Penn State Lehigh Valley students Dylan Sarkozy, left, and Maeve Yanes will assume key leadership roles with THON and the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, respectively, when they transition to University Park this fall. Their dedication to service started at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Students Dylan Sarkozy and Maeve Yanes, who forged a path of service, advocacy and personal growth during their studies at Penn State Lehigh Valley, will continue their leadership journey as they transition to Penn State University Park. Both have taken on prominent roles within student organizations — Sarkozy as the newly elected president of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) and Yanes as the THON communications captain representing all Commonwealth Campuses — demonstrating that meaningful student leadership often begins on the smallest of campuses.
Dylan Sarkozy said he didn’t plan to get involved in campus activities, let alone move through the ranks to various student leadership positions. Two years after starting his college career at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Sarkozy’s plans changed dramatically. He is continuing his studies in finance at University Park and will assume the presidency of the CCSG. It’s quite a shift for a student who had modest goals for his college experience, he said.
“I had a little bit of a rocky start. I really wanted to go to University Park. I thought I’d go to Penn State Lehigh Valley and just kind of float,” Sarkozy said. “But coming from a smaller campus, I met some of the greatest people in the world. I really built a community around myself focused on student activity and extracurricular work.”
Sarkozy’s campus involvement was gradual, he said: “When I stepped onto campus, I didn’t really know anyone. Then I got involved in the student government. I joined the tennis club. I served as president of the student government association."
Over time, Sarkozy became one of the most visible student advocates on campus.
“As president of SGA, Dylan was a regular representative to the Campus Advisory Board where he shared updates from our student body, including their challenges and successes,” said Pam Fleck, the college’s assistant director of student affairs.
In his new role as president of CCSG, Sarkozy will essentially be the voice of the students at all of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses. He said the biggest thing for him will be to help support all students in upholding the "one campus, many locations" collegiate experience.
Dan Murphy, director of Commonwealth Campus Support in Student Affairs, said that Sarkozy "quickly positioned himself as a leader among his peers, building relationships with student government leaders from other campuses, and working collaboratively on campus issues across the commonwealth. This strong foundation positioned him well to be elected as the next president of CCSG. The skills Dylan developed at Lehigh Valley are regularly on display in his new leadership role.”
A passion for service and a desire to create positive change became a shared attribute between student leaders.
Maeve Yanes, a management major, will transition to the Smeal College of Business at University Park this fall. At her new home, Yanes will take on the role of communications captain and will be the THON liaison for all Commonwealth Campuses. Although she was active in several community outreach groups and initiatives throughout her time in Lehigh Valley, she said THON was particularly meaningful for her.
“Maeve is a goal-oriented student," Fleck said. "As chair [of PSU-LV Benefitting THON] she was creative with implementing new, successful fundraisers.”
Yanes’ service experience started as a first-year student, when she joined the Community Heroes service club and eventually served as vice president.
“She was very active in this club, volunteering at local food banks, helping with on campus service projects, fundraisers, even securing a small grant for an impactful project,” said Fleck. “Maeve attended the Penn State Summer Leadership conference in August of 2024 and assisted with the presentation, ‘Growing Your Leadership Through Service.’”
It's no surprise Yanes is taking her dedication to THON to a new level in her role as communications captain. She is a two-time THON dancer, and her commitment to the student-run organization is only expected to grow as she assumes her new leadership position.
Fleck said students like Sarkozy and Yanes help make PSU-LV so special.
“I believe when students come to Lehigh Valley, they can step into a leadership role that might not be available to them in a larger setting,” she said. “The leadership roles here can open so many doors. These two students are real standouts because of their dedication.”
