Angkai Li selected as Eberly College of Science summer 2025 student marshal
Angkai Li of Tianjin, China will be honored as the student marshal for the Penn State Eberly College of Science at the University’s summer 2025 commencement ceremony on Saturday, August 16 at the University Park campus.
Li will graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average and a bachelor’s degree in statistics and a minor in mathematics. He was a scholar in the Schreyer Honors College and made the dean’s list for his entire collegiate career.
During his time as a student, Li received multiple award and recognitions. In 2023, he received the President Walker Award, and in 2024 he received the Evan Pugh Scholar Senior Award and the Matthew Rosenshine Fund for Excellence. Most recently, in 2025, he received the Harland H. Shoemaker, Jr. Award.
Li shared his thoughts when he found out that he was named the Eberly College of Science student marshal.
“It’s truly an honor to represent the Eberly College of Science, and I feel both humbled and appreciative of the recognition,” he said. “It also serves as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with it and how much I still have to learn and improve.”
As an undergraduate student, Li was involved in research with Le Bao, professor of statistics, where they worked on developing a treatment recommendation system for rare cancers based on clinical trials, as well as other techniques, which led to the publication of a paper he co-authored. In addition to Bao, Li worked under the guidance of his honors adviser, Lingzhou Xue, professor of statistics, on graphical models and numerical linear algebra.
Li’s experience at Penn State taught him about kindness and helping others.
“Penn State taught me to help others whenever possible,” he said. “Initially, I didn’t know anyone and felt lost, but I met kind peers who genuinely reached out, helped me adapt, and quickly made Happy Valley feel like home. I’m especially grateful to my friends for their care and encouragement from the beginning, and I received invaluable guidance, insights, and warmth from faculty members and graduate students. These experiences have deeply inspired me to pay it forward, support others, and help foster a kinder, more connected community wherever life takes me.”
Following graduation, Li will continue to pursue research in statistics and related fields through graduate studies.