The Lancer Foundation Announces LTHS 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (MAY 29, 2026) — The Lancer Foundation has named Dr. Erica Rauff, a 2003 graduate of Loyalsock Township High School (LTHS), as this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
Rauff was formally recognized during Thursday evening’s senior awards ceremony, where she returned to campus to reflect on her educational journey and spend time with students, sharing stories from her years at Loyalsock and the experiences that led her from years as a Lancer to a career in higher education, research and public health.
A researcher, educator and mentor, Rauff currently serves as associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State University, where her work focuses on understanding how social, behavioral and environmental factors influence health and well-being across individuals, families and communities.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from Loyalsock and the Lancer Foundation,” Rauff said. “Loyalsock was a place that encouraged my own curiosity, learning and growth. The support of my teachers, family and mentors helped shape both my personal and professional journey. As an educator and mentor, I currently help students discover their own passions and potential, which makes returning to speak with current students at Loyalsock especially meaningful. I hope sharing my journey with Loyalsock students reminds them that success is rarely a straight path, and that growth often comes from embracing opportunities, challenges and unexpected experiences along the way.”
After graduating from LTHS, Rauff attended Susquehanna University, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in health care studies. She later continued her education at Penn State, earning both her master’s degree and doctorate in kinesiology before ultimately joining the university’s biobehavioral health faculty.
Prior to returning to Penn State, Rauff served at Seattle University, where she held several leadership roles, including tenured associate professor, acting department chair and graduate program director.
Throughout her career, Rauff has explored how physical activity, mental health, motivation and social experiences influence overall health and well-being. Her work has focused on helping better understand the factors that support healthy lifestyles and positive well-being across different stages of life.
Her work has contributed to broader conversations surrounding health equity and access to care, helping advance approaches designed to support individuals and families before challenges become crises.
Rauff’s research has appeared in national and international scholarly journals and has contributed to studies involving youth development, physical activity and wellness, family and community health, mental health, maternal well-being and health behavior. Her published work has explored topics ranging from physical activity interventions and psychosocial health to resilience, family systems and factors influencing lifelong health outcomes.
Beyond academia, Rauff has remained involved in service and outreach initiatives that connect research with community impact. While living in the Seattle area, she served as both a coach and board member for Girls on the Run Puget Sound, supporting programs focused on confidence, leadership and healthy lifestyles for young girls. She has also contributed professionally through initiatives including the American College of Sports Medicine’s Exercise is Medicine on Campus program.
At Penn State, Rauff continues to invest in future generations through teaching, mentorship and experiential learning opportunities, guiding undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in public health, healthcare and research. She also developed a community-engaged learning course that enables Penn State students to become Girls on the Run coaches, connecting classroom learning with meaningful involvement in local communities. In addition, she continues her own work with Girls on the Run as both a coach and board member for the Girls on the Run Mid State Pennsylvania council, combining her passion for health, mentorship and community engagement.
Her work has earned recognition throughout her academic career, including participation in the National Research Mentoring Network Health Equity Collaboratory, selection as an Academic Service-Learning Faculty Fellow and recognition through the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity for student research achievement.
“Dr. Rauff has dedicated her career to understanding the factors that affect health and well-being and using that knowledge to help strengthen families and communities,” Superintendent Dr. Brooke Beiter said. “Her work extends from the classroom to research and outreach efforts that improve lives. We are incredibly proud to call her a Loyalsock graduate.”
Lancer Foundation President Carolyn Ritter said Rauff exemplifies the purpose of the Distinguished Alumni recognition.
“Erica represents exactly what this recognition is intended to celebrate,” Ritter said. “She has combined scholarship, service and mentorship in ways that create lasting impact — not only through her own work, but through the students and communities she continues to influence.”
Rauff will be publicly honored by the Lancer Foundation during a celebration event on Oct. 3 at The Williamsport Country Club. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
The Lancer Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award honors graduates whose professional accomplishments, leadership and service reflect the values of the LTSD community while inspiring future generations of Lancers.
The Lancer Foundation is the recognized nonprofit affiliate of Loyalsock Township School District. Through charitable giving and community support, the foundation helps provide educational enhancements, student opportunities and scholarships that benefit LTSD students in kindergarten through grade 12.
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Pictured above: The Lancer Foundation President Carolyn Ritter, left, stands with Dr. Erica Rauff.