UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Education has selected Maya Urbanski to serve as student marshal for Penn State’s spring 2023 Commencement ceremony, which will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 7, at Pegula Ice Arena.
From State College, Pennsylvania, Urbanski is graduating with a 4.0 GPA, with a bachelor of science in elementary and early childhood education and minors in special education, deafness and hearing studies, and education policy studies.
“Throughout my time in the College of Education, I have been fortunate to have so many transformative experiences that have shaped my identity, pushed me to challenge myself and enabled me to become the person that I am today,” Urbanski said.
“I am so grateful to the college for giving me so many opportunities to learn and grow not only as a student, but as a teacher and facilitator of learning. It means so much to me to now be honored as the student marshal for the College of Education. I couldn’t imagine a better way to finish my four years at Penn State than with this honor. I am so lucky to have been able to learn from our professors and staff and can’t wait to graduate and spread my love of learning as far as I can reach,” she said.
During her college career, Urbanski earned the President’s Freshman Award and the Evan Pugh Scholar Senior Award. She has been on the Dean’s List every semester since fall 2019.
She was active in the College of Education Student Council, serving as outreach chair and then vice president. She also was a member of Penn State Club Water Polo.
Urbanski’s experience includes student-teaching at Marion Walker Elementary School in the Bellefonte Area School District; and working as support staff for the Community Education Extended Learning Program in State College. She also was assistant group supervisor and assistant teacher at The Goddard School in State College, ELA instructor for Upward Bound Summer Academy at Penn State University Park, co-teacher intern for the Science 20/20 Partnership for Innovation in Language Learning in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and a swim lesson instructor for Centre Region Parks and Recreation in State College.
She also was a member of the Community Dialogue Grant Team in State College; a coach for the Park Forest Bullfrogs Swim Team in State College; a lifeguard at Park Forest Pool and State College Area High School, both in State College; and a facility attendant and then building supervisor for the Intramural Building and Hepper Fitness Center at Penn State University Park.
After graduation, Urbanski plans to pursue a teaching position in any grade K-4, while later obtaining her graduate degree. She also hopes to teach and live abroad at some point in her career.
Urbanski’s mother, Heidi; father, Jeff; and stepmother, Kim, plan to attend the ceremony, along with her brother, Jack; grandmother, Sandy Urbanski; grandfather, Ted Borgel; and stepgrandparents, Patrick and Kathleen Buescher.
Program marshals are:
- Education and Public Policy: Mia Joy Thomas
- Elementary and Early Childhood Education: Georgia Noel Young
- Middle Level Education: Lilly Margaret Greene
- Rehabilitation and Human Services: Taylor Mackenzie Niggel
- Secondary Education: Allison Ross
- Special Education: Brianna K. Shaw
- World Languages Education: Madeline Marks