[ search ]
[ how do i? ]
[ e-mail forwarding ]
[ online services ]

Penn State Alumni Association News: Headline Archives
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Headline Archives
02/08/01—Dance with the Stars at Annual Founders' Day Ball
02/06/01—Regional Leadership Training Offered for Volunteers in Western PA
01/24/01—Update on Hintz Family Alumni Center
01/12/01—"My Penn State" Portal Page Keeps Penn Staters Connected
01/05/01—Regional Training Offered to Alumni Association Leaders in Southeast
01/04/01—Basketball Fans Stand Up and Be Recognized
11/29/00—Holiday Celebration Celebrates the Season / Diversity
11/15/00—Alumni Council Reinforces Commitment to Diversity
11/29/00—Alumni Council Awards Recognize 17 for Service
11/27/00—Alumni Association Members Stand Up and Be Recognized
11/24/00—Lion Ambassadors Host Lantern Tours of Campus
11/20/00—Parents & Families Day 2001 Scheduled
10/17/00—Penn State Lion Ambassadors Hold Membership Sessions
10/12/00—Students Rally Support for Injured Football Player at Homecoming Game
10/10/00—5-K Moxie-thon Race Exceeds Expectations
10/09/00—Penn Staters Connect Halfway Across the Globe
10/09/00—Festivities Surround Tradition of Guarding the Lion Shrine
10/09/00—The Alumni Store @ Penn State Celebrates First Anniversary
09/21/00—E-mail Forwarding Service Now Available to all Alumni Association Members
09/15/00—2nd Regional Training for Alumni Association Leaders Slated for October
08/25/00—Runners Race Against Leukemia in The Melissa Heydenreich 5k Moxie-thon
08/25/00—27 To Receive Alumni Fellow Award
08/21/00—Alumni Association Members Can Read Their Football Letter Online
08/21/00—Nittany Lion Fans Warm Up to HUDDLE Series
08/18/00—Penn State Pep Rally at Pittsburgh Derailed
08/17/00—Mentoring Program Quells Fears of Incoming Freshmen
08/14/00—Redesigned Web Site Offers Easier Access to Penn Staters
06/16/00—Alumni Council Election Results Announced

Dance with the Stars at Annual Founders' Day Ball [top]
University Park, PA, February 8, 2001— The Founders' Day Ball, an annual event sponsored by the Lion Ambassadors and the Penn State Alumni Association, will be held on Friday, February 23, from 7:30-11:00 pm in Heritage Hall, HUB/Robeson Center. The theme of this year's event is Dancing with the Stars. Faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni are invited to join in the celebration of the founding of Penn State University. Attire is semi-formal. Light refreshments will be served.

The cost of the event is $5.00/person or $8.00/couple. Members of the Blue & White Society will receive two tickets for the price of one. For ticket information, call the Lion Ambassador's office at 863-3752. The Lion Ambassadors are the student alumni corps sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Regional Leadership Training Offered for Volunteers in Western PA [top]
University Park, PA, February 6, 2001— Volunteer leaders from Western Pennsylvania are invited to participate in a one-day regional training in Pittsburgh on Saturday, February 24. This unique opportunity will bring together Penn State leaders to brainstorm, share ideas and connect with other Penn State volunteer leaders representing chapters, affiliate program groups, alumni interest groups, constituent societies, and alumni council.

Topics will include traditional and electronic communication tactics for how to promote your group and connect with your constituents, membership initiatives, and a presentation on the volunteer's perspective given by an alumni council member. All alumni group leaders and any alum interested in getting more involved with an affiliate group are encouraged to attend.

The training will be held at the Sheraton Station Square in downtown Pittsburgh beginning at 10:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm. Lunch will be provided with a reception following the training. Dress attire is casual. Please RSVP by Friday, February 16 to Cheryl Stringer at czs3@psu.edu or call 1-800-548-5466, option 3.

Update on Hintz Family Alumni Center [top]
University Park, PA, January 24, 2001—The Hintz Family Alumni Center, the alumni home away from home on the University Park campus, is 85% complete. Most recently, progress has been made on the carpet installation, painting and drywall, and customized woodwork. Over the next two weeks, exterior finishes will include flagstone paving installation and curbing. Inside, workers will begin to refinish the wooden floors in the University House, install plumbing fixtures, and continue to paint, drywall and lay carpet on the second floor. The anticipated completion date is the end of February. Alumni Association staff hopes to move into their new offices in the Hintz Family Alumni Center by the end of March.

The Dedication of the Hintz Family Alumni Center will be on Saturday, April 21 before the Blue/White Game. An Open House for alumni, staff, students, and the community will be held on Sunday afternoon, April 22. For more information on the progress of the Hintz Family Alumni Center, go to http://www.alumni.psu.edu/about_us/center/default.htm.

"My Penn State" Portal Page Keeps Penn Staters Connected [top]
University Park, PA, January 12, 2001—The Penn State Alumni Association has launched its new Penn State Internet portal page. The "My Penn State" portal will allow Internet users to start their day with Penn State news and information when they log-on to the Web. The portal page is free and available to anyone who wants to be connected to Penn State. The ability to customize their start page and change content on a daily basis allows users to access the latest news from Penn State and the Alumni Association, receive weather reports, check headline news, view stock prices, and much more.

Special features include polls and contests that offer opportunities to win football tickets and other Penn State memorabilia. Bulletin boards for ongoing discussions and moderated chat rooms with distinguished University guests will be introduced in the future. Unlike traditional portals, the site contains no advertising.

Those interested in the "My Penn State" portal page need to visit http://psualum.com and log-on to create an account. Penn Staters who already use the Association's online services can use the same user name and password. Those who are new to Alumni Association online services will receive their user name and password when they log-on to establish an account.

The training will be held at the Omni Rosen Hotel on International Drive in Orlando beginning at 10 am and ending at 4 pm. Lunch will be provided with a reception following the training. Dress attire is casual. Please RSVP by Friday, January 27 to Rayna Wendell, Regional Director at rjg121@psu.edu or call 1-800-548-5466, option 3.

For ticket information, contact the Penn State Athletic Ticket Office at Bryce Jordan Center at 814-865-5555, toll free at 800-833-5533 or www.GoPSUsports.com.

Holiday Celebration Celebrates the Season / Diversity [top]
University Park, PA, November 29, 2000—A Holiday Celebration, an annual event to celebrate the holiday season and Penn State's diversity, will be held at the HUB/Robeson Center on Monday, December 4 from 1:30 -3:30 pm. The event, organized by the Penn State Lion Ambassadors, is free and open to all members of the University community. Several student organizations, performance ensembles, and community groups will entertain guests with song, dance and readings. The Lion Ambassadors will be collecting non-perishable food items and donating a tree to a woman's shelter for a needy family in Centre County.

For more information, contact the project directors: Scott Johnson or Kelly Schoeninger at the Lion Ambassador office - 863-3752. The Lion Ambassadors are the University's student alumni corps sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association.

The Diversity Committee met with University officials to get an understanding of the campus situation in regards to racial and ethnic problems that have emerged recently. A major student concern is the passive indifference to bigoted statements made in the classroom. While student education and faculty training were discussed as ways to address the problem, it was duly noted that the response needs to be systemic and not a one-time effort.

In his president's report, Jim Carnes reported on the Association's activities over the past 6 months, highlighting expanded electronic services and enhanced outreach efforts as two progressive areas. Alumni receptions in Brazil and Australia created excellent visibility for the Association and the University.

In her executive director's report, Diane Ryan cited the numerous strategic partnerships that the Alumni Association has formed with various organizations and departments throughout the University. Partnerships with Athletics, the Division of Student Affairs, and MBNA are some of the more prominent affiliations. This connection affords visibility opportunities, as well as allows the Association to carry out its mission of connecting alumni to each other and the University.

The Membership Committee set a goal of reaching 150,000 members in the coming year. One of the committee's primary objectives is the development of benefits targeted at specific demographic segments of alumni, such as new grads and life members. The possibility of developing a CD that communicates benefits to younger alums is under consideration.

The Budget and Finance Committee announced that the financial condition of the Alumni Association is sound. The Committee advised against the pursuance of long-term care insurance as a benefit due to the industry's lack of regulation. Revenue from the partnership with MBNA, now in its 3rd year of a 10-year contract with the Alumni Association, will help to fund Association initiatives.

The Communication Committee announced a menu of expanded electronic services for alums. A re-designed Web site, development of an online alumni directory, expanded online alumni store, addition of the online Football Letter, e-mail forwarding, and an anticipated portal page are the result of a concerted effort to improve communication to and between alums and the University. The newest electronic feature is the availability of postcards. An online presence for the Penn Stater was also discussed.

The Program Development Committee is planning to re-organize the Blue & White Society, a 2800-student spirit organization. The Committee will initiate a new event, "Council in the Classroom," to connect alumni to students. An initiative to develop the Lion Ambassador program at other campuses will be pursued.

The Volunteer Support Committee announced that online Alumni Council elections will be offered for the first time in spring 2001. Twenty-two nominations have been submitted for election. One of those, Marianne Alexander (Ellicott City, MD), has accepted the nomination of president. Marianne is filling her second three-year term on Council. She is Executive Director of the Public Leadership Education Network in Washington, D.C. Council also voted in favor of the Committee's motion to establish The Schreyer Honors College and Hazleton campus as alumni societies. A representative of the Board of Trustees and the president of the Lion Ambassadors also gave reports. Seventeen (17) individuals and alumni groups were recognized for their service and exceptional program offerings at the annual Alumni Council Awards Dinner on Friday night at the Nittany Lion Inn. Nominations for the 2001 Alumni Recognition Awards are now being accepted. Forms are available online at www.alumni.psu.edu or by contacting Kathy Kurtz at 1-800-548-5466, option 4.

A highlight of Council weekend was recognition at the first Alumni Association Appreciation Day at Beaver Stadium. On Saturday, November 4, Council members marched onto the field between quarters of the Penn State-Iowa game to throngs of cheering fans. The stadium erupted when Association members were asked to stand and be recognized.

The Executive Board will convene March 16-17 and the Alumni Council meeting will reconvene April 20-21 at University Park. The spring Council meetings will be held in the new Hintz Family Alumni Center located in the center of campus. The Center will be dedicated on April 22, 2000 during Blue White Weekend.

The Alumni Association chapter winners were the following:

• The Fort Myers chapter of southwest Florida - Chapter Membership Award
• Potomac Valley chapter - Chapter Membership Communication Award
• Michigan chapter - Chapter Student Support and Interaction Award
• Beaver Valley Area chapter - Chapter Student Support and Interaction Award
• Greater Chicago chapter - Chapter Community Service Award
• Metro Washington chapter - Personal and Professional Enrichment Award The alumni society and affiliate program group winners were:
• College of Communications Alumni Society - Alumni Society Achievement Award for the Student Seminar Series.
• College of Education Alumni Society - Alumni Society Achievement Award for its Alumni-Student Teacher Network.
• Food Industry Group - Affiliate Program Group Achievement Award for organization of Food Science weekend and conferences that connected alumni to each other and the Department.
• Lion's Paw - Alumni Interest Group Achievement Award for organization of successful 90th anniversary reunion weekend.
• Naples and Fort Myers chapters - PRIDE Award for collaborative efforts that effectively support the mission of the Penn State Alumni Association.
• College of Education Alumni Society - The National Service Week Project Award for its Children's Book Drive.
  
  Individuals receiving awards were:
  
  
• Martha Lewis Starling, M.S. '66, Ph.D. '69, Clothing and Textiles - Philip Philip Mitchell Alumni Service Award for her dedicated service to Penn State students, the College of Health and Human Development, and the University. As a development director, Starling raised more than $30 million for the College of Health and Human Development, and was the founder of the Student Professional Development Endowment to provide financial assistance for student participation in professional activities.
• Kevin Shaw, '91, Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management - Recent Alumnus Award for his outstanding volunteer service to the Alumni Association within the previous year. Shaw has stayed connected to Penn State through a leadership role on the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society, speaking to classes, providing guidance to students in his College, and helping to develop an associate degree program in collaboration with Penn State's World Campus.
• William Jaffe, '60 Communications/Journalism - Volunteer of the Year award for his superior service to the Alumni Association within the previous year. Jaffe has provided unprecedented leadership for the Dollars for Scholars Golf Classic that provides financial support to students in the College of Communications who participate in internships outside of their hometown areas. Along with his wife, Jaffe established the William and Honora Jaffe Senior Transitional Seminar for Student-Athletes and the Reuben Jaffe Memorial Scholarship Endowment in the College of Communications. Bert Goerder accepted the Alumni Volunteer Scholarship award for her late husband, Colonel Robert Goerder, '39 Economics. The award is named to honor outstanding service by an alumni volunteer. Goerder was actively involved with the Lion Ambassadors and served as the group's historian.

As student representatives of the Alumni Association, the Lion Ambassadors extend the Association's mission by connecting alumni and visitors to the University. They provide tours of the University Park campus, relate the traditions and history of Penn State, and help at select University functions. The Lion Ambassadors also promote Penn State pride through student cheering sections at sporting events.

Applications for membership can be obtained at the information sessions and at www.alumni.psu.edu/ambassadors. For more information, call the Lion Ambassador office at 863-3752.

Students will flood the S-Zone, a section of seats below the Blue Band and above the south end zone of Beaver Stadium, sporting blue and white jerseys. The Lion Ambassadors, the student alumni corps of the Penn State Alumni Association, organizers of the S-Zone, will strategically place students in the formation of "43" so that student support for Adam is visible when the game is aired regionally on ESPN 2.

To participate, students can enter gate 17 with their student football ticket and receive a blue or white mesh jersey to wear during the game. For more information, contact Kristen Vanderpool at 863-3752.

The Lion Ambassadors, a select group of students sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association, promote and represent Penn State and the Alumni Association to the campus community, alumni, and visitors. The mission of the Penn State Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued service to members, and to support the University's mission of teaching, research, and service. The Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the United States, with more than 145,000 members.

Sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Lion Ambassadors, the student alumni corps of the Alumni Association, the Moxie-thon race remembers the courage and determination of Melissa Heydenreich, a former Penn State graduate and Lion Ambassador who died of leukemia in 1997.

The goal of the reception was to attract Penn Staters living in Australia, as well as those in the country attending the Olympics. Five alumni receptions have been held during the summer and winter Olympic games. Attendance at the Sydney reception was double that of previous receptions.

The tradition of guarding the Lion shrine dates back to 1966. On the eve of the Homecoming football game with Syracuse University, the opposing team's fans dumped orange paint on the Lion. Since that time, various groups have guarded the shrine to ensure that mischief and vandalism to the Nittany Lion mascot are deterred. Athletes, fraternities, the Penn State Army ROTC and, more recently, the Lion Ambassadors, have kept watch over the shrine.

The most popular items in the Alumni Store are Creamery ice cream, grilled stickies from Ye Olde College Diner, and Penn State clothing, all reminders of life at Penn State. "The items rekindle memories," notes Scholl. One life member of the Alumni Association regularly orders ice cream as birthday gifts for his friends. Since November of 1999, he's placed 12 telephone orders with the Alumni Store. "It's a great gift. I've received rave reviews for the quality and uniqueness of the gift," comments Joseph Tipping, class of '65. In response to Penn State's entrée into electronic commerce, Tipping, adds, "It's in keeping with the times, convenient, and the right thing to do."

The Alumni Store offers more than 200 items for sale online. In addition to the famous signature delicacies, the store offers Penn State artwork, an extensive jewelry and clothing collection, home furnishings, books and music, golf items, and other gift ideas. The new "spirit" category gives visitors a look at products ranging from nylon PSU flags, tailgate trays and license plates, to the stand-up JoePa. "This category has taken off," comments Lucille Guinta-Bates, Customer Service Representative for the Alumni Store. "We've also added a new line of apparel in the beginning of September. Our goal is to sell things that you couldn't find somewhere else."

Orders may be placed via the Alumni Association's secure Web site. Orders are also accepted via telephone, fax and by mail order. Anyone can order through the online Alumni Store. The staff processes orders during business hours to outside vendors who ship the merchandise. Each order helps support Penn State scholarships, and alumni and student programs.

Founded in 1870, the mission of the Penn State Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued service to members, and to support the University's mission of teaching, research, and service. More than 145,00 members comprise the largest dues-paying alumni association in the United States.

E-mail forwarding allows Association members to set up a permanent address at the "psualum.com" domain and have e-mail messages forwarded to any e-mail account users designate. Once a member activates e-mail forwarding, the psualum.com address is the only one members need to give to family and friends. As members move to new locations or change jobs and switch Internet providers, messages will be forwarded to a member's latest e-mail account.

"This is a service that our alumni have been asking for, and we're glad to be able to offer it to our members," says April Scimio, Director of Communications for the Penn State Alumni Association.

This service is part of the Alumni Association's initiative to enhance online services for its members. The introduction of the online alumni directory was the first phase. The option to create a customized portal site will be available to members later in the fall. The same username and password will provide access to the online services that the Association is developing for its members.

The e-mail forwarding benefit is free to all Association members at http://psualum.com. To become a member, call 1-800-548-5466 or apply online at the Association Web site, http://www.alumni.psu.edu.

2nd Regional Training for Alumni Association Leaders Slated for October
Registration Still Open - Emerging Leaders Encouraged to Attend [top]
University Park, PA, September 15, 2000—On Saturday, October 14, volunteer leaders of affiliate Alumni Association groups and Alumni Council members in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, eastern Michigan, and Kentucky will convene in Cleveland, Ohio, to share ideas, network and connect with other Penn Sate volunteer leaders. New presidents, president-elects, and any alum interested in taking a leadership role or getting involved with an affiliate alumni group are encouraged to attend.

Information important for alumni group leaders to know will be shared. Topics include: alumni awards and recognition programs administered by the Association, advice on how to reach young alumni, information on scholarships and endowments, as well as affiliate group presentations highlighting successful programs. A former Alumni Council member will speak on the volunteer perspective.

The training will be held at the Wyndham Hotel located in downtown Cleveland beginning at 10 am and ending at 4 PM Continental breakfast, lunch, and a reception will be provided. The dress attire is casual. Please RSVP to Cheryl Stringer, Regional Director, at czs3@psu.edu or call 1-800-548-5466, option 3.

Runners Race Against Leukemia [top]
University Park, PA, August 25, 2000— The third annual Melissa Heydenreich 5-K Moxie-thon race against leukemia will be held on Sunday, September 24, at 10:00 am on the Penn State University Park campus. The race, sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Lion Ambassadors, remembers the courage and determination of Melissa Heydenreich, a former Penn State graduate who died of leukemia in 1997. Proceeds from the race will be given to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help fund leukemia research being conducted at Penn State. Since the race was started two years ago, close to 1000 runners have raised more than $14,000.

Melissa K. Heydenreich, of Alexandria, Va., formerly of State College, was a 1983 graduate of State College Area High School and a 1987 honors graduate of Penn State, where she was a University Scholar and Renaissance Scholar. She was also a Lion Ambassador, the student alumni corps sponsored by the Alumni Association, and remained active serving on the Penn State Liberal Arts Society board of directors and the Centre County Drug and Alcohol Planning Council.

The race begins and ends outside of the Intramural Building on the University Park campus. For more information or to obtain a registration form, call Dorrie Gilman, Lion Ambassador and Moxie-thon chairperson at 814-863-3752 or Amber Krieg at 814-863-1520. Runners can pick up and drop off registration forms at 100 Old Main. Race registration forms and more information are also available online at http://www.alumni.psu.edu/events/calendar/moxieform.htm

27 To Receive Alumni Fellow Award [top]
University Park, PA, August 25, 2000— The Penn State Alumni Association has announced the recipients of its 2000 Alumni Fellow award, according to Diane Ryan, Executive Director of the Association. The Alumni Fellow award is the most prestigious honor conferred by the Penn State Alumni Association. Twenty-seven designees will be honored at ceremonies held on campuses throughout the Penn State University system beginning in September.

The Alumni Fellow program is a joint Alumni Association - University venture developed to honor outstanding alumni who are leaders in their fields and who have made notable contributions to society and their community. Graham Spanier, President of Penn State University, invites recipients to return to specific colleges of the University to share their knowledge and expertise with students, faculty, and administrators. "As leaders in their professional fields, Alumni Fellows provide a dimension to the academic curriculum not otherwise available in the traditional classroom," says Ryan. The Fellows teach classes, lead seminars, and meet informally with students and faculty. The Board of Trustees has designated the title of Alumni Fellow as permanent and lifelong. The 2000 award conferees and their nominating colleges are: Gary Alt - Commonwealth College, Penn State DuBois; M. Michael Arjmand - College of Agricultural Sciences; Cynthia Ackron Baldwin - Commonwealth College, Penn State McKeesport; Richard H. Bard - The Smeal College of Business Administration; Donald R. Blair - Penn State Erie, The Behrend College; D. Ray Booker - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; Michael Coleman - Capital College, Schuylkill campus; Donald Devorris - Penn State Altoona; Amy DiGeso - College of Health and Human Development; John P. Driscoll - College of Arts and Architecture; Harold L. Ergott - College of Engineering; Edward M. Frymoyer - The Eberly College of Science; Frederick J. Giorgi - The Dickinson School of Law; Herbert C. Graves - College of Engineering; George L. Harakal, Jr. - Capital College, Harrisburg campus; Eileen T. Kennedy - College of Health and Human Development; David W. Leslie - College of Education; Albert L. Lord - Penn State Abington; Rosalyn G. Millman - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; Arthur J. Nagle - College of the Liberal Arts; Robert J. O'Leary - College of Communications; James H. Plonka - The Eberly College of Science; J. Frederick Pritchard - College of Medicine; David W. Reese - Commonwealth College, Wilkes Barre; J. David Rogers - The Smeal College of Business Administration; Richard S. Sokolov - College of the Liberal Arts; and Gregory J. Yurek - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Alumni Association Members Can Read Their Football Letter Online [top]
University Park, PA, August 21, 2000—A newly expanded version of the Penn State Alumni Association's Football Letter will be available online to the Association's 140,000 members this fall and will be much more timely than the mailed paper version.

Streaming videos, animation and full-color photos will be available in the online Football Letter, in addition to colorful descriptions of game action, scoring summaries, statistics and John Black's personal insights into the season and the rivalries. The online version will be viewable by Monday afternoons following each game - several days before the paper version begins arriving in Association members' mailboxes. The letter is password protected for members, who can view it at the new Association Web site at http://www.alumni.psu.edu/fbl.

In its 62nd year, the Football Letter is the oldest continually produced publication of its kind in the country. Started in 1938 by Ridge Riley '32, the publication is a benefit of membership in the Alumni Association and has become one of Penn State's most enduring traditions. Authorship of the letter passed to John Black '62 after Riley's death in 1976.

"I am amazed at how many hits we get on the online Football Letter each week in the fall. The number of persons accessing the online version has grown geometrically in the few years it has been available," says Black, Deputy Director of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Penn State fans that read the Football Letter online should consider helping the Alumni Association save trees and money by canceling their paper subscription. This can be done by going to the Football Letter Web site.

Nittany Lion Fans Warm Up to HUDDLE Series [top] University Park, PA, August 21, 2000—HUDDLE with the Faculty, a series of informal presentations offered every Penn State home football Saturday morning, has announced its 2000 season schedule. Alumni, parents and friends of Penn State are invited to attend the free hour-long event at the Nittany Lion Inn beginning at 9:00 am.Ê The following dates and topics are scheduled:

• September 2: Dr. A. Gregg Roeber, professor and head of History and Religious Studies - "Who Were the Pennsylvania Dutch?"
• September 9: Dr. Craig Zabel, associate professor and head of the Department of Art History - "The Gilded Age Homes of the Vanderbilts"
• September 30: Dr. Sandra Spanier, associate professor of English and Women's Studies - "On Hemingway's Trail"
• October 21: Dr. Linda M. Burton, professor of Human Development and Family Studies and director of the Center for Human Development and Family Research in Diverse Contexts - "Learning to Labor: Adolescent Kinwork in Multigeneration Families"
• November 4: Dr. Mark E. Neely, Jr., McCabe Greer Professor and Scholar-in-Residence of the Civil War Era Center - "Pennsylvania Politics: The Game Without Rules"
• November 18: Mr. Fred Gadomski, instructor in Meteorology and Mr. Paul Knight, instructor in Meteorology and Pennsylvania State Climatologist - "Weather in the New Millennium - A Story of Surprise and Intrigue."

Hot beverages will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. HUDDLE is an outreach service of the Penn State Alumni Association, the Nittany Lion Inn, and the Penn State Bookstore on Campus. For more information, contact Mary Jane Stout at 814-865-5466 or e-mail at mvs4@psu.edu.

Penn State Pep Rally at Pittsburgh Derailed [top]
University Park, PA, August 18, 2000—The traditional pre-game pep rally sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association at the away Penn State-Pitt football game has been canceled on Saturday, September 16, due to space limitations resulting from construction of the two new stadiums at the site of Three River Stadium. After an exhaustive search to locate a site able to accommodate the number of fans that attend this pep rally proved unsuccessful, the decision was made to cancel the event this year. To encourage Penn State spirit, the cheerleaders will help distribute 5,000 blue and white shakers to Penn Staters. The Penn State Alumni Association hosts an on-site pep rally at every away game featuring the Blue Band or Pep Band and cheerleaders. For the latest information on the away-game pep rallies, visit the Alumni Association Web site.

Mentoring Program Quells Fears of Incoming Freshmen [top]
University Park, PA, August 17, 2000—FastStart, a program designed to help incoming minority students initiate their college careers, is co-sponsoring the 2000 Multicultural family reunion, to be held on Hibbs Hall Lawn on Saturday, August 26 from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. In case of inclement weather, the reunion will be held in the Pollock room.

FastStart, sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, through the Office of Student Affairs, matches a faculty/staff member and alumnus with a participating freshmen student. Mentors introduce incoming first year and transfer students of color to the programs, organizations and resources available to them. They answer questions and offer support to ensure that students make a smooth transition to their new environment. Delta Sigma Theta, a historically black service sorority, has hosted the picnic for the past eight years. This is the first year that FastStart has co-sponsored the event.

Nikeeya James, of Delta Sigma Theta, coordinator of the event, says this year's program will feature a full picnic menu and live entertainment. Students will have the opportunity to mingle with representatives from on-campus departments and student organizations while enjoying games, prizes and giveaways. Registered students may meet their mentors at the Penn State Alumni Association table.

For more information, contact Gina Giacomantonio, coordinator of the FastStart Mentoring program at 814-863-6386 or e-mail at gmg12@psu.edu.

Redesigned Web Site Offers Easier Access to Penn Staters [top]
University Park, PA, August 14, 2000—The Penn State Alumni Association launched its new Web site featuring 12 new sections, a search engine, the new on-line Penn State alumni directory, and an interactive map that allows users to find an alumni chapter located anywhere in the United States. The site is located at http://www.alumni.psu.edu. At the root of the redesign was the need for a more user-friendly site that visitors can access for information on the Alumni Association and other Penn State news.

In response to alumni's comments, Giovanna Genard, Assistant Director of Electronic Communications, designed a site that was easier to navigate. According to Genard, the previous Web site had more than 4000 pages. "It became harder to locate information as the Association's programs expanded," she says. "Those unfamiliar with the organization of the Alumni Association had a very difficult time locating specific information they were seeking."

After three months of production and one month of testing and pre-launching, the information was reorganized into 12 sections, all accessible with one click and fully searchable. "The information is now organized so that users can find it intuitively," comments Genard. Driving the redesign was research conducted on the Alumni Association Web site indicating the way users navigate through the site.

"We receive a lot of calls from alumni who want to resume connections with the University," she adds. One link takes users to a page that describes the various ways that alumni can become involved in the Association. The site provides easy access to the Association's programs, facilitates membership applications and requests for brochures, and has an interactive function that allows alumni staff to respond to visitor's questions.

In addition to the on-line directory of Penn State's 475,000 living alumni (accessible to members only), a multimedia version of The Football Letter, photo scrapbooks of Association pep rallies, links to a Web Cam displaying live glimpses around campus, and electronic postcards are other enhanced features.

Future plans for the Web site include an expansion of the Virtual Tour feature, facilitated chats with guest faculty, and threaded discussions. Penn Staters will also be able to obtain a customized portal which will allow them to personalize their web browser startup page to display links to favorite Web sites, world and University news, and other options.

Alumni Council Election Results Announced [top]
University Park, PA, June 16, 2000 - The Penn State Alumni Association recently completed its 2000 elections for Alumni Council, its 77-member governing body. In the largest slate of candidates ever, 25 alumni vied for 10 spots on the board. More than 13,500 Alumni Association members voted in the election, making it one of the best ever in voter participation.

Elected to Alumni Council were:
*Liz Fox '80 Com, McKeesport
*Ken Haas '53 Agr, Oakton, Va.
Cynthia Hamlin '95 Bus, Washington, D.C.
David Han '88 Sci, Danville
*Richard Hann '58 Agr, Palmyra
Arlene Shapiro Kaplan '67 Lib, New York City
*Valerie Smith Krauss '63 Edu, Inverness, Ill.
Herb Nurick '62 Lib, '67 DSL, Harrisburg
Kirsten Vensel '90 Com, Marina Del Rey, Calif.
*Alex Wasilov '75 Bus, Philadelphia

Appointed to Council by President Jim Carnes:
Zygmunt Bialkowski Jr. '74 DSL, Scranton
Laura Ramp '94 Bus, Carlisle
*Rod Woodson '69 Lib, Washington, D.C.

* Incumbent