Two Eberly students named 2026 Stand Up Award winners by Rock Ethics Institute
Kaelonnah Darlich, third-year biology major, and Christina Ellis, fourth-year student who is majoring in Spanish and integrative science were named winners of the Penn State Rock Ethics Institute's 2026 Stand Up Awards for Undergraduate Ethical Leadership alongside one other student at the University.
“Each of this year’s recipients has identified a need, whether in access, representation or community, and taken meaningful steps to address it,” said Désirée Lim, associate director of the Rock Ethics Institute. “Their efforts show how ethical leadership can emerge in different forms, grounded in a clear sense of responsibility to others.”
Established in 2008, the Stand Up Awards recognize undergraduate students at Penn State who have demonstrated ethical leadership by standing up for a cause, idea or belief. Through honoring the students' courageous examples, the awards aim to inspire others to become ethical leaders. The awards are supported through a gift from Charles, Joan and Emily Rolling.
The three winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship and be honored during the Stand Up Awards ceremony at the Nittany Lion Inn beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. The ceremony will be streamed live on Zoom, as well. Anyone interested in watching the celebration is invited to pre-register for the broadcast.
Kaelonnah Darlich
Darlich has emerged as one of the leading champions for first-generation students on campus. A Millennium Scholar and major in biology who is the first in her family to attend college, Darlich serves as president of the University Park chapter of Tri-Alpha, the national honor society that recognizes the achievements of first-generation college students. In this role, she has worked to increase resources for first-generation students and bring attention to the barriers that can undermine their success. She also has demonstrated a passion for breaking down barriers faced by women in science. Darlich recently won the "I AM STEM" student speaking competition in the Eberly College of Science and gave a keynote presentation at ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women.
Chelsey Walls, assistant director of the Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success who nominated Darlich for the Stand Up Award, praised her as “an exemplar of ethical leadership.”
“Her actions,” Walls continued, “are guided by clearly articulated values: inclusion, environmental stewardship, and generational impact. Kaelonnah consistently uses her platform for the greater good.”
Christina Ellis
As she prepares to graduate, Ellis has had a rich college experience that has included publishing a book, studying abroad, learning Spanish, acting, lab work and much more. The common thread running throughout has been a commitment to equity and justice. Before starting at Penn State, she organized peaceful protests to stop a proposed book ban at her high school. Drawing on this experience, she collaborated with several co-authors to publish in 2025 “Ban This: How One School Fought Two Book Bans and Won (and How You Can Too),” in which she outlines strategies for how students can push back against threats to free speech. She served as the diversity and outreach chair for No Refund Theatre at Penn State, working to increase representation and access to the theater for underrepresented groups. After graduation, she will pursue a career in medicine, where she said she plans to use her language skills to better serve Spanish-speaking patients.
Samia Cooperider, the director of Undergraduate Equity Programs in the Eberly College of Science, nominated Ellis for the Stand Up Award.
“Christina,” said Cooperider, “consistently chooses courage over comfort and integrity over silence. She understands that ethical leadership is not about titles, but about responsibility using one’s voice to elevate others and to defend principles rooted in equity and justice.”