Potts to Represent Penn State's Eberly College of Science as Student Marshal at Spring Commencement
Kristin Potts of Yardley, Pennsylvania will be honored as the Eberly College of Science student marshal during Penn State's spring commencement ceremonies on 16 May 2009 at the University Park campus. Potts has selected Jacqueline Bortiatynski, a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, to be her escort for the commencement exercises. Potts, who will be completing a bachelor's degree in chemistry, has a 4.0 grade-point average. She won the Evan Pugh Scholar Award in 2008 and 2009 for being among the top 0.5 percent of students in her junior and senior classes. She also won a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship in 2008, the President Sparks Award in 2007, and the President's Freshman Award in 2006.
In addition to her classroom activities, Potts conducted research under the supervision of Professor of Chemistry Ken Feldman. Her project involved synthesizing derivatives of the antibiotic prekinamycin -- which is a member of the diazoparaquinone family of antitumor antibiotics -- in order to investigate the DNA-damaging chemical pathway by which the diazoparaquinone family of antibiotics operates.
Not only did Potts learn chemistry while she was at Penn State, but she also helped other students to learn chemistry. For five semesters she tutored Penn State students in organic chemistry, and she also helped to spread scientific knowledge to the community. As a co-chair for the Nittany Chemical Society's demonstration committee, she assisted with community-outreach events, including Space Day, the Halloween Show, and the THON Make-a-Wish Foundation.
During her career at Penn State, Potts also found time to play clarinet in the Penn State Symphonic Band for a year and to work as a stage assistant for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). The purpose of the Shakespeare show was to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims through the Red Cross.
Potts said that when she was notified of her selection as student marshal, she felt extremely proud of all that she has accomplished as a student, tutor, and researcher at Penn State. "At the same time," she said, "it was a sad reminder that my undergraduate years are coming to an end. While at Penn State, I learned how important it is to stay true to yourself and to do what you love. I will always miss the tight-knit community of faculty members and students in the chemistry department and, of course, the Penn State football games."
Upon graduating, Potts plans to attend graduate school with an ultimate goal of obtaining a job as a high-school or college chemistry teacher.
Potts is a graduate of Pennsbury High School in Yardley, Pennsylvania. She will be accompanied at commencement by members of her family, including her father Bill Potts '72, mother Ginny Potts, brother Mike Potts, grandparents Kenneth and Helen Potts, and uncle Edward Potts.
CONTACTS
Kristin Potts: (+1) 215-801-9672, kvp313@psu.edu
Barbara Kennedy (PIO): 814-863-4682, science@psu.edu