Each spring, 30 rising second-year students are selected for membership in the Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA). Students admitted into the Academy come from all walks of life and all areas of the University.
Selection is based on a student's academic achievements, leadership potential and commitment to critical thinking exhibited during the applicant's first year at Penn State. A select group of applicants will be contacted for personal interviews with the Academy Selection Committee.
Scholarships for the sophomore through senior years are awarded on the basis of academic excellence. The completion of an online application between January 1 and April 15 is required in order to receive consideration. Because some of these awards are “need-based,” it is important that you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in a timely manner each year in order to be eligible for support.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to analyze medical images, materials data and scientific measurements, but many systems struggle when real-world data do not match ideal conditions. Measurements collected from different instruments, experiments or simulations often vary widely in resolution, noise and reliability. Traditional machine-learning models typically assume those differences are negligible — an assumption that can limit accuracy and trustworthiness.
Pairing elements such as sulfur, selenium or tellurium with metals produces compounds whose atomic interactions give them unusual and useful electrical, optical and magnetic behavior. These materials, called chalcogenides, are the focus of Qihua “David” Zhang’s work as a postdoctoral researcher in the Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium (2DCC) at Penn State in the laboratory of Stephanie Law, Wilson Family Fellow and associate professor of materials science and engineering.
Millennium Scholars are high-achieving STEM students aiming to be leaders in their field with a commitment to increasing diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. Millennium Scholars receive scholarship, academic, and advising support and are expected to work hard and study in a collaborative environment, conduct research with a faculty mentor, and maintain an excellent academic record. Designed to set students up for success on their path to earning a doctorate, the program uses a cohort-based approach that encourages each student to assist one another in pursuit of their academic and career goals. Millennium Scholars are selected through a rigorous application and interview process, through which they highlight their commitment to increasing diversity in STEM fields in their careers.
The program began in 2013 at Penn State, and EMS joined in 2016. Since then, about 20 have graduated from the program in EMS with just as many more currently enrolled. Many credit the program with putting them on a path to success.
Support EMS Millennium Scholars
Supporting diversity in our college is one of the main goals in our strategic plan and the Millennium Scholars program is one of our giving priorities. Raising money to support the Millennium Scholars Programs was the focus of the University's 2016 Giving Tuesday initiative. The college aims to raise $10,000, which will help fund one Millennium Scholar in the 2017-18 academic year.
If you would like to help support the Millennium Scholars Program in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
Penn State had a strong showing at the Materials Science & Technology (MS&T) technical meeting and exhibition annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, with current students and graduates in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) earning accolades.
