• Michael A. Pantano, Methacton High School Class of 2008, Named Penn State College of Engineering Student Marshal

    Michael A. Pantano will be a student marshal for the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at the Penn State College of Engineering spring commencement ceremony on May 4. Pantano will receive three degrees: a bachelor of science in nuclear engineering, a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor of science in mathematics.

    He has chosen Jack S. Brenizer, the J. “Lee” Everett Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, to be his faculty escort.

    College of Engineering student marshals are selected for their outstanding academic achievement and contributions to engineering student life.

    Pantano is the son of Diana and Sal Pantano of Collegeville. He is a 2008 graduate of Methacton High School in Norristown.
    He is a scholar in the Schreyer Honors College, where he served as a mentor for the First-Year Testing, Consulting, and Advising Program. He also held leadership positions in the Penn State Student Chapter of the American Nuclear Society (president and treasurer), the Italian Student Society (treasurer) and the Penn State Science Lions (vice president).

    Pantano’s academic awards and honors include the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, the Paul Morrow Scholarship, the Louis A. Harding Memorial Scholarship, the Fred B. Schneider Scholarship, the Exelon Corporation Scholarship, the Nuclear Energy University Programs Scholarship, the National Academy for Nuclear Training Scholarship, the Schreyer Honors College Academic Excellence Award and the Penn State Nuclear Engineering Society Service and Leadership Award.

    Following graduation, he will pursue a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

     
    Methacton Alumnus Receives Harvard Degree 40 Years Later

    Monica Debbi, Methacton High School Class of 1972 was awarded a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Extension Studies with honors at Harvard University’s 361st commencement ceremony held on Thursday, May 24, 2012.

    Debbi graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and earned the Dean’s List Academic Achievement Award.  In addition she was inducted into the Phi Beta chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national honor society for non-traditional students.  Debbi is also the 2012 recipient of the Santo J. Aurelio Prize, awarded on the basis of academic achievement and character to undergraduate degree recipients who complete their academic work with distinction after age 50. 

    After graduating from high school 40 years ago at 17, Debbi began her undergraduate career at a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania.  She left college before earning her degree. “I wasn’t mature enough for college right after high school” says Debbi, “but I didn’t think it would be 36 years before I was ready to go back and finish.” 

    In 2008, she learned about Harvard Extension School’s blended on-campus and online evening degree program.  For 4 years Debbi worked full-time as a senior business analyst in the financial services industry while attending classes online.  For two semesters she commuted weekly from her home in Charlotte, NC to Boston, MA in order complete the on-campus-only course requirement.  “Traveling weekly wasn’t easy, but it was worth it to attend classes on campus and be a part of the Harvard community,” said Debbi.

    When asked what she’ll take away from her experience at Harvard, Debbi replied “The most important thing I learned was that it’s never too late to make changes in your life.”  After graduation Debbi plans to continue working for her current employer while considering what her next adventure will be.