Beyer Adams honored with Graduate Student Service Award

University Park, Pa. -- Andrea Beyer Adams, a doctoral degree candidate in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in Penn State's College of Medicine, has been awarded the 2008 Graduate Student Service Award.

Established in 1991, the award recognizes a graduate student who has combined high academic achievement with leadership at the University or through other public activities.

Beyer Adams exemplifies Penn State's service mission through a variety of accomplishments as a student and volunteer. She has played a large part in graduate student life as past secretary for the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and as its current community liaison. Her leadership has been instrumental not only in decision-making, but also in increasing student awareness and participation in local service opportunities, including the community-fundraising Magical Night of Giving, the 2007 Capital Region Heart Walk benefiting the American Heart Association and a basket raffle that has raised more than $2,500 for the Children's Miracle Network.

Outside GSA, she serves as assistant leader for a local Girl Scout troop, for which she has helped organize all activities for attaining badges and worked to educate young girls. Girl Scout leaders have noted her caring nature and leadership.

Additionally, Beyer Adams has been honored for her academic excellence, receiving both a University Graduate Fellowship from Penn State's Graduate School and a National Science Foundation Fellowship. She was awarded the College's Karl H. Beyer M.D., Ph.D. Scholarship for achieving the best academic performance among all College graduate students through two years, and her program's Louis Pasteur Prize as the student with the best performance on his or her comprehensive examination.

"Andy is clearly an exceptional young woman, dedicated to her personal goals, yet carving out precious time to reach out to the community, both by encouraging fellow students to become more engaged and by quietly demonstrating outstanding leadership directly with young girls in our community," said one nominator. "It is outstanding students like Andy that make us truly Penn State proud."