State experience positive through UPUA

IST student helps make Penn State experience positive through UPUA

November 30, 2022

Serving as a representative and advocate for her fellow Penn State students is a responsibility of which third-year College of Information Sciences and Technology student Nora O’Toole is extremely proud. As speaker of the assembly in the University Park Undergraduate Association, O’Toole oversees

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IST resources, technical skills help student expand nation’s terrorism database

IST resources, technical skills help student expand nation’s terrorism database

November 15, 2022

For Sean Cicchiello, researching radical crimes in the U.S. and determining whether they are acts of terror is part of his job.

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World Campus student makes an impact for veterans through IT internship

World Campus student makes an impact for veterans through IT internship

November 9, 2022

Michelle Wiemer has had the opportunity to explore different lines of work and meet people from all walks of life through her journey as a military spouse.

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IST students celebrate women in tech at annual Grace Hopper conference

IST students celebrate women in tech at annual Grace Hopper conference

October 24, 2022

Six Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology students attended the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Orlando, Florida, in late September to learn, network and celebrate the contributions women have made in the technology industry.

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IST skills set technology director, captains up for success at Homecoming

IST skills set technology director, captains up for success at Homecoming

October 19, 2022

With almost 11 months of planning and preparation, Penn State Homecoming returns this week with a full slate of activities.

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New baseball statistic gauges pitcher's strikeout efficiency

New baseball statistic gauges pitcher's strikeout efficiency

September 9, 2022

Baseball teams could soon have a better concept of pitcher strikeout efficiency — particularly when an opposing team’s player is on third base at risk of scoring a run — thanks to a new statistic developed by a Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) student.

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A beautiful internship: IST student drives tech design at Estée Lauder Companies

A beautiful internship: IST student drives tech design at Estée Lauder Companies

August 30, 2022

Since she was a little girl, Lauren Pearl has had a dream to one day live and work in New York City. She came one step closer to making that dream a reality this summer, through a 10-week internship with the Estée Lauder Companies.

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In the 'spirit': IST intern grows tech, interpersonal skills at Bacardi

In the 'spirit': IST intern grows tech, interpersonal skills at Bacardi

August 23, 2022

Ella Maquito spent the summer helping a major spirits brand increase its global reach. As an information technology intern at Bacardi, Maquito worked with the company’s brand homes software on the digital commerce team to conduct user interface and user experience testing.

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IST intern analyzes data, informs game plans for Giants' Arizona Complex League

IST intern analyzes data, informs game plans for Giants' Arizona Complex League

August 19, 2022

College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Mojisoluwa Awe spent her summer as a data analyst for two of the Arizona Complex League affiliate teams of the San Francisco Giants.

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IST student gains data privacy training through IAPP internship

IST student gains data privacy training through IAPP internship

August 16, 2022

This summer, College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Parker Kirby had the opportunity to gain hands-on industry training and gain more experience as a data scientist or analyst through his internship with the International Association of Privacy Professionals — the world’s largest i

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IST intern fosters data science skills in middle- and high-school AI campers

IST intern fosters data science skills in middle- and high-school AI campers

August 8, 2022

Rising College of Information Sciences and Technology senior Nathan Reilly has taken his data sciences skills and knowledge to summer camp.

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IST intern builds career skills, improves community in Lowe’s summer program

IST intern builds career skills, improves community in Lowe’s summer program

August 5, 2022

As a software engineering intern at Lowe’s this summer, College of Information Sciences and Technology student Hannah Kern has been exposed to a number of new experiences and technologies while developing code — including learning new computer programming languages.

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Strong community support drives success for IST student marshal

Strong community support drives success for IST student marshal

August 2, 2022

When James Reese represents the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) as student marshal at the summer commencement ceremony this month, it will be, in part, thanks to members of the IST community who believed in him.

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IST student aims to improve airport experience for travelers with disabilities

IST student aims to improve airport experience for travelers with disabilities

August 1, 2022

Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology student Veronica Jenkins recently worked with real-world data to conceptualize improvements in airport operations for individuals with disabilities.

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IST intern assures tech systems quality at CVS Health

IST intern assures tech systems quality at CVS Health

July 25, 2022

Through her major of information sciences and technology with a focus on design and development, rising senior Rachael Gray has gained a deep understanding of core information technologies and how they can be used in practical applications in a diverse number of industries.

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IST students aid in development of AI mental health screening app

IST students aid in development of AI mental health screening app

July 1, 2022

Two College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students are part of an interdisciplinary team working to create a health care application that can assist doctors with diagnosing schizophrenia in remote regions.

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DoD honors rising second-year IST, Schreyer student with SMART scholarship

DoD honors rising second-year IST, Schreyer student with SMART scholarship

May 31, 2022

Sydney Vachino, a rising second-year Schreyer Honors Scholar studying cybersecurity analytics and operations in the College of Information Sciences and Technology, has been awarded a Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship. 

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Peer-led learning: IST course enriches academic experience

Peer-led learning: IST course enriches academic experience

May 10, 2022

After positive experiences as learning assistants in the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, Erica Mi and Carrigan Morabito knew

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Penn State student-developed app aims to redefine Black motherhood

Penn State student-developed app aims to redefine Black motherhood

May 2, 2022

A group of Penn State students is working to support a global initiative to redefine Black motherhood. Blending interdisciplinary expertise from across the University, the students are building a mobile health application designed to support the mental and physical health of Black moms.

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College of IST announces spring 2022 student marshals

College of IST announces spring 2022 student marshals

April 29, 2022

The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology will honor Schreyer Honors Scholar Kaitlyn Bridge as student marshal and Charles Hickey as the ROTC student marshal at spring 2022 commencement, which will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, in the Pegula Ice Arena.

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Penn State Smeal team wins 2022 KPMG Ideation Challenge

Penn State Smeal team wins 2022 KPMG Ideation Challenge

April 27, 2022

A team of four Penn State Smeal College of Business students and another team member from the College of Information Sciences and Technology partnered to win the 2022 KPMG Ideation Challenge.

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Online marketplace for tenants wins top prize in IdeaMakers Challenge

Online marketplace for tenants wins top prize in IdeaMakers Challenge

April 27, 2022

A digital solution to problems faced by both tenants and property owners was the winning idea in the 2022 Bardusch Family IdeaMakers Challenge, held April 6 during Penn State Startup Week and hosted by the College of Information Sciences and Technology.

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