Leaders on Campus Honors Community
When you join the Schreyer Honors College, you join a community of students who are committed to making the most of their undergraduate experiences. To support this commitment, we offer a range of opportunities for leadership and civic and social engagement — all in the service of developing an honors community that goes far beyond stellar academics.
Penn State Housing Penn State Residence Life
A Place to Call Home Honors Housing
Schreyer Honors College housing is more than a residence hall. It's a community of Scholars who you will get to know in classes, study groups, and our many events and programs, which are held right in the halls. Our residence halls are a vibrant and fun place to live — part of the South Halls Residence Area and adjacent to the Pollock Halls Residence Area, the second largest first-year living environment.
Location & Dining
Atherton and Simmons are conveniently located on campus and near downtown State College. The residence halls are steps away from multiple on-campus and downtown dining options. They are also a short walk to fist-year classroom buildings, such as Thomas, Willard, and Sackett and close to campus amenities, such as the HUB-Robeson Center, the Penn State Libraries, and the White Building (Gym and Pool)
Community
Living in Atherton and Simmons means you are part of a lively community of Scholars and non-Scholars. Here are just a few things that make our community unique.
- Living with other Scholars makes meeting for homework or study groups convenient.
- Schreyer-sponsored events and Schreyer student organization events take place in the halls, so attending is easy.
- Because the halls are located close to classrooms, they never feel empty. You'll find students studying or socializing throughout the day in both buildings.
- In addition to having a Resident Assistant (RA), Scholars in Atherton and Simmons also have designated Scholar Assistants, who provide support, answer Schreyer-specific and general questions, host community-building events, and more.
Atherton Hall
Lively, welcoming, comfortable.
- 292 rooms
- 10 suites
- 9 Study Lounges
- Zombie Lounge (24-hour quiet study lounge)
- Event Space
- Renovated Community Space & Meeting Rooms
- Laundry
- Full Kitchen
- 2 Soundproof Music Practice Rooms & Piano
- Single User (Pod) Bathrooms
Simmons Hall
Relaxed, inviting, spacious.
- 416 rooms
- 36 GLOBE suites
- Multiple Study Lounges
- Collaboration Spaces
- Rec/Game Room
- 2 TV Lounges
- Laundry
- Full Kitchen
- Music Practice Room & Piano Lounge
- Break Access Housing
- Indoor Bike Storage
- Footwashing
The GLOBE
The GLOBE is a Schreyer Honors College Living-Learning Community located in Simmons Hall. Students who live on this floor have a particular interest in the “building a global perspective” part of the Schreyer mission. Residents participate in student-developed programming, including visiting speaker, cultural events, off-campus trips, and informal discussions of world issues.
Top Tips
You must select honors housing in your first year, and continue to select honors housing, in order to remain eligible to return.
About 85% of first-year Scholars live in Atherton or Simmons.
Scholars living in honors housing may choose to room with someone who is not a Scholar.
Many of the programs sponsored by the Honors College take place in Atherton or Simmons.
Community Builders Scholar Assistants
Scholar Assistants are upperclass Scholars living in the honors residence halls who are here to foster a sense of community among our students. They can help you identify academic advising resources, answer questions about your class schedule, and, most importantly, make you aware of a wide range of benefits afforded to Scholars. They also help to organize diverse out-of-classroom activities, fun and relaxing social programs, and interactive panel discussions with faculty and Scholar alumni.
Atherton Hall
Somdatta Basu Aerospace Engineering Pittsburgh, PA
Hi! My name is Somdatta Basu, and I am so excited to serve as a Scholar Assistant! I am a third year from Pittsburgh, PA majoring in Aerospace Engineering with minors in French Language and Culture and Engineering Leadership Development.
During my two years, I embraced being a part of Schreyer's leadership through my role as Dean Mather's Student Leadership Intern. During the school year (and in the summer), I am involved with the Engineering Ambassadors, serve on the Women in Engineering Program Leadership Team, and do research at the Applied Research Laboratory.
Fun fact: I spent two months on a study abroad in Lyon, France and travelling throughout Europe!
I love playing the piano, taking naps, taking workout classes at our Intramural gym building, enjoying the restaurants downtown, and studying with my friends!
I am committed to helping Schreyer to serve its students in the best ways possible. If you have any questions about academics, social events, study abroad, leadership, etc., or any concerns or suggestions, feel free to reach out at smb7678@psu.edu!
Let's have a great year and build a flourishing community together!
Ma'az Zaman Mechanical Engineering Phoenixville, PA
Hello Scholars! I'm really thrilled to meet each and every one of you in the coming year! My name is Ma'az Zaman, and I am a third-year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
In my two years here at Penn State, I aimed to involve myself with the religious groups on campus and to further my knowledge of engineering. I have been active in the Muslim Student Association where I tried to connect with the State College Muslim community. I also am currently conducting research into metal additive manufacturing to better understand the mechanical properties of 3D printed parts. In my free time, I love reading and playing basketball, so you might catch me playing ball at the IM or White Building courts.
As one of this year's Scholars Assistants, I want to be there for each of you to make the most out of your experience as a Scholar. If you have any questions about classes, clubs, or any of the Honors College's resources, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at mmz5404@psu.edu. I look forward to hearing from you all!
Simmons Hall
Paige Rishel Public Relations & History Philipsburg, PA
My name is Paige Rishel, and I can't wait to meet you all! I am a rising sophomore from nearby Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, double majoring in Public Relations and History, with minors in Digital Media Trends and Analytics and Deaf and Hearing Studies.
I am currently a Strategic Communications Intern with the Schreyer Honors College and a Marketing Intern with the Penn State School of Theatre. I recently completed a Media Relations internship with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In addition to my internships, I run my own photography business. I am also heavily involved in student organizations, serving as the PR and Professional Development Chair of Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity, Schreyer for Women, Schreyer Student Council, and the Penn State United Nations Organization (UNA-USA). To relax, I often watch documentaries with friends, go to Zumba workout classes, attend theatre performances, and listen to Beyoncé.
As a second-year student, I have plenty of advice on how to tackle your first year. You will probably see me often, usually with a camera in hand! You can find me in the computer lab developing photos, studying in the zombie lounge, or the Simmons lounge. I look forward to meeting you all, and I encourage you to reach out via email at par5574@psu.edu.
Rositsa Tsarnakova Biochemistry and Molecular Biology State College, PA
Hello fellow Scholars! My name is Rositsa Tsarnakova and I am eager for the opportunity to get to know and help as many of you that I can. Currently, I am studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with the intention of going into medical school and conducting research as well. If I am not in class or at the library, my free time is spent in the lab conducting research on purine metabolism in the model organism C. elegans.
When I am not in class or at the lab, Science Lion Pride and Alpha Epsilon Delta (Penn State's chapter of this national pre-health honor society) usually take up most of my time through meetings or recruitment events. Outside of Penn State, I try to spend time as much time as I can with my family and friends, bake, read, and stay outdoors.
As a third-year Scholar, I really enjoyed the orientation and settling in experience, so I hope to provide you all with the same knowledge and insight that led me to be where I am! I look forward to making your time within Schreyer enjoyable and fulfilling! As always, feel free to reach if you have any questions at rft5251@psu.edu.
