Voices of the Lions

Your picture of Steve Jones and Jack Ham in the latest issue [My Favorite Things, Jan./Feb., p. 17] brought a big smile to my face! I watch and listen to our Nittany Lion football games on their program Behind the Mic. Thanks from this Class of ’73 Steeler fan. They do a great job!

Carmella Pucci ’73 Edu
New Eagle, Pa.

More College Jobs

I’ve enjoyed reading your magazine for many years and particularly, most recently, the “Putting in the Work” letters [“Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” Nov./Dec., p. 42]. I thought you and your readers might enjoy my experience, especially since it was based on support by the faculty.

After working summers as a toll collector on a bridge from PA to NJ (11 p.m. to 7 a.m. at 15 cents a thank-you), as a journalism major, I was incredibly fortunate to be selected for a paid summer internship in the summer of 1968 at a large ad agency in Pittsburgh—thanks to one of my professors advocating for me. I worked on the Iron City Beer account and suggested that I could help IC build market share on campus and downtown when I returned in the fall. I was named their campus representative for my senior year, with the challenge to get the 50-plus fraternities to switch from Bud to IC. I was also given 50-yard line tickets to take customers to games. The good news was that I was successful and made enough money to pay for school; the bad news was discovering that in some cases, the fraternities would bury the IC kegs in ice and replace the pull tap with a Bud handle—so much for brand loyalty!

The support of the faculty throughout my years at Penn State was invaluable as I embarked on my life’s adventures.

Stuart Silver ’69 Com 
Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Your feature reminded me of my personal revenue stream for my two years at University Park. As an accounting major, I inexplicably landed a job in the Forestry Lab in my junior year. While helping to construct a greenhouse in the winter of 1976, I landed a perfect hammer swing directly on my thumb. The painful six-month process of fingernail rejuvenation made me realize this was not meant to be. Having learned about other possibilities from a dorm friend, I turned to selling my plasma with him at Sera-Tec in my senior year. I could not pass up the rewards of $15 for donating twice weekly. When my mom saw my arms, she was not too pleased. 

Bob Wolff ’77 Bus
Moorestown, N.J.

Meaningful Support

The article in the Nov./Dec. 2022 edition [“A Smarter Approach to the Hardest Topics,” p. 52] highlights the establishment of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative, which is based in the Bellisario College of Communications as a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League. The Sam and Olga Rosen Fund was established to support this initiative as part of the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative. Stephen and Raymond Rosen have donated $40,000 in honor of their parents, Sam and Olga Rosen, who survived the Holocaust and lost over 250 family members at Auschwitz. The fund will offer sustained and customized learning programs to help K–12 teachers succeed when presenting difficult topics, and also support the creation of films, books, and other materials, as well as support for the initiative director and staff.

Stephen Rosen ’77 H&HD
Tarzana, Calif.

Raymond Rosen ’72 H&HD
York, Pa.

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Snow Day

Regarding the photo of tailgating on pages 60–61 in the Nov./Dec. 2024 issue, is the date of that game identified anywhere?  It appears to be snowing.  If that photo is from the Nov. 3, 1962, Maryland game, it holds special significance to me. It was the first Penn State football game I attended with my dad at age 9. I still have the ticket stub in my collection of memorabilia. The field was white by halftime, a different definition of “white out.” 

Greg Kirkham ’74 Bus
Millersville, Pa.

That’s Our Spot

Me and my best friend since fourth grade, Mike, heading into State College along 322 for a football game. We never were much for following the rules.  

Bruce Roper ’83 Bus 
Hatboro, Pa.

Mural Inspiration? 

There is a mural on the wall of the Student Book Store in State College. My mom, Angela Hricisak, saw a painting on it of someone who looks just like her. Attached are two pictures: her graduation photo from Penn State Harrisburg in 1984, and the painting of the mystery person from the mural. Is there any way to find out who the people on the mural are? We’d love to solve the mystery of her look-alike! 

Brandon Henken ’19 MS H&HD
Harrisburg, Pa.

The model for the young woman on the Hiester Street mural is Suzie McConnell-Serio ’88 Edu, the Lady Lion basketball All-American, Olympic gold medalist, and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer. —Ed.