Schultz Selected as Science Student Marshal for Penn State Fall Commencement
Jon W. Schultz, of North East, Pennsylvania, will be honored as the Eberly College of Science student marshal during Penn State's fall commencement ceremonies on 19 December 2009 at the University Park campus. Schultz, who is completing a bachelor's degree in science, has a 3.88 grade-point average. He won the Schreyer Honors College Academic Excellence Scholarship, and he was part of the Balog Scholar Science BS/MBA Program from 2006 to 2009.
Jon W. Schultz, of North East, Pennsylvania, will be honored as the Eberly College of Science student marshal during Penn State's fall commencement ceremonies on 19 December 2009 at the University Park campus. Schultz, who is completing a bachelor's degree in science, has a 3.88 grade-point average. He won the Schreyer Honors College Academic Excellence Scholarship, and he was part of the Balog Scholar Science BS/MBA Program from 2006 to 2009.
In addition to his classroom activities, Schultz conducted research under the supervision of Professor of Astronomy Steinn Sigurdsson. His honors thesis investigates the use and importance of player and team statistics in determining the most important factor in a soccer player's contribution to a team. Schultz' statistical analyses include such factors as goals, assists, games played, height, weight, and position. His ultimate goal is for the statistics to be useful in building a winning team.
Schultz has selected James R. Gardner, Professor and Executive in Residence, to be his escort for the commencement exercises. Gardner points out that, "All the students in the elite Science BS/MBA Program are extraordinarily smart and competent — or they wouldn't be in it. However, even in that special crowd, Jon Schultz stands out." Gardner attributes Jon's success to three things — focus, commitment, and personal balance — resulting in an "enviable record of stellar grades, corporate internships, and undergraduate research — plus the respect of his peers and faculty alike."
Schultz also found ways to give back to his hometown community by maintaining a fairly active role in the Boy Scouts of America. He served as junior assistant scoutmaster for the same scouting troop from which he, his father, and his older brother had risen through the ranks to become Eagle Scouts. He and his troop have completed projects ranging from park renovations — including building picnic tables and pavilions and doing landscaping — to planting over 1000 trees at a local reservoir as part of a reforestation project. Schultz also competed in Penn State intramural football, basketball, and soccer, and explored the areas surrounding the University Park campus by camping and fishing.
While at Penn State, Schultz said that he learned the importance of taking advantage of the vast opportunities and numerous people of the University as well as of the opportunities that will present themselves throughout his future. Jon took part in two cooperative education programs during his Penn State career, working for Lockheed Martin, in the Business Development Department of Maritime Systems & Sensors in Moorestown, NJ. He worked there during the summer of 2008 and from January to June in 2009.
When he was notified of his selection as student marshal, Schultz said he felt extremely surprised and honored. "One of my first thoughts was amazement," he said, "especially considering how large the student body is at Penn State."
Upon graduating, Schultz plans to attend graduate school with the goal of attaining a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance.
Schultz is a graduate of North East High School in North East, Pennsylvania. He will be accompanied at commencement by his mother and father, Kathryn and Roger Schultz, both alumni of Penn State.