Hannah Priller selected as Eberly College of Science fall 2024 student marshal
Hannah Priller of Telford, Pennsylvania, will be honored as the student marshal for both the Penn State Eberly College of Science and College of Engineering during the University’s fall 2024 commencement ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. 22, at the University Park campus.
Priller will graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average and bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mechanical engineering. During her time as an undergraduate student, Priller received the Evan Pugh Scholar Senior Award, the President’s Freshman Award, the American Chemical Society Student Leadership Award, the Benkovic Summer Research Award in Chemistry, and was a member of the dean’s list for eight semesters. Priller was also a John and Elizabeth Holmes Teas Scholar, a Schreyer Honors College Academic Excellence Scholar, and Eberly College of Science Homer Braddock Scholar.
“I was surprised to be selected as student marshal but also felt honored being recognized for my hard work and thankful for everyone who has supported me along the way,” Priller said.
At Penn State, Priller performed undergraduate research with Benjamin Lear, professor of chemistry, where she studied the effect of size on the electronic properties of gold nanoparticles, or extremely small particles of matter. Priller has presented research several times at American Chemical Society national conferences and is currently working on her honors thesis.
In addition to her research and coursework, Priller was involved in many extracurricular activities. She was a member of the Nittany Chemical Society, where she served as president, the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society, and she performed with Penn State’s Pep Band, Campus Band, and Concert Band. Outside of Penn State, Priller practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Central Pennsylvania Mixed Martial Arts.
“The most important lesson that I will take with me from my time at Penn State is how to push myself but also make time to relax and have fun with friends and family,” Priller said. “This is especially important to me because I came into Penn State ready to push myself academically but realized that in order to stay motivated, I needed to take time for myself outside of academics to enjoy my college experience and to keep myself happy and healthy.”
After graduation, Priller plans to pursue a doctoral degree in organic synthesis, then hopes to pursue a career in research and development.