September 2022
Penn State Hazleton Lion Ambassadors (LAMBS) include, front row, from left: Jewel Newbern, Nicholas Pajovich, Cristal Nader, Emily DeLorenzo and Yokaira Concepcion. Second row, from left: Kendall Lobb, Mildred Sanchez Macea, Destiny Angel, Heather Lorah, Kahlan Ciardullo, Tori Fox, Matt Janson, Ayrton Auman and Julia Benjamin.
The Penn State Hazleton Lion Ambassadors have been named students of the month for September.
The Lion Ambassadors were nominated for their devotion and exceptional work to help Penn State Hazleton provide campus tours to prospective students and their families, according to their nominator.
“In many ways, these students are the face of our campus and devote a great deal of their time and energy to the job,” their nominator wrote.
The Lion Ambassadors are a chosen group of outstanding students who, as a club, promote Penn State and its interests and goals among current and future students, alumni, and friends.
The club is led by President Matthew Janson, a second-year student from Bloomsburg, and Vice President Destiny Angel, a second-year student from Pottsville. The rest of the members include:
Ayrton Auman, Tamaqua; Mya Batista, Bronx, NY; Julia Benjamin, Drums; Gabe Bragg, Grahamsville, NY; Hagen Carroll, Nescopeck; Kahlan Ciardullo, Brownstown; Alexandra Clemente, Miami, FL; Yokaira Concepcion, Hazleton; Emily DeLorenzo, Bloomsburg; Jacques Demosthene, Drums; Tori Fox, Hazleton; Sarah Gottstein, Drums; Mary Holmes, Danville; Kendall Lobb, Pen Argyl; Heather Lorah, Ringtown; Cristal Nader, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Jewel Newbern, Philadelphia; Nicky Pajovich, Berwick; Gretchen Pucklavage, Hometown; and Mildred Sanchez Macea, Hazleton.
The Lion Ambassadors said they were grateful and honored to learn they had been named students of the month because it shows how much hard work they put in for prospective students and their families.
“Being one of the student representatives for our campus and being able to share my own Penn State story with families to convince them to choose Penn State has helped me grow as a student and as a person,” Janson said.
October 2022
Tori Fox, a sophomore from Hazleton majoring in physical therapist assistant and rehabilitation and human services, has been named Penn State Hazleton’s student of the month for October.
Fox was nominated for her civility, community care and involvement. According to her nominator, she has leadership, guidance, involvement, dedication, creativity, and resilience as a member of the Penn State Hazleton campus community.
Fox volunteers as a Lion Ambassador, providing campus tours to prospective students and their families. She is also a member of the Campus Activity Board and Exercise is Medicine. Outside of Penn State Hazleton, she works part time at a local grocery in customer service.
Fox said she feels extremely grateful knowing that her hard work, commitment, and dedication is being recognized and appreciated.
“This award shows me that everything I am doing on campus is truly appreciated by staff and my professors,” she said.
Fox is a graduate of Hazleton Area High School.
November 2022
HAZLETON, Pa. — Destiny Angel, a second-year student from Pottsville majoring in Business Management, has been named Penn State Hazleton’s student of the month for November.
An extremely involved member of campus, Angel is vice president of the Lion Ambassadors, a captain of the Cheerleading team, a tutor in biology and psychology at the Student Success Center, a biology learning assistant, and a part-time employee at the Mary M. and Bertil E. Lofstrom Library. She also contributes to the campus Honors Program and Athletics Committee.
According to Angel's nominator, her attitude and achievements make her worthy of recognition.
"Not only does Destiny excel outside of the classroom, she also maintains a high cumulative GPA and has achieved Dean's List each semester," her nominator wrote. "Destiny always maintains a positive attitude and is a role model to other students. She deserves to be recognized for her in and out-of-classroom achievements."
"It's an honor to be chosen for Student of the Month for November," Angel said. "I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've been given as a Penn State Hazleton student and for all of the friends and professors I've met so far."
Angel is a graduate of Pottsville Area High School.
January 2023
Matthew Janson, a second-year student from Bloomsburg majoring in health policy and administration, has been named Student of the Month for January.
Janson received multiple nominations for the award, with each nominator praising his academic performance in the classroom and his selflessness in helping others outside of the classroom.
“Working with Matt, I have also had the opportunity to observe that he is a thoughtful, active participant in the classroom who actively listens to presentations and discussions and shares his observations, experiences and expertise to enrich the classroom discussion,” one nominator wrote.
Another nominator commended Janson’s leadership and impact as president of the Lion Ambassadors.
“He leads with enthusiasm and thoughtfulness and connects our campus with the greater Hazleton community,” wrote another nominator. “In October, Matt orchestrated the wildly successful Trunk or Treat, which brought community members to campus for a lighthearted and family-friendly event. In December, Matt led the charge in creating holiday cards to bring cheer to area nursing home residents.”
In addition to maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average, Janson works in the healthcare field as an air medical communications specialist/EMT for Geisinger. Despite his professional role, Janson remains committed to career development by participating in voluntary career-related events and one-on-one career counseling, his nominator wrote.
“Through and through, Matt Janson exemplifies the values of our Penn State community. It is a joy to work with him and I know he will continue to impact our campus and the community as he continues his education,” the nominator wrote.
Janson said he was honored to receive the award.
"I appreciate everything that my friends as well as staff and faculty do to make Penn State Hazleton special,” he said.