Penn State seniors Star Lawson and Jacob Snyder were named recipients of the fifth-annual Guide State Forward award, presented by Penn State Homecoming, on Saturday. The winners were presented with the award during halftime of the Nittany Lions’ White Out game against Minnesota.

Snyder is a senior majoring in biology. They’re a Schreyer scholar, founder of Gender and Sexual Diversity in Schreyer, and a University Park Student Fee Board at-large representative.

Lawson is a senior majoring in public relations. They’re on the Paul Robeson Cultural Center marketing and communications team, the African Student Association public relations chair and executive board member, and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

“Each of our courts are composed of some of the best people at Penn State that honor the Homecoming legacy of diversity and gender inclusivity,” Homecoming Executive Director Tim Nevil said. “Penn State Homecoming is so excited to honor our Guide State Forward winners.”

Each year, the top two members of the student court receive the award, as they represent the core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence, and community. Penn State students voted for this year’s winners.

In 2018, Homecoming introduced the Guide State Forward award to its new gender-neutral court which replaced the crowning of a king and queen.

On Thursday, Homecoming presented the award to Savanah Jackson for the graduate and professional school court during the Rally and Roar event. Jackson is a second-year graduate student at the School of International Affairs who is studying race and development. She serves as the president of the Black Student Association at the School of International Affairs, faculty senator for the graduate school, and the graduate assistant of outreach and diversity at Career Services.