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Penn State Alumni Association News
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10/12/2006—Alumni Association to Welcome Returning Alumni With Full Slate of Homecoming Activities
10/12/2006—Global Business Expert Ghadar to Discuss Business Trends During “Huddle with the Faculty” Oct. 21
10/11/2006—Twenty-four Individuals and Groups To Be Honored With 2006 Volunteer Awards from Penn State Alumni Association
10/9/2006—Pulitzer-Prize Winning Historian Neely to Discuss Emancipation Proclamation During “Huddle with the Faculty” Oct. 14
7/11/2006—Total Membership Now Surpasses 159,000
6/30/2006—Ten Alumni Elected, Three Appointed to Serve on Penn State Alumni Association's Governing Board
6/26/2006—New Alumni Library Gives Alumni Special Access
5/30/2006—Alumni Association Names Gall, Pullo and Ziegler As 2006 Honorary Alumni
5/22/2006—Penn State Alumni Association's Arts Festival Weekend Welcomes Families, Graduates into Residence Halls
5/3/2006—Alumni Association to Give $300,000 to First-Year Enrichment Program for Student-Athletes
3/6/2006—MBNA Gives Away Mini-Cooper
2/27/2006—Thank You, Thon Alumni and Parents Weekend Participants
2/21/2006—Alumni Association Reaching Out to Penn Staters With “City Lights” Program
2/17/2006—Spanier to Testify on Appropriation
2/16/2006—Honorary Degree Nominations
2/13/2006—Alumni Groups Major Contributors to Thon; Hold Hundreds of Events Each Year
1/24/2006—Thon Alumni, Parents of Dancers To Blanket Rec Hall February 17-19 as Part of Special Weekend

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Alumni Association to Welcome Returning Alumni With Full Slate of Homecoming Activities

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (October 11, 2006)—Alumni and friends returning to the University Park campus for Homecoming weekend on Oct. 20-22 will be treated to a full slate of festivities. In addition to one of America's largest Homecoming parades, activities include the Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social, “Huddle With the Faculty” and the Alumni Association Homecoming Tent across from Beaver Stadium.

The annual Homecoming Parade is scheduled to begin at approximately 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20. Approximately 25 alumni groups from across the country are expected to march in the parade. From the Maine-New Hampshire Chapter to the Orange County (Calif.) Chapter to the Daytona Palm Coast (Fla.) Chapter, alumni groups from near and far return for the chance to participate in the parade and attend the rest of Homecoming weekend. In addition, the Alumni Blue Band will also again march in the parade.

Prior to the Homecoming Parade, alumni, students, family and friends are invited to the Hintz Family Alumni Center for the annual Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social. The ice cream social, co-hosted by the Penn State Alumni Association and the 2006 Homecoming Committee, will take place 1:00—4:00 p.m., Friday and will feature University Creamery ice cream and appearances by the Alumni Blue Band, Penn State cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion.

Also Friday, the Lion Ambassadors, the Alumni Associations student-alumni corps, will host the annual Guard the Lion Shrine event 10 p.m.—12:30 a.m., at the Nittany Lion Shrine. Sue Paterno, who single-handedly started the guarding the Lion tradition, will kickoff the event at 10 p.m. There will be games, free food and entertainment by local band “The Likely.”

On Saturday, returning alumni can get up close and personal with one of Penn State's experts on international business at the “Huddle with the Faculty” beginning at 9 a.m., at The Nittany Lion Inn. Fariborz Ghadar, the William A. Schreyer Chair of Global Management, Policies and Planning; founding director of the enter for Global Business Studies; and professor of finance in the Smeal College of Business, will discuss “Global Tectonics: What Every Business Needs to Know.” This lecture is free and open to the public, and a complimentary continental breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Also, on Saturday from 9 a.m.—noon, the Alumni Association will welcome alumni at the Homecoming Tent. Entertainment will be provided by the Phyrst Phamly with cameo appearances by the Alumni Blue Band. Alumni are encouraged to stop by the tent to pick up their Class Year buttons. The Homecoming Tent will be located outside the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office, near Gate B, along Curtin Road.

Throughout the weekend, the Hintz Family Alumni Center will be open for alumni to visit, browse old La Vies, or meet up with old and new friends. The hours for the weekend are 8—11 a.m., and 3:30—6 p.m., Saturday and 10 a.m.—2 p.m., Sunday.

For more information about these Alumni Association Homecoming events, visit www.alumni.psu.edu or call 800-548-LION, option 4. For information on all 2006 Homecoming events, visit the official Homecoming Web site at http://homecoming.psu.edu.

Global Business Expert Ghadar to Discuss Business Trends During “Huddle with the Faculty” Oct. 21

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (October 12, 2006)—Before heading to Beaver Stadium for the Illinois Homecoming game on Oct. 21, alumni and friends can learn about global business trends at the “Huddle with the Faculty” lecture series beginning at 8:30 a.m., at The Nittany Lion Inn.

Fariborz Ghadar, the William A. Schreyer Chair of Global Management, Policies and Planning; founding director of the Center for Global Business Studies; and professor of finance in the Smeal College of Business, will speak on “Global Tectonics: What Every Business Needs to Know.” Ghadar will discuss how businesses everywhere are affected by an ever-shifting set of 12 global trends that are imperceptibly shaping the business world of tomorrow.

“Huddle with the Faculty” also includes a complimentary continental breakfast beginning one-half hour before the lecture start time. The breakfast on Oct. 21 begins at 8:30 a.m.; the lecture at 9 a.m.

The rest of the “Huddle with the Faculty” schedule is:

• Nov. 11: “How Good is CSI?” Robert Shaler, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and director of the Forensic Science Program in the Eberly College of Science. Start time is TBA.
• Nov. 18: “Music at Penn State: Raise the Song,” Lynn E. Drafall, associate professor of music in the College of Arts and Architecture, director of choral studies in the School of Music, conductor of the Penn State Concert Choir and the Oriana Singers. Start time is TBA.

The start time for “Huddle with the Faculty” lectures is contingent upon the kickoff time of the football game. The continental breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m., and lectures at 9 a.m. if the start time is earlier than 3 p.m. If the football game begins at 3:30 p.m. or later, “Huddle with the Faculty” begins at 10 a.m., with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Free parking is available at the Nittany Parking Deck, adjacent to The Nittany Lion Inn.

“Huddle with the Faculty” is sponsored and organized by the Penn State Alumni Association and co-sponsored by The Nittany Lion Inn, Penn State Bookstore and Penn State Press. For more detailed descriptions of each “Huddle with the Faculty” and specific start times go to www.alumni.psu.edu/events/ or call the Alumni Association at 800-548-LION.

Twenty-four Individuals and Groups To Be Honored With 2006 Volunteer Awards from Penn State Alumni Association

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (October 11, 2006)—The Penn State Alumni Association will honor four individuals and 20 groups for their outstanding work the past year by giving them one of 14 Volunteer Awards at an Oct. 13 ceremony at The Nittany Lion Inn.

The Volunteer Awards, part of the Alumni Association’s comprehensive recognition program, acknowledge outstanding individuals and groups for service to their communities, the University, and the Alumni Association. Each affiliate group recognized for a group award received a certificate recognizing their organization’s achievement and a $500 grant to be used for future programming. Each individual award winner received a crystal Nittany Lion.

The 2006 individual award winners were: Cara Caruso ’99 of Pittsburgh, Recent Alumna Award; John Glaser ’70 of Beavercreek, Ohio, Volunteer of the Year; Cynthia Hamlin ’95 of Washington, D.C., Diversity Award; and Kevin Harter ’90, ’05g of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Philip Philip Mitchell Volunteer Service Award.

Group award winners were:

• Allegheny County (Pa.) Chapter—Membership Award;
• Annapolis (Md.) Chapter—Scholarship/Fundraising Award;
• College of Communications Alumni Society—Innovative Event/Program Award;
• Crime, Law and Justice Affiliate Program Group— Innovative Event/Program Award;
• Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group—PRIDE Award;
• Dayton (Ohio) Chapter—Communications Award;
• Lancaster (Pa.) County Chapter—National Service Project Award;
• Lion Ambassador Alumni Interest Group—Scholarship/Fundraising Award;
• Metro Washington (D.C.) Chapter—Professional Development Award;
• New York City Chapter—Web Site Award;
• Nursing Affiliate Program Group—Student Interaction Award;
• Orange County (Calif.) Chapter—Communications Award;
• Penn State Great Valley Alumni Society—Fellowship/Networking Award;
• Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Society— Innovative Event/Program Award;
• Penn State Shenango Alumni Society— Scholarship/Fundraising Award;
• Philadelphia Chapter—PRIDE Award;
• Potomac Valley (Md.) Chapter—National Service Project Award;
• San Diego Chapter—Membership Award;
• St. Louis Chapter—Web Site Award;
• Susquehanna Valley (Pa.) Chapter—Fellowship/Networking Award.

Below are details of each award winner. Additional information about the Penn State Alumni Association’s recognition program is available at www.alumni.psu.edu/awards.

Individual Awards:
Diversity Award
Cynthia Hamlin ’95 is the recipient of the 2006 Diversity Award. As a member of Alumni Council, Hamlin chaired the Diversity Committee and worked to forge connections between leaders of diverse student organizations and the Penn State Alumni Association. As president of the African-American Alumni Organization (AAAO) of Washington, D.C., Hamlin has encouraged the growth of similar alumni interest groups in other metro areas including the AAAO of Philadelphia.

Philip Philip Mitchell Volunteer Service Award
This year’s Philip Philip Mitchell Volunteer Service Award recognizes Kevin Harter ’90, ’05g. As a non-traditional student, Harter worked full-time while earning his degree in Information Sciences at Penn State Harrisburg. Since that time, Harter has been a strong supporter of the campus, serving as chair of the Penn State Harrisburg Board of Advisers and of the campus’ Grand Destiny campaign.

Recent Alumna Award
This year’s Recent Alumna Award recognizes Cara Caruso ’99. Caruso is past president of the Smeal Business Club of Pittsburgh and currently serves as the group’s vice president of events. In 2005, she was elected to a three-year term on Alumni Council and currently serves on the Volunteer Support Committee. Caruso is active in a number of Pittsburgh-area community organizations including Mendelssohn Choir, the American Cancer Society’s Women Celebrating Life event, and the “IN Crowd,” a monthly event for business owners in the community.

Volunteer of the Year Award
The 2006 Volunteer of the Year Award goes to John Glaser ’70, a graduate of the Smeal College of Business. Glaser’s contributions to the Dayton, Ohio chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association have been instrumental in expanding its programs, attracting more members, and raising its visibility in the area. Additionally, Glaser has spread the Penn State name in Dayton through his many volunteer efforts.

Group Awards:

Communications Award
Dayton (Ohio) Chapter
The Dayton Chapter has established a well-rounded communications plan to ensure that all alumni in the area have access to information about the chapter’s many events. The chapter mails out a quarterly newsletter and has created a comprehensive Web site with information on donating to the chapter’s scholarship fund, recruiting new students to the University, and volunteering in the Dayton community. The chapter has also increased its visibility through appearances on the local PBS station and profiles in the Dayton Daily News.

Orange County (Calif.) Chapter.
The Orange County Chapter attributes much of its success to its communications program. The highlight of the chapter’s communications program, the Nit-tan–e-News, is a frequent publication sent via e-mail to Orange County Penn Staters, friends, and fans. In addition to information about chapter events, the publication includes a regular Penn State trivia quiz, a chapter member spotlight, a link for alumni to update their membership, and links to employment opportunities.

Fellowship and Networking Award
Penn State Great Valley Alumni Society
The Penn State Great Valley Alumni Society hosted a job fair and alumni networking event that resulted in multiple benefits for alumni and the University. This event gave 225 alumni and students the opportunity to meet with representatives of 40 companies including Boeing, Comcast, and JP Morgan Chase. When attendees were not talking one-on-one with these companies, they attended educational workshops led by Great Valley Alumni Society Board members. Laptop computers were available for attendees to research companies in attendance and visit the Alumni Association Web site.

Susquehanna Valley (Pa.) Chapter.
The Susquehanna Valley Chapter sponsors a variety of events throughout the year to keep members involved and engaged. The chapter’s signature event is its annual Pig Roast. The Pig Roast, which also doubles as the chapter’s student send-off event, attracts hundreds of alumni, students, and parents for a full day of activities. In addition, five scholarship checks of $1,000 each were awarded to the winning students.

Membership Award
Allegheny County (Pa.) Chapter
The Allegheny County Chapter sponsored a membership event in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Months of advertising, combined with good word-of-mouth promotion, led to an event which ultimately generated 115 new chapter members—nearly doubling the group’s 150-member roster. This event will now be an annual activity and will include outreach to the other affiliate groups in the area.

San Diego Chapter
The San Diego Chapter has made membership growth a priority for the past three years. After experiencing a membership low of 30 members in 2003, the chapter now boasts 180 members—a 500 percent increase. The chapter was able to accomplish this by increasing its group’s membership benefits to include discounts on events, members-only communications, extra raffle tickets at football parties, and incentives to sign up or renew early.

National Service Project Award
Lancaster County (Pa.) Chapter
The Lancaster County Chapter sponsored a homeless shelter rejuvenation project to serve the Lancaster County Council of Churches. Chapter members helped turn the council's formerly abandoned warehouse into a shelter that serves women and children who, during the winter months, are turned away from other locations due to lack of space. Thirty-five volunteers turned buckets of paint into beautiful murals within the shelter with the assistance of local high school students.

Potomac Valley (Md.) Chapter.
The Potomac Valley Chapter has made community service a large portion of its outreach efforts. This year, the group made and donated Easter Baskets to children in the child life unit of the children’s hospital at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Members donated candy, toys, stuffed animals, chocolate Easter bunnies, and money to purchase additional items. Then members got together to stuff the baskets and ship them to Hershey in time for children at the hospital to enjoy a bright Easter morning.

New/Innovative Event or Program Award
College of Engineering Alumni Society
The College of Engineering Alumni Society hosted its first Rube Goldberg Machine Contest during National Engineers Week at University Park. Open to all engineering students throughout the University, the contest challenged student teams to complete simple tasks such as peeling an apple in the most complicated way possible. The more steps the better. The Alumni Society coordinated the event logistics including engaging alumni from across the country to return as judges for the competition.

College of Communications Alumni Society
The College of Communications Alumni Society took a traditional mentoring event and took it on the road—holding student/alumni-networking events in metropolitan areas across the country. This outreach was designed to give alumni an opportunity to network with students without having to travel and to give students a hometown professional connection. In New York and Chicago, high-level executives served as hosts and roundtable leaders offered advice to students. In addition to helping students, the program reconnected alumni to the University.

Crime, Law and Justice Affiliate Program Group
The Crime, Law and Justice Alumni Program Group engaged alumni by giving them the opportunity to teach a one-credit undergraduate course at University Park during the spring semester. Because the Crime, Law and Justice program faculty is so small, professors rarely have time to mentor undergraduates. This is where the APG members stepped in, fulfilling in one way the University's mission of teaching, research, and service. By leading these courses, alumni shared their expertise and real-world experience with students who learned that alumni do care about them.

Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Society
The Mont Alto Alumni Society sponsored a 5K walk-run during Mont Alto’s Homecoming and Family Weekend, drawing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to the campus as participants. The Society and the Penn State Alumni Association had great visibility during the event and established new connections with alumni as a result while raising money for a trustee scholarship. In the end, the weekend’s events netted $9,500 for the scholarship fund.

PRIDE Award
Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group
Philadelphia Chapter
The Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group and the Philadelphia Chapter joined forces for a fundraiser called “The Liberty Ball: A Knight for the Kids” to raise money for Thon. This semi-formal ball raised more than $11,000, far exceeding expectations. The Liberty Ball, attended by more than 200 people, included dinner and dancing, plus a silent auction and guest speakers from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Professional Development Award
Metro Washington D.C. Chapter
The Metro Washington D.C. Chapter hosted the first Penn State Employer Information Session and Networking Event this summer. This event was designed to educate D.C. area employers about how they can tap into the Penn State career network to reach a broad array of talented alumni. After the seminar, the chapter hosted a networking event at which employers could informally interact with Penn Staters seeking internships and full-time employment.

Scholarship/Fundraising Award
Annapolis (Md.) Chapter
The Annapolis Chapter has sponsored a variety of activities designed to increase the chapter’s endowed scholarship fund. From direct solicitation to silent auctions to ice cream sales, chapter events have been well supported by who have donated generously to provide funds to qualified students. As a result, the chapter was able to increase the number of students who received awards from two to three in only three years.

Lion Ambassador Alumni Interest Group
The Lion Ambassador Alumni Interest Group has raised almost $14,000 for an Emergency Grant-In-Aid Fund. This fund allows the group to provide assistance when a current Lion Ambassador encounters financial hardship that may prevent his or her continued participation as a Lion Ambassador. Funding for this grant was generated through a challenge match and a targeted personal appeal. This fund is in addition to the AIG’s existing scholarship fund, which has provided 17 scholarships to deserving students—not just Lion Ambassadors—since 2000.

Penn State Shenango Alumni Society
The Penn State Shenango Alumni Society has connected hundreds of alumni and community members through its annual golf outing. Now in its 5th year, this event has grown so popular that it sold out this past year with 144 participants. Throughout its history, the golf tournament has raised more than $35,000, which has been donated back to the Penn State Shenango campus in scholarship support. While the dollar amount is significant, the other benefit of this event has been the increased visibility of the campus in the greater Shenango area.

Student Interaction Award
Nursing Affiliate Program Group
The Nursing Affiliate Program Group has developed a yearlong series of events designed to engage students and alumni. In the fall, the group collaborated with the school of nursing to host career-building workshops for top nursing students. Following this event and a luncheon, the Student Nurses Association hosted a career fair for 50 healthcare organizations. Then in the spring, the group sponsored a follow-up career workshop in Hershey, Pa., for junior-level nursing students at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Alumni at the event offered career advice to approximately 60 students—a high turnout for a program that graduates about 100 nurses each year.

Web Site Award
New York City Chapter
The New York City Chapter’s Web site has been revamped to give it a more dynamic and interactive feel. When the site first opens, visitors immediately see the link between the chapter and the larger Alumni Association and are given a variety of options to view pictures, become a member, or view upcoming events. There is also an option to donate to the chapter’s scholarship fund. The Web site also serves as a source of information about the activities of other organizations such as the Professional Women’s Network of New York City and the newly formed Big Ten Alumni Organization.

St. Louis Chapter
The St. Louis Chapter, starting with a simple template, added a variety of visual and audio components to draw in Penn State alumni and fans, including a Nittany Lion roar upon opening the chapter’s Web site. Not only can visitors to the site learn more about the chapter, they can also easily connect to The Daily Collegian, Penn State Web cams and the Penn State Alumni Association’s Web site. As a result of this outreach, the chapter has gone from 30 members to more than 60 and is repeatedly referred to as an example for other groups looking to enhance their Web sites.

Pulitzer-Prize Winning Historian Neely to Discuss Emancipation Proclamation During "Huddle with the Faculty" Oct. 14

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Oct. 9, 2006) –-Before heading to Beaver Stadium for the widely anticipated rematch with Michigan on Oct. 14, alumni and friends can learn about the historical impact of the Emancipation Proclamation at the “Huddle with the Faculty” lecture series beginning at 9:30 a.m., at The Nittany Lion Inn, followed by a viewing of a rare copy of an Emancipation Proclamation.

Dr. Mark Neely Jr., McCabe Greer Professor in the American Civil War Era and Senior Scholar in residence of the Richards Civil War Era Center in the College of the Liberal Arts, will speak on “The Emancipation Proclamation: Myth and Reality.” The internationally recognized professor will discuss this pivotal American document and its far-reaching impact on American history. Following Neely’s presentation, there will be an optional “field trip” to Paterno Library to view one of the surviving Emancipation Proclamations, on loan to Penn State University Libraries through April. At the Paterno Library, William Blair, professor of history and director of the Richards Center, will discuss “Highlights of Pennsylvania’s Contributions to the Civil War.”

“Huddle with the Faculty” also includes a complimentary continental breakfast beginning one-half hour before the lecture start time. The breakfast on Oct. 14 begins at 9:30 a.m.; the lecture at 10 a.m.

The rest of the “Huddle with the Faculty” lineup features a wide range of topics from the global tectonics impact on business to forensic science to music at Penn State. The complete schedule is:
Oct. 21: “Global Tectonics:  What Every Business Needs to Know,” Fariborz Ghadar, William A. Schreyer Chair of Global Management, Policies and Planning; founding director of the Center for Global Business Studies; and professor of finance in the Smeal College of Business. Start time is 8:30 a.m. for breakfast; 9 a.m. for the lecture.
Nov. 11: “How Good is CSI?” Robert Shaler, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and director of the Forensic Science Program in the Eberly College of Science. Start time is TBA.
Nov. 18: “Music at Penn State: Raise the Song,” Lynn E. Drafall, associate professor of music in the College of Arts and Architecture, director of choral studies in the School of Music, conductor of the Penn State Concert Choir and the Oriana Singers. Start time is TBA.

The start time for “Huddle with the Faculty” lectures is contingent upon the kickoff time of the football game. The continental breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m., and lectures at 9 a.m. if the start time is earlier than 3 p.m. If the football game begins at 3:30 p.m. or later, "Huddle with the Faculty" begins at 10 a.m., with breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Free parking is available at the Nittany Parking Deck, adjacent to The Nittany Lion Inn.

“Huddle with the Faculty” is sponsored and organized by the Penn State Alumni Association and co-sponsored by The Nittany Lion Inn, Penn State Bookstore and Penn State Press. For more detailed descriptions of each “Huddle with the Faculty” and specific start times go to http://www.alumni.psu.edu/events/ or call the Alumni Association at 800-548-LION.

Total Membership Now Surpasses 159,000

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (July 11, 2006)—The largest dues-paying alumni association in the world, the Penn State Alumni Association, gained nearly 3,000 members to reach a record high of 159,063 members for the year ending June 30, 2006.

The Alumni Association grew by 2,921 members or 1.9 percent for the year ending June 30, 2006—the third year of a three-year membership campaign. During the last three years, the Alumni Association has seen a gain of 12,444 members—an increase of 8.5 percent.

In addition, the Penn State Alumni Association experienced explosive growth in life membership, adding another 4,385 life members to make the current total 87,043—a 5.3 percent growth rate. Life members now comprise 54.7 percent of total membership.

“We have made a concerted effort in the last couple of years to add more life members, and those efforts have paid off,” said Lewis H. Gold ’59, president of the Alumni Association. “We have been the world’s largest alumni association since 1995, and this past year, we have moved into the number one in life members as well. Our gain of more than 4,000 life members should solidify our leadership position.”

The Alumni Association has also experienced explosive growth in its student membership through the Blue & White Society. Membership in the Blue & White Society has more than tripled in the past three years, growing from 2,371 in 2003 to 7,547 for the year ending June 30. The Blue & White Society has members on every Penn State campus and active Blue & White Society student groups on eight Penn Sate campuses: Abington, Delaware County, DuBois, Erie-Behrend, Shenango, Schuylkill, University Park and Worthington Scranton.

“Students are an important part of our outreach effort. These alumni-in-training will soon enough be full-fledged alumni, and we want to make sure that they are active and engaged members of the Alumni Association upon graduation,” said Roger L. Williams ’73, ’75g, ’88g, executive director of the Alumni Association. “Blue & White societies are an effective way to ensure that transition.”

The Alumni Association now counts as members nearly 35 percent of all addressable Penn State alumni, which number 459,653 as of June 30, 2006. That number has grown by more than 6,300 alumni in the last year, up from 453,313 in 2005. While Penn Staters are scattered all over the globe, approximately 40 percent of Penn State alumni live in five metropolitan areas: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Pa., New York City and Washington, D.C.

Ten Alumni Elected, Three Appointed to Serve on Penn State Alumni Association's Governing Board

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (June 30, 2006)—Ten Penn State alumni have been elected and three appointed to Alumni Council, the governing body of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Elected to Alumni Council for three-year terms from July 1, 2006-June 30, 2009 are incumbents Martha “Liz” Bligan, Wayne, Pa.; Michael F. Catino, Shamokin, Pa.; Elizabeth Skade Middleton, Newport Beach, Calif.; Margaret Anthou Scopelianos, Whitehouse Station, N.J.; Jill Semmer, Newtown Square, Pa.; and Marjorie Ganter Scholtz, Pittsburgh. Newly elected to Alumni Council are Kristen Kaminski Fortney, Greenwich, Conn.; Andrew Jackson Sr., State College, Pa.; Robert A. Lear, Bensalem, Pa.; and Alison J. Lipsett, Harrisburg, Pa.

Alumni Association President Lewis H. Gold filled three appointed positions on Alumni Council. The appointees are Martin F. Scheinholtz, Wheeling, W. Va.; Gregory F. Scott, Pittsburgh; and Luis Valbuena, New York, N.Y.

Alumni Council is an all-volunteer governing body that guides and directs policy for the Penn State Alumni Association. The council determines strategies and programs to be carried out by the Alumni Association staff and is also responsible for electing the Alumni Association president and vice president.

In this year’s election, which ended May 31, nearly 15,000 Alumni Association members cast ballots—an 11 percent participation rate among eligible voters, which is an increase over last year’s 10.4 percent participation rate. Forty-three percent of those alumni ballots were submitted via the Internet, compared to 37 percent last year, continuing a trend of increased online voting.

Following is a brief biography about each newly named Alumni Council member:

Martha “Liz” Bligan, of Wayne, Pa., holds two Penn State degrees: a 1981 science degree and a 1998 master's in interdisciplinary studies. She is the vice president for human resources for Primavera Systems, Inc. Bligan has served on Alumni Council for the past five years and has served as the co-chair of the Membership Committee.

Michael F. Catino, of Shamomkin Pa., is newly elected to Alumni Council. He has served for six years on the board of the Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Society, as well as teaching part-time at the campus. Catino is the president of Catino Associates in Shamokin, Pa. He holds a bachelor's degree ('70) in engineering.

Kristen Kaminski Fortney is new to Alumni Council. A 1988 Penn State graduate in health and human development, Fortney worked for seven years as the director of alumni relations in the College of Communication. Fortney is currently a principal with Gary Kaplan & Associates and lives in Greenwich, Conn.

Andrew Jackson Sr., holds two Penn State degrees, a 1974 bachelor's in education and a 2004 doctoral degree in interdisciplinary fields (multicultural education). He works as an academic counselor in the Penn State College of Education. Jackson has been an active alumni volunteer service in the board of the Alumni Blue Band since its inception, serves on the College of Arts & Architecture Alumni Board for 10 years, and is a charter member of the Greek Alumni Interest Group. Jackson lives in State College, Pa.

Robert A. Lear served on Alumni Council from 2002 to 2004. He holds a 1967 Penn State degree in business. Lear is a founding member of the Penn State Abington Alumni Society Board. He recently retired as president and CEO of Penn Independent Corporation. Lear lives in Bensalem, Pa.

Alison J. Lipsett graduated from Penn State in 2003 with a degree in liberal arts. Active in numerous student organizations including Panhellenic Council, Pi Beta Phi, and Lion's Paw Honor Society, Lipsett is now an admissions counselor at Lebanon Valley College and lives in Harrisburg, Pa. This will be her first term on Alumni Council.

Elizabeth Skade Middleton has been a member of Alumni Council since 2003 and has volunteered for Penn State as an alumni recruiter, as well as been an active member of Penn State chapters in Rochester, N.Y., Chicago, Singapore, and Orange County, Calif. A 1963 education graduate, Middleton is a retired elementary school teacher who lives in Newport Beach, Calif.

Martin F. Scheinholtz was appointed to Alumni Council after serving on Council for the past two years representing the College of Medicine Alumni Society Board. Scheinholtz holds three Penn State degrees: a 1967 bachelor's degree, a 1969 master's in engineering, and a 1977 degree in medicine. He is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist and lives in Wheeling, W. Va.

Marjorie Ganter Scholtz, a director and owner of a private school in Pittsburgh, has served on Alumni Council for two terms and received the Outstanding Council Member Award in 2004. She holds a 1962 bachelor's degree in liberal arts and is the sister of longtime Penn State assistant football coach and offensive coordinator Fran Ganter.

Margaret Anthou Scopelianos is the senior vice president for global risk management for Bank of America. She graduated from Penn State in 1981 with a liberal arts degree and has served on Alumni Council since 2003. Scopelianos lives in Whitehouse State, N.J.

Gregory F. Scott was appointed to Alumni Council after serving two terms as the president of the Allegheny County Chapter. He graduated from Penn State in 1992 and currently is a senior project manager for ATS-Chester Engineers. Scott lives in Pittsburgh.

Jill Semmer has been an active Penn State alumni volunteer serving on the executive board of the Michigan Chapter and serving on Alumni Council since 2003. She is a stay-at-home mom to three children and is retired from her job as a financial analyst with Ford Motor Company. She now lives in Newtown Square, Pa.

Luis Valbuena has been the representative to Alumni Council from the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST). He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in IST and works as an output management specialist at IBM Corporation. Valbuena lives in New York City.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (June 26, 2006)—Penn State alumni now have special online access to many of the most popular offerings of the University Libraries through the new Alumni Library at http://alumni.libraries.psu.edu. The Alumni Library is a joint project of the Libraries and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Through the new Alumni Library site, alumni can access thousands of pages of information, readily organized on the Web site. The majority of the Alumni Library site is available to all Penn State alumni, but several sections within the site are for Alumni Association members only.

“The Alumni Library is a tremendous benefit to Penn Staters,” said Roger L. Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association. “To have access to all of this information in one easy-to-use online location is something alumni have been wanting, and we are thrilled to work with University Libraries in putting this site together.”

The Alumni Library is organized into easily accessed sections. “Resource Centers” offer career tools, including business and employer ratings; online research tools with Internet search tools, education and funding resources, almanacs, genealogy topics and more; and a travel center that includes a worldwide ATM locator, a hiking trail finder and other useful site links for travelers.

In the “Penn State Room,” alumni can search through the Historical Digital Collegian archives (1887-1955), read current issues of the Digital Collegian (1988-present), and access digital archive information about Penn State sports through the years, the 150-year evolution of the University Park campus, and a link to Penn State history and traditions.

“Featured Collections” presents exhibits and collections that will change bi-monthly. Currently this section features the University's Pennsylvania German broadsides and fraktur collection with more than 270 images, the Mira Lloyd Dock collection, Depression-era photos, Fred Waring's America collection, Pennsylvania Civil War newspapers and more.

Alumni Association members can access a number of unique features on Alumni Library, including past and current issues of hundreds of newspapers such as full editions of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. They will also be able to use ProQuest, an integrated search engine that features business, interdisciplinary, medicine, psychology and communications resources. ProQuest also includes full-text articles from more than 1,000 top business publications, which can be accessed by browsing news options or through keyword search. Two other members-only sections are the Penn State antiques show, where experts can evaluate Penn State antique memorabilia, and an online bulletin board where members can post photos and notices of upcoming gatherings.

“New information technology has made it possible to open the virtual libraries' doors to Penn State alumni and friends, and we are excited to have this opportunity to partner with the Penn State Alumni Association,” said Nancy L. Eaton, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications at Penn State.

Alumni Association Names Gall, Pullo and Ziegler As 2006 Honorary Alumni

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (May 30, 2006)—Three longtime champions and benefactors of Penn State will be named Honorary Alumni by the Penn State Alumni Association in a ceremony June 2 at The Nittany Lion Inn.

Linda Gall of Boalsburg, Pa., Robert Pullo of York, Pa., and Richard E. Ziegler of Lebanon, Pa., will be officially recognized by the Penn State Alumni Association for their significant contributions to Penn State’s welfare, reputation and prestige. Gall, Pullo and Ziegler will be inducted into the Penn State Alumni Association at the June 2nd ceremony, which also features the presentation of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards and the 2006 Philanthropist of the Year Awards.

“Penn State alumni are extraordinarily loyal. Like true alumni, these three University friends have also demonstrated a deep loyalty to Penn State while making significant contributions to the University” said Alumni Association President Lewis H. Gold. “It's a privilege for the Penn State Alumni Association to add 'Penn State alumnus' to the accolades of these three champions of Penn State.”

The Penn State Alumni Association has given the Honorary Alumni award annually since 1973 to recognize individuals who, while not graduates of Penn State, have significantly worked toward bettering the University. Since the award was established in 1973, 81 individuals have been given Honorary Alumni status, including this year's honorees:

Linda Gall
Gall has been a longtime Penn State volunteer. Since moving to the State College area in 1985, Gall has served as an advisory council member for the Center for the Performing Arts. She is a former president and a current advisory board member of the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art, as well as a member of the Schreyer Honors College Advisory Board. Gall is also a member of the National Council on Penn State Philanthropy and is chair of the President’s Club. Gall and her husband, Blake, have also supported Penn State by creating a women's athletic scholarship, a faculty fellowship in business and scholarships in the College of Education and the Schreyer Honors College.

Robert Pullo
Pullo has been involved with Penn State for the last three decades, playing a pivotal role in expanding the mission of the Penn State York campus. In the late 1980s, Pullo was instrumental in the transfer of 34 acres of adjacent property from the City of York to the York campus. Later, he served as chair of Penn State York's Grand Destiny campaign, which raised nearly $10 million—exceeding its original goal by almost $3 million. And Pullo and his wife, Donna, have work to significantly improve the Penn State York campus. They have established a fund to encourage technology-based collaborations between campus faculty and regional high school teachers; supported the construction of the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center, and created an endowment to sustain the performing arts center.

Richard E. Ziegler
Ziegler has been involved with Penn State since 1992. Unfortunately, his first encounter was through the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center when Ziegler’s wife was frequently hospitalized for leukemia. The level of care she received and the compassion of the medical staff inspired Ziegler to support the Medical Center and the University, establishing an endowment and a faculty fellowship in hematology, as well as a field hockey scholarship in his wife's name. Ziegler has also been instrumental in the building of an outdoor plaza at Penn State Harrisburg called Ziegler Commons. He plays an active role in the Harrisburg campus' master planning and serves on the Penn State Harrisburg Board of Advisers.

The Honorary Alumni award is part of the recognition program of the Penn State Alumni Association. The recognition program acknowledges outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves through volunteer service to the University or through success in their personal and professional lives. Honorary Alumni are given a life membership in the Penn State Alumni Association, as well as a commemorative award.

Penn State Alumni Association's Arts Festival Weekend Welcomes Families, Graduates into Residence Halls

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (May 22, 2006)—Penn State alumni, their families and friends are invited to stay in a residence hall on campus and enjoy special family-centered events while enjoying the 40th annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts during Arts Festival Alumni Weekend, July 12-16.

Alumni can share the fun of their former “dorm” room and relive their college days by staying on campus in residence halls close to the Arts Festival. In addition to the many Arts Festival attractions, Alumni Weekend registrants will enjoy a Spikes baseball game at the new Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, swimming at Penn State’s outdoor pool, campus tours, a commemorative photo opportunity, alumni career seminars and an ice cream social featuring University Creamery ice cream and music by the beloved 1980s band Cartoon. Alumni Weekend registrants can also enjoy a free concert of Louisiana dance music sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association featuring the ZYDECO-A-GO-GO at 8 p.m., Saturday at the Festival Shell Stage on Old Main lawn.

Arts Festival Alumni Weekend is open to all Penn Staters. Program registration fees are $25 for Alumni Association members, $50 for non-members and children five and under are free. Room fees for the residence halls are not included and prices vary. For guaranteed housing in the residence halls, the pre-registration deadline is June 27, although walk-in registration will be available beginning Wednesday, July 12 in Waring Commons on the University Park campus. More information about Arts Festival Alumni Weekend can be found at www.alumni.psu.edu/events or by calling the Alumni Association at 800-548-LION, option 4.

Alumni Association to Give $300,000 to First-Year Enrichment Program for Student-Athletes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (May 3, 2006)—The Penn State Alumni Association will give a $300,000 gift to the Penn State's First-Year Enrichment Program for student-athletes, continuing an annual tradition of philanthropy by the Alumni Association that is unmatched in American higher education.

The Alumni Association's $300,000 contribution comes from its "Margin of Excellence" fund, created in 2000 as a permanent endowment to support annual gifts to the University. This $300,000 endowment will be used by the Morgan Center in the University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics to expand and improve on its First-Year Enrichment Program. The endowment's annual income will allow for the hiring of additional instructors, fund well-known speakers from outside of the University or fund technology upgrades at the four study facilities for student-athletes, although specific uses for the endowment have not yet been finalized.

"In making this decision, we considered the importance of the transition from high school to college academics," said David Han '88, 05g, vice president of the Alumni Association and chair of its "Margin of Excellence" committee. "We believe the student-athlete's success early on in their academic career is the single most important factor in determining their success academically at Penn State. And the Penn State Alumni Association wanted to support the University's efforts with its first-year student-athletes."

This year, the "Margin of Excellence" committee unanimously decided the beneficiary would be the First-Year Enrichment Program, thereby contributing to the betterment of Penn State's outstanding student-athletes and assisting Intercollegiate Athletics' "Success with Honor-A Campaign for the Penn State Way." This five-year fundraising initiative has raised $58 million toward its goal of $100 million.

"Penn State is able to attract not only the best athletes, but the brightest student-athletes," said Tim Curley, Penn State director of athletics. "The Penn State Alumni Association has been a terrific partner to Intercollegiate Athletics over the years. This gift to the First-Year Enrichment Program will help ensure that our student-athletes get off to the right start academically."

Since the initial gift from the "Margin of Excellence" fund in 2001, the Alumni Association has donated $1.6 million to the University from the "Margin of Excellence" fund. Recent "Margin of Excellence" gifts have gone to establish Education Abroad Scholarships (2005), endow the Student Discovery Undergraduate Research program (2004), establish a Trustee Scholarship (2003), help build the Blue Band practice facility (2002), endow undergraduate scholarships for Commonwealth campuses (2001) and contribute to new lighting for The Mall at University Park (2001). All told, the Alumni Association has contributed more than $12 million to Penn State since 1988.

Since the initial gift from the "Margin of Excellence" fund in 2001, the Alumni Association has donated $1.6 million to the University from the "Margin of Excellence" fund. Recent "Margin of Excellence" gifts have gone to establish Education Abroad Scholarships (2005), endow the Student Discovery Undergraduate Research program (2004), establish a Trustee Scholarship (2003), help build the Blue Band practice facility (2002), endow undergraduate scholarships for Commonwealth campuses (2001) and contribute to new lighting for The Mall at University Park (2001). All told, the Alumni Association has contributed more than $12 million to Penn State since 1988.

Lewistown Man Wins Mini-Cooper Car in MBNA-MasterCard Credit Card Promotion

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (March 3, 2006)—A Lewistown man drove away from the Hintz Family Alumni Center on Penn State's campus in a new $26,000 Mini-Cooper convertible Tuesday (Feb. 28) after winning the MBNA-MasterCard "Penn State Rewards Program" sweepstakes.

Drawn from a pool of more than 12,000 entries, Gerald Treaster of 41 Laurel Street in Lewistown, Pa., won the Penn State blue Mini-Cooper after entering the contest prior to a Penn State football game at Beaver Stadium. Treaster said the news couldn't have come at a better time since he had just undergone surgery for brain cancer. "We never won anything," Treaster said. "I didn't believe a word of it when they called."

Presenting the Mini-Cooper to Treaster and his wife, Hope, were Kelly Firment, Senior Executive Vice President, MBNA; Rob Finnegan, Senior Vice President, MBNA; Thomas K. Shannon, vice president, MBNA; Miles Blunt, vice president, MasterCard; and Roger L. Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association. The Mini-Cooper giveaway launched the "Penn State Rewards Program," which allows users of the Penn State Alumni Association affinity credit card (issued through MBNA and MasterCard) the option of redeeming points for Penn State-related prizes such as Penn State Nike apparel, sideline football passes, a catered dinner for 20 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center and more.

"We thought this Mini-Cooper promotion would be a fun way to attract some attention from students and alumni," said MBNA's Shannon. "As the football season wore on, it became the meeting place with people saying, ’let's meet at the Mini.'"

Treaster said his wife, Hope, and his three grown children are looking forward to driving the Mini-Cooper to the Penn State football games in the fall and basketball games all winter.  "We go to all of the football games and a lot of the basketball," Treaster said.

The Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world with more than 156,000 members. Established in 1870, the Alumni Association connects alumni to the University and to each other, provides valuable benefits to members and supports the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. For more information on the Alumni Association, go to www.alumni.psu.edu.

Thank You, Thon Alumni and Parents Weekend Participants

(Feb. 27, 2006)—Thank you to all of the parents and alumni who participated in the Alumni Association’s Thon Parents and Alumni Weekend, February 17-19, 2006. Both alumni and parent participants helped support the dancers as they stood on their feet for 48 hours to raise more than $4.2 million for pediatric cancer patients at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Participants had an opportunity to learn the line dance, partake in a bathroom break, spend time on the floor with the dancers, attend the Thon Celebration and Behind-the-Scenes Tour and more. Thank you again for your participation.

Alumni Association Reaching Out to Penn Staters With “City Lights” Program

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Feb. 21, 2006)—From astronomers to a curator to a foodie, several of Penn State’s faculty stars are hitting the road to present fun and educational programs for alumni and friends, part of the Penn State Alumni Association’s “City Lights” program.

The “City Lights” program will reach out to Penn Staters in three major East Coast cities with some of the highest concentrations of alumni— Philadelphia (more than 75,000), Pittsburgh (40,000) and Washington, D.C. (more than 19,000). By bringing University experts to their own backyard, the “City Lights” program, now in its second year, brings the best of the University, namely its faculty, to alumni to present five upcoming events that cut a wide swath in terms of interests.

“‘City Lights’ is our effort to bring Penn State to our alumni where they live and work,” said Roger L. Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association. “We introduced the program last year with three events in Philadelphia, which proved popular, so we’ve expanded it this year to include more events in additional cities.”

On Saturday, March 25, the Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia will be the site of the Penn State Family Day. Supercomputers, star clusters and black holes will be brought to life in family friendly terms by Penn State astronomy Professor Pablo Laguna. The program will also include lunch, an IMAX movie and access to the rest of The Franklin Institute’s vast exhibits.

Another “City Lights” program in Philadelphia will focus on the arts. The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s special Andrew Wyeth exhibit will be further enhanced by a guided tour on Friday, March 31 with Joyce Robinson, art history professor and curator at Penn State’s Palmer Museum.

The “City Lights” programs will continue into May and June. Three programs are scheduled for Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.:

• A Penn State Day of Science and Sport on Saturday, May 6 in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Science Center and UPMC SportsWorks, which features more than 70 interactive and educational exhibits that allow visitors to experience a vast of array of activities from moviemaking to racing down an Olympic bobsled track.
• An evening of Italian food tasting and networking on Wednesday, May 17 in Pittsburgh will feature chef and Penn State Professor Peter Bordi leading a behind-the-scenes tour of Bella Notte Restaurant in the city’s popular Strip District.
• A Flag Day event at the U.S. Botanic Garden on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 14 exploring the gardens and the renovated conservatory and a reception with Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.

All “City Lights” events are open to Penn State alumni and friends, with ticket prices ranging from $10—$45 for Alumni Association members and slightly more for non-members. For more information—including exact times and ticket prices for each event—or to register for any “City Lights” program, go to http://www.alumni.psu.edu/events/ or call 800-548-LION option 5.

Spanier to Testify on Appropriation

(Feb. 17, 2006)—Penn State President Graham B. Spanier will appear before the state House and Senate appropriations committees to testify on the University’s 2006-07 appropriation request. The House committee's hearing is set for 10 a.m. Feb. 22; the Senate committee's for 3 p.m. Feb. 28; and both will be broadcast by the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN).

During the hearings, Spanier is expected to outline Penn State’s budget appropriation request for 2006-07 and respond to questions from committee members. The hearings are expected to be broadcast statewide by the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN). PCN typically offers live broadcasts of legislative committee hearings and re-airs them at least once, either the same day or within a day or two.

PCN serves some three million households across the state. Those interested in watching PCN coverage of the appropriations committee hearings can check their local listings or check PCN’s daily and weekly program schedules, which are posted online at its Web site.

Volunteer members of the Penn State Grassroots Network, sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association, have backed the University's 2006-07 appropriation request since the Board of Trustees approved it in September 2005. Following the committee hearings, the Grassroots Network is expected to urge its members to contact state officials and encourage them to support increased funding for Penn State.

On the Web:
To check PCN’s daily and weekly program schedules, go to http://www.pcntv.com/ and click on the “Program Schedule” link.

For a list of PCN-participating cable company names, system locations, and network channel designations, go to: http://www.pcntv.com/affils.htm.

PCN’s service-area map is online at: http://www.pcntv.com/pcnmap.htm.

To join the Penn State Grassroots Network, go to http://capwiz.com/psu/mlm/signup/ and complete and send the online form.

Honorary Degree Nominations

(Feb. 16, 2006)—The Committee on Honorary Degrees would appreciate your assistance in developing a list of potential recipients of an honorary doctoral degree from Penn State. The list will include eminent scholars, performers, artists, and practitioners in academic fields, and individuals who have made particularly distinguished contributions to society in areas such as public service, business, or government.

Individuals who have been awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Penn State in the past five years, and those scheduled for this year are:

2001

• Leroy Hood, Doctor of Science
• Kazuo Inamori, Doctor of Science
• Stanley Pruisner, Doctor of Science
• Henry Schacht, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Arthur Schlesinger, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Alan Schriesheim, Doctor of Science

2002

• Morris Dees, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Aldo Parisot, Doctor of Fine Arts
• Alan Wilson, Doctor of Science

2003

• Bernard Bailyn, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Glen Elder, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Vartan Gregorian, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Jonathan Kozol, Doctor of Humane Letters

2004

• John Bogle, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Wallace Broecker, Doctor of Science
• Rita Colwell, Doctor of Science
• Helene Gayle, Doctor of Science
• Vernon Jordan, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Jody Williams, Doctor of Humane Letters

2005

• Robert S. Langer, Doctor of Science
• John “Bill” Marriott, Doctor of Humane Letters

2006 (scheduled)

• John Carroll, Doctor of Humane Letters
• Robert Horvitz, Doctor of Science
• John Horner, Doctor of Science
• Peter Magrath, Doctor of Humane Letters

The committee welcomes nominations of individuals eligible to receive a Penn State honorary degree. The guidelines, developed and approved by the University’s Board of Trustees, include the following criteria for eligibility for an honorary degree:

• Sustained achievement and distinction of national or international significance in an activity consonant with the mission of the University.
• The nomination of individuals whose achievements and distinction have not been similarly recognized by a number of other institutions is encouraged.
• Alumni of the University are eligible.
• Persons serving as administrators, faculty, or staff of The Pennsylvania State University are not eligible, nor are persons currently serving as members of the Board of Trustees, as officials of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its subordinate units or members of the Legislature, during their terms of office; nor are spouses or immediate family members of the foregoing persons eligible.

All nominations are welcome. Nominations should include the name and a short biography, if one is readily available. Send your nominations to Steve MacCarthy, Vice President for University Relations, 201 Old Main, at the University Park Campus or via e-mail tomaccarthy@psu.edu by Monday, March 20, 2006.

Alumni Groups Major Contributors to Thon;
Hold Hundreds of Events Each Year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Feb. 13, 2006)—From $16,000 raised by the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group to several hundred dollars raised by the Allegheny County Chapter, alumni groups affiliated with the Penn State Alumni Association contribute a significant amount each year to Thon, the annual 48-hour student dance marathon at Penn State scheduled for Feb. 17-19.

“While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact amount raised by our alumni groups, we do know that many of our 270 affiliate groups do some sort of fundraising or other effort to benefit Thon,” said Roger L. Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association. “Some of those efforts raise a significant amount of money for the Four Diamonds Fund.”

One of the most successful alumni events this year was the inaugural Liberty Ball: A Knight for the Kids in Philadelphia. Held in an historic building in early February, the Liberty Ball drew more than 200 people to enjoy dinner, dancing and a raffle and raised more than $11,500 for Thon. Liberty Ball was a joint effort by the Philadelphia Chapter and the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG).

The DMAIG, as might be expected, is one of the most active alumni groups regarding Thon. Composed of all former Thon participants, both dancers and organizers, the DMAIG sponsors an alumni couple to dance in Thon each year. DMAIG members compete to raise the most money to win the opportunity to dance. This year, Mike Cocco ’05 from Nutley, N.J., and Andrew Simonelli ’05 from Richboro, Pa., raised $10,191.97 and will be on the Rec Hall floor with dancer numbers 312A and 312B, wearing shirts that say “THON ON 4 LIFE.” An additional $6,000 was raised by two other DMAIG couples in their bid attempts.

Many alumni groups, just like student groups, can for Thon, targeting TV tailgating sites during Penn State’s football season. The Metro Washington (D.C.) Chapter teamed up with members of the Lion Ambassador Alumni Interest Group and area DMAIG members to raise nearly $2,000. The combined group also held a Thon fundraiser in early February at a D.C. bar called LuLu’s featuring Destro, a band that includes alumni Jim Daumit ’01, Sam Easterly ’05 and Glenn Eckenrode ’02. That event drew more than 300 people and raised $8,400. In fact, the Metro Washington Chapter has raised more than $30,000 for Thon in the last 10 years.

“We are proving that alumni are more than just football fans,” said Caitlin King ’04, organizer of the Metro Washington Chapter’s Thon events.

Other alumni groups including the New York City Chapter, Northern New Jersey Chapter, Allegheny County (Pa.) Chapter and Greater Baltimore Chapter also actively solicit money for Thon, raising several hundred to several thousand dollars each during TV tailgates and other events.

Some alumni groups have rather unique Thon fundraisers. Heidi Capetola ’92, a board member of Penn State’s College of Education Alumni Society and the assistant principal at Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pa., helped her school’s 950 students organize a dance last December. The dance raised $1,500 for Thon and the Four Diamonds Fund and in the process taught her students a valuable lesson about community service.

Thon fundraising was not contained to the East Coast. The Los Angeles Chapter sponsored a golf tournament and silent auction in November—raising more than $11,000 for Thon and the group’s scholarship fund. “This event really emphasizes the purpose of a chapter—to facilitate fraternal experience, promote philanthropy and support education,” said Los Angeles Chapter President Ridge Riley ’70.

Parmi Nous Alumni Interest Group, composed of former student leaders, holds its annual reunion during Thon weekend and works throughout the year to raise money for Thon through solicitations of individuals and major boosters. The group also helps Thon students with their fundraising. Parmi Nous alumni have contributed more than $27,000 for the kids since Thon began.

“Parmi Nous has always considered Thon to be a large part of its rich history and identity,” said John Stewart ’01, president of the Parmi Nous Alumni Interest Group. “So many of our members have danced, raised funds and given their sweat and tears to this wonderful cause that we as an organization take tremendous pride in basing our own traditions around the annual event.”

Some alumni groups help Thon by putting links on their Web sites and e-mailing members to contribute to Thon. Others help in non-monetary ways. The Annapolis (Md.) Chapter is just one group that puts together care packages for dancers filled with socks, foot powder, beads, balls, sports drinks, and other items to help dancers get through Thon and to remind them of how proud alumni are of their efforts on behalf of the kids.

“This past year, the Alumni Association added support for Thon as one of 12 criteria our chapters can choose to work on to remain in active status,” said Williams. “Thon is quickly becoming one of the great unifying events for our alumni groups across the nation, and they are responding in magnificent fashion.”

The Penn State Alumni Association itself has been a one of the major corporate sponsors of Thon since 1991 as well as running the annual Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend. The Alumni Association’s sponsorship includes a sizable cash donation, donated ad space in The Penn Stater magazine, use of the Hintz Family Alumni Center and more than 2,000 complimentary Alumni Association memberships for all Thon dancers and their parents.

The Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world with more than 156,000 members. Its mission is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, provide valued service to members, and support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. For more information on the Penn State Alumni Association, visit www.alumni.psu.edu/.

For more information about Thon, to make a donation or to view a live Webcast throughout Thon weekend, go to www.thon.org.

Thon Alumni, Parents of Dancers To Blanket
Rec Hall February 17-19 as Part of Special Weekend

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Jan. 24, 2006)—The 10th annual Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend is all about reliving memories and making new memories while supporting this year's dancers trying to raise more than $4 million "For the Kids."

On Thon weekend, February 17-19, more than 400 former Thon participants and parents of current dancers will flock to University Park to support this year's Thon participants and The Four Diamonds Fund as part of Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend, sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association.

During the weekend, parents and alumni will get to be on the Rec Hall floor with the dancers, participate in massage breaks, learn the line dance, get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Thon operation, enjoy a celebratory pizza party and more. Special programs for former Thon dancers from 1996 and 2001 are also planned, and the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group will hold an open meeting at noon Saturday at the Hintz Family Alumni Center.

Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend is open to all former Thon participants and parents of current dancers. Registrations will be taken through Monday, Feb. 13. The weekend full of events, as well as some meals, costs $35 for Alumni Association members and $50 for non-members. To register or for more information on Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend, go to www.alumni.psu.edu/events or call 800-548-LION, option 4.

In addition to running Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend, the Penn State Alumni Association has been one of the major corporate sponsors of Thon since 1991. The Alumni Association's sponsorship includes a sizable cash donation as well as donating ads in The Penn Stater magazine, donating the use of the Hintz Family Alumni Center and providing more than 200 complimentary memberships to the Alumni Association to all Thon dancers and their parents.

Thon Alumni & Parents Weekend is one of hundreds of events and programs run by the Penn State Alumni Association, the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world with more than 156,000 members. For more information on the Penn State Alumni Association, go to www.alumni.psu.edu.