MAC Announces Inaugural Student-Athletes of the Month – Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomore Morgan Casey of women’s track and field and senior defenseman Simon Mack of men’s ice hockey have each been recognized as the first-ever Student-Athletes of the Month, as announced by the Morgan Academic Center (MAC) and PSU’s academic services staff.

Casey, a Portsmouth, Rhode Island, native, is intending to major in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Smeal College of Business, and has maintained a cumulative GPA above a 3.0. She earned the nomination due to going the extra mile to ensure she is taking care of her academic responsibilities. She actively communicates with academic staff and from the start of the semester, has made it a goal to actively attend academic sessions that would contribute to success in the classroom. Her responsibility, kindness, accountability and commitment to her academics have played a great role in her being a positive role model to her peers.

Mack, a Brockville, Ontario, native, is a Science, Biological Sciences and Health Professions major on the Pre-Med track with a 3.53 GPA. The defenseman, who serves as a 2024-25 captain for the Nittany Lions, is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten Scholar and was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2024 for maintaining a 3.7 or higher GPA the previous academic year. In his career, Mack has notched nine career goals, tied for ninth-most all-time by a Penn State defenseman. The senior is just two points and two assists shy of the top-10 all-time for Nittany Lion blueliners in each category.

The MAC Student-Athletes of the Month (SAOTM) are students who exemplify the PSU values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, and Community as well as the Athletics values of Tradition, Teamwork, Diversity, Innovation, and Resilience. At least one female and one male student-athlete will be selected each month, and those students must be in good academic standing, demonstrate strong accountability, and be an example of the leadership on campus and in their community. They are nominated and selected by the Penn State academic services staff.