UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society (PSHRS) and Penn State School of Hospitality Management will honor 14 alumni during the 2025 Alumni Awards Reception, held in conjunction with the school’s 20th annual “Alumni in the Classroom” event, on Oct. 15.
This year’s award ceremony will take place in the Marriott Foundation Building, the school’s collaboratory for inclusion and innovation, on the Penn State University Park campus. Registration for “Alumni in the Classroom” is open to Penn State School of Hospitality Management alumni.
These Penn State alumni demonstrate the value of hospitality higher education across a broad array of business sectors. Each of these Penn Staters are contributing mightily to their organizations and to the Nittany Lion reputation for excellence and achievement. Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director of the school
PSHRS Alumni Award recipients for 2025 are:
Alumni of the Year
- Kiva Bartlett Baron, class of 2003 in psychology, senior vice president human resources, Aramark
Entrepreneur of the Year
- William Yahr, class of 1995 in hotel, restaurant and institutional management (HRIM); co-partner and director Kiwi Country Day Camp
Alumni Industry Achievement
- Nathan Ayres, class of 2005 in HRIM; vice president of operations, Sage Hospitality
- Michael Ditterline, class of 1999 in HRIM; senior vice president of asset management, Rockbridge
- Thomas Fraher, class of 1995 in HRIM; corporate senior vice president, operations, Davidson Hospitality Group
- Scott McCoy, class of 1987 in HRIM; senior vice president of lodging operations U.S. and Canada, Marriott International
- Jim Meinecke, class of 2005 in HRIM; senior director of food services, Penn State
Emerging Professionals — Graduate
- Juliana Pagan Hernandez, class of 2024, master of professional studies in hospitality management (HM); assistant manager, Westin Denver International Airport, Marriott International
Emerging Professionals — Undergraduate
- Lindsey Yearly Barnes, class of 2016 in HM; senior catering sales manager, Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Pittsburgh
- Jason Firestone, class of 2014 in HRIM; senior director of concessions, Citizens Bank Park, Aramark
- Josh Kaye, class of 2016 in HM; global services product portfolio leader, Cytiva, Danaher
- Catarina Matias, class of 2016 in HM; strategic account executive, ACRELEC
- Shannon McDonagh Scharf, class of 2016 in HM; director of revenue management, Marriott W, NY Union Square, Marriott International
- Alex Shockley, class of 2017 in HM; director brand management, Curio Collection, Hilton Hotels
As we celebrate 20 years of Alumni in the Classroom, it is an honor to recognize one of our largest classes of Alumni Award winners. These alumni individually and collectively exemplify the high caliber of excellence, ethics and leadership that remain hallmarks of our school. Tom Neely, class of 1987 in HRIM, president of PSHRS and chief executive officer of Thomas E. Strauss Inc.
For event sponsorship opportunities and information about the School of Hospitality Management, contact Ben Jellison, director of industry and alumni relations, at [email protected] or 814-865-6728.
Learn more about selection criteria and previous award recipients.
About PSHRS
The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society was founded to strengthen all hospitality professions and enhance the reputation of the Hospitality Management program. PSHRS is an affiliate program group of the Penn State Alumni Association and the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society. PSHRS provides a means for achieving closer fellowship among alumni, faculty and students. PSHRS serves those who are currently attending Penn State in hospitality management or who are graduates of the program, as well as those who work within the hospitality management industries and have attended Penn State or are friends of the program.
About the School of Hospitality Management
Established in 1937, Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State’s Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It is also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society. New to the school’s portfolio is an innovative and focused Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management graduate degree program.
About Penn State School of Hospitality Management
Established in 1937 Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State’s Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It’s also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society.
Ben Jellison
Director of Industry and Alumni Relations
814-865-6728
Penn State School of Hospitality Management
