Lock Haven PA students Natalie Cleaver and Krista Dahl-Koehler receive the Pennsylvania Society of Phsyican Assistants nathaniel Alston Scholarship Award.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Lock Haven University is pleased to announce that Krista Dahl-Koehler of Oak Ridge, a second-year Physician Assistant student, has been awarded the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants Nathaniel Alston Scholarship Award. Also receiving an award was LHU PA student Krista Dahl-Koehler. The awards were presented at the annual PSPA awards luncheon on Friday, October 3.

Award recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, scholarship and service as determined by a panel of faculty members from throughout the state. Walt Eisenhauer, director of the LHU Physician Assistant program, said, “The faculty of the PA Program are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these two distinguished second year PA students. Krista and Natalie have demonstrated the scholarship and service associated what we believe serves as a model for physician assistants in the 21st century.” He added, “Pennsylvania has the second highest number of PA Programs in the United States, making this achievement a significant accomplishment by these two students.”

The awards are named for Nate Alston, who was a faculty member at the Hahnemann University PA Program for over 30 years and made significant contributions to the enabling legislation that allows for PAs to practice in the Commonwealth. As a member of an underrepresented minority (African American) Nate was the first PA to be awarded a seat on the Pennsylvania Medical Board and his other contributions are momentous and numerous. Eisenhauer commented, “Not only was Nate an outstanding PA educator but he also served as an excellent role model for PA’s to emulate.”

Tom Ormond, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said, “To have two of our second year students, Krista Dahl-Koehler and Natalie Cleaver, receiving this honor is a tribute to the caliber of these individuals and our Physician Assistant program. On behalf of the College of Education and Human Services we congratulate them and applaud the faculty for their tireless work.”

Dahl-Koehler is the daughter of Tom and Betty Dahl, and is married to Matt Koehler.