MAIN PHOTO: Members of the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group joined alumni dancers Isabel DeBernardis ’24 Bus, Allison Schrass ’24 H&HD, Caroline Conroy ’24 Lib, Olivia Meyers ’24 Agr, Anthony D’Orazio ’22 Com, and Connor Wolff ’18 Lib onstage during Alumni Hour at THON 2025. Photo by David Abruzzese '17 Com.
We Are! Weekend
Kick off summer with fellow alumni at the annual blue-and-white celebration hosted by the Alumni Association. Read the full story.
MEMBER BENEFIT
Kaplan Test Prep Discount
Members and their families receive a 15% discount on Kaplan Test Prep courses, including Kaplan’s in-person, live online, and self-paced options for the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, DAT, OAT, PSAT, and SAT courses. A longtime leader in test prep services, Kaplan guarantees a higher exam score for its course participants—making it a valuable steppingstone on any academic career path. For details on this and other benefits of membership, visit alumni.psu.edu/benefits.
SAVE THE DATE
May 19: A Night of Networking
Join the Alumni Career Services team at Penn State Great Valley in Greater Philadelphia for a free networking event featuring résumé reviews and a recruiter panel sharing hiring trends and job search strategies. Register at alumni.psu.edu/events.
June 21–22: We Are Weekend
Alumni and their families get VIP treatment at this reunion weekend. Highlights include an ice cream social at Hintz Family Alumni Center, a dinner honoring the Class of 1975, and guided tours of many of University Park’s most famous facilities. Register at alumni.psu.edu/weareweekend.
July 10–13: Hintzpiration
Stop by the Hintz Family Alumni Center during Arts Fest to see an exhibit of Arts Fest posters by the late design professor Lanny Sommese, and witness a live presentation by Pittsburgh artist Tom Mosser ’82 A&A, known for his sports ball impressionism and the viral “Golden Retriever at the Museum” painting series. Register for the members-only reception at alumni.psu.edu/hintzpiration.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Double Degrees
Twins Joan Harrington Bigelow ’47 Lib and Nancy Harrington Scheirer ’47 Lib from the Class of 1947 were featured on the cover of the August 1947 Penn State Alumni News as two of the college’s 1,589 graduates that year—all of whom were gifted memberships in the Penn State Alumni Association, paid for by the class treasury. With more than 22,000 degrees conferred each year nowadays, a much heftier check would be needed to cover such a gift to the Class of 2025.
CHAPTERS & GROUPS
SMEAL ALUMNI SOCIETY
Smeal in Your City brought together 700-plus Smeal alumni and current online graduate students for networking events in 15 cities on Feb. 12. The second annual event was co-sponsored by the Smeal Alumni Society board and the Smeal College of Business Development & Alumni Relations team. “There are Smeal grads everywhere you go, and we wanted to help them connect with each other,” says Jen Crispell ’06 Com, director of Alumni Relations for the college. The event occurred simultaneously in cities in 13 U.S. states and in London.
BINGHAMTON + ROCHESTER
The Greater Binghamton and Rochester chapters combined forces to cheer on the No. 9 men’s lacrosse team’s matchup at No. 3 Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y., in early March. The Nittany Lions won in overtime, 13-12.
SAN DIEGO
The San Diego chapter raised $20,000 for THON through its Ride the THON Wave event in late January. Chaired by Marc Weinberg ’89 Bus, the fundraiser invited surfers to attempt to ride 46 waves over the course of a weekend.
LOS ANGELES
The Los Angeles Chapter supported fundraising efforts for Penn Staters affected by the LA wildfires earlier this year and raised money through a March Madness bracket for the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
Have news to share from your chapter, AIG, or alumni society? Send it to rsr3@psu.edu.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Erin Renee Griffiths, President, Akron/Canton Chapter
After being a vocal Nittany Lion supporter surrounded by Ohio State fans in tiny Youngsville, Ohio, for two years, Erin Renee Willard Griffith was thrilled to find a welcoming Penn State community in the Alumni Association’s Akron/Canton Chapter when she moved to the area in 2013. Members became close friends. Then the pandemic happened, and the once-active chapter dwindled to ... just ... Griffith.
After a year or two with virtually no events, Griffith ’16 Lib WC is reviving the chapter with her unceasing determination and Penn State spirit. “Showing up is 90% of making something happen,” she says.
An exciting football season and a renewed focus on student support helped. The chapter held a student sendoff for five local Penn State–bound high school grads in August, and postseason game watch parties drew a small crowd as well. Griffith, also a member of the Alumni Blue Band, sees a bright future. “I am a politely persistent individual. I’ll keep showing up.”
SUPPORT PSAA
Leave Your Legacy
The order deadline for the fall installation of engraved sidewalk pavers at the Hintz Family Alumni Center is Aug. 1! Choose a paver to celebrate a milestone, commemorate a cherished time in your life, honor a loved one, or just show your Penn State pride. Click here to become a permanent part of campus through your unique paver.
Help Grow the Tradition
Did you know that when you purchase an heirloom-quality item from the Penn State Elms Collection, a portion is donated toward planting trees at University Park? So, not only are you giving a second life to the majestic elms that once stood on campus, but you’re helping to ensure that future Penn Staters can make memories on a campus as picturesque as it was in your day. Visit pennstateelmscollection.com to purchase your piece of Penn State history!
Shining Stars
The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes young talent excelling in diverse careers. Read the full story.
