2012 Outstanding Senior

Bachman has been a consistent Dean's List student throughout his college career and has won recognition for outstanding scholarship from the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS). Bachman balances academics with outstanding leadership, serving as president of the Penn State Dairy Science Club for 2011 after co-chairing the club's holiday cheesebox sale in 2010. At the 2011 Penn State Dairy Exposition, Bachman earned Reserve Overall Champion honors.

Bachman achieved many honors on a regional and national level. He was a member of the Penn State Dairy Cattle Judging Team and earned top ten individual placings in contests at the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville and at the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg. At the 2011 American Dairy Science Association Student Affiliate national meetings, he served as captain of the winning collegiate dairy quiz bowl team. Additionally, he was a member of the first place overall team at the 2012 Northeast Student ADSA/ASAS meetings. Among his scholarships are the National DHIA Scholarship, National Dairy Shrine-Dairy Marketing, Inc.m Scholarship, and the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence Student Leadership Scholarship. Bachman was named a winner of the National Holstein Association Distinguished Junior Member Contest in 2011.

The Bachman family operates God's Country Creamery in Potter County and makes artisan cheeses from milk provided by their small dairy herd. Philip was instrumental in the establishment of this operation and the development of their business plan. After graduation, he will return home to continue the dairy herd and cheesemaking operations.

Bachman has valued his Penn State experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. He says, "Every day I have the distinct opportunity to learn at a nationally recognized institution directly from industry leaders. My education has not only contained books and club events, but also a cookbook and grocery list. Learning to live on my own and conduct myself in a professional way on a daily basis is certainly an equal part of my Penn State education."