University Park, Pa. -- Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, Penn State seniors will have an opportunity to determine their class legacy by voting for one of three options as their gift to the University.
Members of the Penn State community submitted about 60 proposals online and through paper submissions. After careful consideration, the 2010 Senior Class Gift ballot committee has selected the following three proposals for the final ballot:
-- Public Sculpture and Class of 2010 Endowed Scholarship. The Class of 2010 would purchase a monumental outdoor sculpture for permanent display and endow an undergraduate scholarship. Currently on loan to the University until fall 2010 and located in the Armsby Quad, "Connected" is an 11-foot high sculpture made from two naturally felled oak trees that have been bolted together and then carved. Created by artist Harry Gordon, this sculpture would add significantly to the visual appeal of campus. The class would also endow a scholarship in the name of the Class of 2010, which would put a Penn State education within reach of students who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Both the scholarship and sculpture would allow students, alumni, and other visitors to "connect" with fellow classmates and their alma mater.
-- HUB Aquarium Maintenance Endowment. The Class of 2010 would establish a long-term maintenance endowment to ensure that funds are available to sustain and perpetuate the HUB aquariums. Established by the Class of 1999, the HUB Aquariums have become a campus landmark and one of the most renowned public displays of its kind in the country. Fully supported by a volunteer team, the two aquariums are used for research by students and faculty and act as a showpiece for the community. However, as a living gift, the aquariums operate continuously and require ongoing maintenance and upgrading. Current maintenance funding is almost exhausted and funds are needed for equipment replacement, livestock replenishment, and system monitoring.
-- Marsh Meadow Boardwalk and Overlook at the Arboretum. The Class of 2010 would establish a boardwalk and overlook across the James J. and Lynn D. Ramage Marsh Meadow in The Arboretum at Penn State, a 370-acre living laboratory. The Marsh Meadow has been seeded with 3-foot high switch grass and edged with trees and shrubs common to wet areas in order to simulate a marsh. The boardwalk would act as the "front door" to the Arboretum from central campus and be an aesthetic feature in its own right, providing a "bridge" over an impassable wet area. This would be a significant gift as 2009-2010 marks the opening of the Arboretum and it would be a highly visible and heavily used feature in the Arboretum landscape.
Voting for the 2010 senior class gift will take place Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, October 23. Seniors can vote online at http://www.SeniorClassGift.psu.edu that week. In addition, they can vote in person on the ground floor of the HUB from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; at the Willard Plaza from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and at the Allen Street Gates from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Friday. Voting ballots, pledge sheets, and conceptual images will be available at all voting locations and online.
"The diversity of the gift options presents seniors with the opportunity to improve the Penn State experience and show their support for their future alma mater," said Mike Lampariello, senior class gift committee overall chairperson. "The sculpture and scholarship will both enhance the aesthetics of campus and allow deserving students to continue their education. The endowment for the HUB aquariums will help ensure the long-term future of one of the University's most identifiable landmarks. The boardwalk at the Arboretum will create a highly visible 'front door' that will provide pedestrian access to a new University destination. Each gift has many positive aspects, and we look forward to seeing which one seniors choose."
Students graduating in May, August, or December 2010 are eligible to vote for and donate to this year's senior class gift.
Voting results will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. in the first floor lounge of the HUB. Executive Vice President and Provost Rodney Erickson will be present to accept the 2010 class gift on behalf of the University. The Penn State community is invited to attend.
The 2010 Senior Class Gift Committee includes Mike Lampariello (overall chairperson), Amanda Estep (student relations chairperson), Emily Hebner (events chairperson), Jenny Lubkin (marketing chairperson), Kyle Lutes (gift development chairperson), and Alyssa Rosenblum (communications chairperson). Lutes led the ballot selection committee, which was composed of about 15 students, faculty and staff.
For more information about the 2010 senior class gift, contact Mike Lampariello at mtl168@psu.edu, or Jordan Ford, senior class gift advisor, at jaf378@psu.edu. To learn more about senior class gifts at Penn State, visit http://www.SeniorClassGift.psu.edu online.