The 2024 Plankenhorn Alumni Award for Faculty Excellence was presented to Rachel Hickoff-Cresko, Ed.D. '09. Hickoff-Cresko serves as an associate professor of education at Lycoming College and has spent over 26 years in the field of education. Her research interests include the education of underserved students

Hickoff-Cresko earned a doctor of education degree with a specialization in reading and language arts from Widener University, a master’s of education specializing in teaching English from Universidad del Turabo, and a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University. She is also a Fulbright-Hays Scholar.