Relaxation Week: Mindful Monday
Location: Atherton Hall 1st Floor Lobby,
All Scholars are invited to come out and decorate your own plant pot and take home an air plant. There will be cookies for all who participate.
If you have any questions, please contact Scholar Assistant Paige Rishel at par5574@psu.edu.
Event Name: Relaxation Week: Mindful Monday. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Monday, December 8, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Relaxation Week: Treat Yourself Tuesday
Location: Atherton Hall 1st Floor Lobby,
All Scholars are invited to come out for a self-care station with face masks, lip balm and lotion. You can also make your own trail mix.
If you have any questions, please contact Scholar Assistant Paige Rishel at par5574@psu.edu.
Event Name: Relaxation Week: Treat Yourself Tuesday. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Student Council Coffeehouse
Location: Atherton Hall First Floor Lobby,
Schreyer Student Council is hosting their semesterly coffeehouse! Come listen to amazing talent and enjoy some yummy treats! There will also be a merch sale, so come out and grab some fun Schreyer swag!
If you or someone you know has a musical or poetic talent and wants to perform, please contact Maya Pagano (mlp6012@psu.edu) by Wednesday, December 3rd.
Event Name: Student Council Coffeehouse. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Gong Days
Location: Grandfather Clock Lounge, Atherton Hall,
Come celebrate your thesis completion by ringing the Gong!
Gong Days is when graduating Schreyer Scholars complete a time-honored tradition of ringing a ceremonial gong to mark the completion of the thesis and all the other honors requirements for graduating from Penn State with Honors.
Scholars who are eligible to ring the Gong will receive an invitation via email. Scholars are encouraged to bring family, friends, faculty, or others to join in the celebration!
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact Rhonda Demchak at rrr11@psu.edu in advance of the prgram.
Event Name: Gong Days. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Presidential Leadership Academy Information Sessions
Location: Zoom
Are you a first-year student interested in learning more about the Presidential Leadership Academy and the application process? Join us to learn more about this certificate program and how to apply.
Contact Melissa Doberstein, mif3@psu.edu with any questions. .
Event Name: PLA Information Sessions. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER, UP - Academy - PRESIDENTIAL LDRSHIP ACAD.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Meet Ace the Therapy Dog
Location: C8 Atherton Hall
Are you looking for a way to relax and forget about finals for a while? Stop by to meet and relax with Ace the Therapy Dog!
Event Name: Meet Ace the Therapy Dog. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Thursday, December 11, 2025, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Relaxation Week: Thankful Thursday
Location: Atherton Hall 1st Floor Lobby,
All Scholars are invited to come out and write thank you notes to people who shape your life. There will be free gift bags with treats and fidget toys for all who participate.
If you have any questions, please contact Scholar Assistant Paige Rishel at par5574@psu.edu.
Event Name: Relaxation Week: Thankful Thursday. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Thursday, December 11, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Yoga with Titan
Location: Donato Family Classroom, C9 Atherton Hall,
RSVP by Dec. 8 to participate,
Come and join us for a relaxing yoga session with Titan the Therapy Dog. Bring a towel or yoga mat.
If you have any questions, please contact Shreya Bellum at sfb6198@psu.edu.
Event Name: Yoga with Titan. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Sunday, December 14, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Schreyer Honors College Medals Ceremony and Reception
Location: Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center,
Registration: Scholars must register themselves and any guests in the Schreyer Student Record System (SRS).
The Fall 2025 Medals Ceremony will recognize graduating Scholars and they will receive their scholar medal.
Immediately following the ceremony, Schreyer will host a reception in Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Join your family, friends, and College staff for light refreshments and Schreyer-branded photo opportunities to celebrate your achievements.
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact scholars@psu.edu in advance of the ceremony. .
Event Name: Fall 2025 Schreyer Honors College Medal. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Friday, December 19, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
Books with the Dean: Transcendent Kingdom
Location: Zoom
Registration: Register for this and other sessions here!
Join the Schreyer Honors College for a winter read as part of our Books with the Dean series.
Join Dean Patrick Mather, current Scholars, and alumni of the Schreyer Honors College and Presidential Leadership Academy for an online book discussion.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
A deeply introspective novel about Gifty, a Ghanaian-American neuroscience PhD student, who grapples with the loss of her brother to addiction and her mother’s depression, while navigating the tension between science and faith.
Books with the Dean is organized in conjunction with the Scholar Alumni Society.
Event Name: Schreyer Books with the Dean Series. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER, UP - Academy - PRESIDENTIAL LDRSHIP ACAD, UP - College - SCHREYER - Academics, UP - College - SCHREYER - Dev & Alumni.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Books with the Dean: Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day
Location: Zoom
Registration: Register for this and other sessions here!
Join the Schreyer Honors College for a winter leadershp read as part of our Books with the Dean series.
Join Dean Patrick Mather, current Scholars, and alumni of the Schreyer Honors College and Presidential Leadership Academy for an online book discussion.
Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day by Daniel Goleman & Cary Cherniss,
Explores how emotional intelligence helps individuals and organizations perform at their best, offering strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and foster meaningful engagement.
Books with the Dean is organized in conjunction with the Scholar Alumni Society. .
Event Name: Schreyer Books with the Dean. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER, UP - Academy - PRESIDENTIAL LDRSHIP ACAD, UP - College - SCHREYER - Academics, UP - College - SCHREYER - Dev & Alumni.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Distance with the Dean
Location: William A. Schreyer Courtyard (Atherton Hall),
All Scholars are invited to join Dean Mather and fellow Schreyer Scholars in a morning run around campus. Meet Dean Mather in the courtyard at 8:00 a.m. to start the day with some movement and chatting with new and old friends. After the run, there will be donuts and other refreshments for everyone!!!
If you plan to participate, please RSVP at the following link by Friday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m.:
Distance with the Dean - Saturday 1/17 – Fill out form,
Dean Mather hopes to see everyone on Saturday or at future runs. Watch the newsletter for upcoming dates.
Event Name: Distance with the Dean. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
A Conversation with Ayesha Rascoe
Location: Penn State Music Recital Hall,
Reserve free tickets online,
Join the Schreyer Honors College for A Conversation with Ayesha Rascoe, part of the Dilemmas of Democracy lecture series.
Learn how Ayesha Rascoe's role as a journalist has impacted her understanding of democracy and politics, and how she approaches conversations with people she disagrees with during a student-led discussion. A dessert reception and book signing will follow the discussion. A livestream link will be available for Commonwealth Campus Scholars.
Rascoe is the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and the weekend host of Up First. She interviews politicians, entertainers, authors, and more about stories everyone should be discussing. Prior to becoming a host, Rascoe was a White House correspondent during three presidential administrations and was known for her sharp questioning during press briefings. Before joining NPR, Rascoe was a reporter for ten years at Reuters. She is a graduate of Howard University, an HBCU in…
Event Name: SHC Dilemmas of Democracy Ayesha Rascoe. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Donuts with the Dean
Location: Atherton Hall 1st Floor Lobby,
All Scholars are invited to the first Donuts with the Dean of the spring semester. Come out for donuts, fresh fruit, hot coffee, hot chocolate, and good conversations. This is a great way to meet other Scholars, your Scholar Assistant Team, and our staff.
We hope you will plan to join us to start your day!
Event Name: Donuts with the Dean. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM.
Distinguished Honors Faculty Program: Future Worlds Workshop
LOCATION: Atherton Hall Grandfather Clock Room,
REGISTRATION: RSVP Link
Join Dr. Federica Pinelli to imagine the year is 2035, where human and AI systems make decisions together. In this creative workshop, you'll explore possible futures for society by designing new models of governance, community building, and problem solving. Using scenario prompts, participants will consider who is included, who is left out, and how to ensure technology serves the public good. Come ready to think big, challenge assumptions, and reimagine our collective future.
Dinner will be provided during the program.
Event Name: SHC DHFP - Dr. Federica Pinellli. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER - Academics.
Monday, February 2, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Distinguished Honors Faculty Program: From Research to Real-World Deployment
Location: The Tavern Restaurant, Downtown State College,
Registration: RSVP Link,
Please join Dr. Sven Bilén for a dinner conversation that will walk Scholars through the lifecycle of an innovation--from idea to prototype to launch. You'll explore how to navigate the entrepreneurial ecosystem, what makes a technology/company fundable, and how you can get involved in startup and/or translational research. Dr. Bilén will provide an overview of funding streams (such as SBIR/STTR) that he has leveraged to commercialize his ideas.
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact, Rhonda Demchak at rrr11@psu.edu in advance of the program.
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Event Name: SHC DHFP - Sven Bilen From Research. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Distance with the Dean
Location: William A. Schreyer Courtyard (Atherton Hall),
All Scholars are invited to join Dean Mather and fellow Schreyer Scholars in a morning run around campus. Meet Dean Mather in the courtyard at 8:00 a.m. to start the day with some movement and chatting with new and old friends. After the run, there will be donuts and other refreshments for everyone!!!
If you plan to participate, please RSVP at the following link by Friday, February 6 at 9:00 a.m.:
Distance with the Dean - Saturday 2/7 – Fill out form,
Dean Mather hopes to see everyone on Saturday or at future runs. Watch the newsletter for upcoming dates.
Event Name: Distance with the Dean. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Distinguished Honors Faculty Program: Conferences Abroad
LOCATION: The Allen Street Grill Downtown State College
REGISTRATION: RSVP HERE,
Join Dr. Shomir Wilson, Associate Professor of Human-Centered Computing and Social Information as he discusses his Conferences Abroad Research and Adventures.
Attending an international conference is a learning opportunity, but it also represents much more. These events enable career networking, citizen diplomacy, transnational friendships, and adventure. Dr. Wilson will share stories from attending conferences in 19 countries as a student, postdoc, or professor. These include trying new foods (like jellyfish), tight schedules, giving three presentations in one day, and making the most of flight cancellations. Afterward, we will discuss how to choose conferences to submit your work, how these trips are typically funded, and how to make the most of a conference experience. Dinner will be provided.
Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact…
Event Name: DHFP - Dr. Shomir Wilson Feb. 11, 2026. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Lunch and Learn: Healthy Planet, Healthy People
Location: Sustainability and Experience Center (transportation provided),
Registration: RSVP online to attend,
Deadline to Register: Monday, February 2, 2026,
Learn about campus sustainability projects that need your research to move them forward and to make a difference! If you are interested in renewable energy, ecology, health, or visual arts, come visit the Sustainability Experience Center (SEC) to learn about ongoing and emerging projects you can advance or incorporate in your research.
For example, you'll learn about:
Renewable energy data analysis and recommendations
, Physical and Mental health studies on the Nurture in Nature program
, Creative writing (climate-fiction project, anyone?)
, Public art mural projects
, Operations at the Sustainability Experience Center to develop language and graphics steeped in communications best practices to propose engaging and educational signage
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Upon arriving, we will tour the SEC to learn about ongoing and emerging research projects.…
Event Name: Schreyer Honors College Lunch and Learn. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER - Academics.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM.
Distinguished Honors Faculty Program: The Geography of Justice
Location: Indian Pavilion,
Registration: RSVP Online to Attend,
Join Dr. Michael Nelson, Professor of Political Science to discuss issues ranging from abortion and gun rights to LGBTQ+ protections. And to learn how where you live increasingly determines what rights you have. Your discussion will arise from the fact that, as the U.S. Supreme Court gives the final say on important issues to state governments, the states have become battlegrounds for defining core freedoms. You'll explore the shifting balance of power between state and federal governments and how this evolving "patchwork nation" is reshaping everything from elections to migration to be an American citizen.
Event Name: DHFP - Michael Nelson. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER - Academics.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Distance with the Dean
Location: William A. Schreyer Courtyard (Atherton Hall),
All Scholars are invited to join Dean Mather and fellow Schreyer Scholars in a morning run around campus. Meet Dean Mather in the courtyard at 8:00 a.m. to start the day with some movement and chatting with new and old friends. After the run, there will be donuts and other refreshments for everyone!!!
If you plan to participate, please RSVP at the following link by Friday, February 27at 9:00 a.m.:
Distance with the Dean - Saturday 2/28 – Fill out form,
Dean Mather hopes to see everyone on Saturday or at future runs. Watch the newsletter for upcoming dates.
Event Name: Distance with the Dean. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER.
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM.
Distinguished Honors Faculty Program: Safety and Wellbeing in Video Games
LOCATION: The Federal Taphouse, Downtown State College,
REGISTRATION: RSVP Form Link,
Join Dr. Yubo Kou, Assistant Professor and the Haile Family Early Career Professor, to discuss why video games are meant to be a place for fun but are also filled with toxicity, predatory monetization, and other safety concerns. At this event, you will discuss safety risks in video games, common safety measures, and the involvement of various stakeholders such as players, game studios, and policymakers.
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Event Name: Schreyer Honors College Distinguished. Organization: UP - College - SCHREYER - Academics.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.