2026 Alumni Achievement Awards honors nine Penn Staters age 35 and under

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Nine accomplished young Penn State alumni recently were honored with the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award during a ceremony hosted by the Penn State Alumni Association on March 20 at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center. The event brought together the nine honorees, their families, University leadership, and Penn State faculty and staff to celebrate some of the University's brightest and boldest rising alumni.

The award recognizes Penn State graduates aged 35 and younger for their extraordinary professional accomplishments. Nominated by their academic colleges, recipients are invited by the University president to return to campus to share their expertise and experiences with students, faculty, and administrators - demonstrating the remarkable impact Penn Staters are making early in their careers.

During the ceremony, President Neeli Bendapudi introduced the honorees and presented each with their award, designed by artist and Penn State Alumni Fellow Jeanne Stevens-Sollman. She told the recipients, "You embody the very best of Penn State. You remind us that leadership begins with courage, innovation begins with curiosity, and impact begins with a willingness to step forward."

The following individuals received the 2026 Alumni Achievement Award:

Julia Cecchetti, class of 2020, Penn State Behrend, is a senior propulsion engineer at Impulse Space in Redondo Beach, California, designing advanced chemical rocket engines for in-space mobility. Previously, she contributed to SpaceX's Dragon and Starship programs. A NASA Early Career Achievement Medal recipient, Cecchetti graduated as valedictorian of the Behrend School of Engineering and continues to support Penn State as a guest lecturer. 

Taylor Criste, class of 2014, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Schreyer Honors College, is the director of nursing operations at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia, leading workforce strategy for a large academic medical center. A recognized nursing leader, he advances staffing innovation, quality improvement, and patient safety initiatives. Criste supports Penn State through alumni mentorship and service on the Alumni Society Board. 

Alex Hogan, class of 2016, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, is a foreign correspondent for FOX News Channel, covering international and domestic stories, including Ukraine, Taiwan and European humanitarian crises. A regional Emmy Award winner, Hogan brings a global perspective to her reporting and continues to engage with Penn State by mentoring students and sharing her professional experience. 

Matthew Kapelewski, class of 2012, Eberly College of Science, Schreyer Honors College, is director of chemistry at Orbital, an artificial intelligence-focused startup in Princeton, New Jersey, leading teams developing advanced materials for carbon dioxide capture and energy-efficient cooling. At Penn State, he held multiple leadership roles in Atlas, a THON organization, including fundraising chair, directing initiatives that raised over $370,000 for children with cancer. He continues to mentor students and support Penn State programs. 

Natalie Keller, class of 2017, College of Agricultural Sciences, Schreyer Honors College, is a senior food scientist at Campbell's, developing and bringing to market cookie and cracker products for the Pepperidge Farm brand. Her work spans consumer research, recipe development and scaling production. Keller supports Penn State through leadership and served as president of the Schreyer Honors College Alumni Society Board from 2021 to 2025, spearheading initiatives including an endowed emergency scholarship, and mentoring students. 

Anthony M. Mitchell, class of 2017, College of the Liberal Arts, is vice president of federal affairs at America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), advancing health care access, affordability and equity with U.S. Congress and federal agencies. A political science graduate and two-time national "40 Under 40" honoree, he was active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Lion Ambassadors, and the University Park Undergraduate Association. Mitchell remains engaged through alumni leadership, philanthropy, mentorship and service on Penn State boards. 

Rhoda "Dr. Rho" Moise, class of 2015, College of Health and Human Development, Schreyer Honors College, is a scientist, educator and wellness practitioner bridging public health research, integrative healing and community empowerment. She is founder of Dr. Rho Wellness , where she aims to empower individuals and communities to heal, grow and thrive. Her honors include the Schreyer Honors College Outstanding GOLD Scholar Alumni Award, the Barrett Prize for Best Dissertation, and the University of Miami's HR Excellence in Teaching Award.   

Uma Moriarity, class of 2014, Smeal College of Business, Schreyer Honors College, is senior investment strategist and global head of sustainability at CenterSquare Investment Management, where she leads firmwide investment strategy and sustainability initiatives across global real estate platforms. The firm's youngest partner, she is a frequent industry speaker and was elected to the Penn State Board of Trustees in 2025 following a campaign focused on financial and sustainability stewardship. She also serves on the Smeal Sustainability Advisory Board, mentors students, and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. She has been honored as a Schreyer Honors College Outstanding GOLD Scholar and a 2024 Woman of Influence by GlobeSt.com. 

Tiffany Veet , class of 2014, Penn State Hazleton, is head of drug substance continuous improvement APU support at Sanofi, providing strategic leadership for vaccine manufacturing across multiple biologics programs. She serves as president of the Hazleton Campus Alumni Society and on the Penn State Alumni Council, supporting mentorship, education and continued engagement with the Hazleton campus community. 

The evening before the ceremony, seven of the honorees joined students for the Blue & White Society Alumni Achievement Award Student Dinner at the Hintz Family Alumni Center. Hosted by the Blue & White Society, the student arm of the Penn State Alumni Association, the annual event pairs students and recipients in small groups for conversation over a shared meal - an experience many students say they look forward to throughout the year. The evening concluded with a dessert reception, where students and alumni continued the discussion and mingled.

During their time back on campus, several award recipients also met with students and faculty, speaking in classes and touring facilities within their academic colleges. Prior to the ceremony, the honorees gathered with their guests and Penn State Alumni Association staff for a pre-ceremony reception, offering many of the recipients the opportunity to meet one another in person for the first time.

Recipients, their guests and members of the Penn State community continued the celebration during a post-ceremony reception featuring hors d'oeuvres and refreshments.

For more photos from the honorees' time on campus, including the award ceremony and the Blue & White Society Student Dinner, visit the Flickr album.

The Alumni Association's web site includes more information about the 2026 Alumni Achievement Award recipients. The full ceremony is available to watch here.