Former Penn State women’s volleyball star Serena Gray will represent the College of the Liberal Arts this weekend as she graduates from the university.

Grey will leave Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in human development and family studies. Although she’s headed to Pitt as a graduate transfer, she said she’ll always remember her time with the Nittany Lions.

“It’s really an honor to have been selected,” Gray said in a release. “I am just really grateful that I have been able to get to this point. Looking back at my freshman year, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in college or where I wanted to go. Penn State has clearly been a great help and a great experience for me, and I am so thankful for this recognition.”

Gray said her liberal arts coursework, including serving as a research assistant, helped her prepare for her next chapter. She said she’d one day like to work in an after-school program or camp to help kids “learn, grow, and create meaningful connections.”

At Penn State, Gray received recognition both on and off the court. She’s a two-time All-American honorable mention and earned an Academic All-Big Ten honor, too.

Gray started all three of her seasons in Happy Valley and racked up 117 kills and 44 total blocks for the Nittany Lions this past season.

While juggling volleyball and her classes, Gray said she learned the importance of asking for help from friends and teachers.

“Not all stress is healthy,” she said. “We shouldn’t normalize college as something that is supposed to be one continuous stressful period of our lives. It’s okay to seek out help, especially for your own mental health.”

Penn State’s in-person summer commencement ceremonies will take over the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, August 14. A livestream of the event will be available online.