UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania Sen. Patricia H. (Pat) Vance, R-31st District, will receive the 10th annual Friend of Penn State legislative award this year for the significant role she has played in the continued improvement of Penn State.
The award luncheon will be held June 19 in the Hintz Family Alumni Center, at Penn State’s University Park campus. Vance was nominated for the award by the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Penn State University,” Vance said. “I have always had a warm spot in my heart for both the medical center and law school (Penn State Dickinson School of Law). They have contributed immeasurably to the health and well-being of the residents of our area.”
Since 2006, the award has been presented annually by the Penn State Alumni Association. Vance was named the 2015 award recipient by the Legislative Education and Advocacy Committee of Alumni Council, the governing body of the Penn State Alumni Association.
In choosing Vance to receive the award, committee members noted her consistent, long-time support for Penn State. “Her support for the entire Penn State community has been open-minded, thoughtful and passionate,” said outgoing Committee Chair Andy Santacroce.
Over the years, Vance has supported both the education and general appropriation to the University as well as targeted programmatic funding for Penn State Hershey. Her leadership as chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee has yielded many benefits to Penn State Hershey. As a private donor, Vance has also given generous support to the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital.
She has also worked to advance the best interests of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law within the Carlisle community, which is located in Vance’s district. The 31st District includes parts of Cumberland and York counties.
Vance was first elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in 2004, after serving 14 years (1991-2004) in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In addition to chairing the Senate’s Public Health and Welfare Committee, Vance is a member of the following committees: Appropriations; Banking and Insurance; Communications and Technology; Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; and Finance. She also serves on the Capitol Preservation Committee.
Vance is the only member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who is a professional nurse.
Vance is active in her community as a member of several charitable, community and religious organizations, including as a board member of the Stabler Foundation. She also is a member of St. James Presbyterian Church.