UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society will sponsor the reception for student honorees at Penn State New Kensington's annual Academic and Student Achievement awards ceremony.
The society, based at Penn State New Kensington, donated $500 to help recognize more than 100 students for their accomplishments during the fall and spring semesters. The "Celebration of Excellence" awards ceremony is set for 7 p.m., Friday, April 29, in the campus' Forum Theatre. The event is co-sponsored by the campus’ Student Government Association.
The highlight of the evening is the awarding of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. In addition, faculty will be recognized for excellence in teaching, and the society will present its annual Penn State Spirit award to the campus student who exhibits integrity and character as a leader, demonstrates outstanding dedication to the campus, and exemplifies the meaning of Penn State pride. Former campus student Vera Spina Greenwald, a 2003 Penn State alumna and president of the alumni society, will present the award.
The society engages in various campus projects throughout the year, interacting with former and current students through social and fundraising events and other networking activities. Recently, the society held its 14th annual Alumni Bowlathon that raised $7,000 for campus projects and scholarships.
Proceeds from the bowlathon support the Penn State New Kensington Endowed Scholarship that funds yearly awards to campus undergraduates. In the past five years, the endowment has risen from $51,000 to $109,000, as the society has donated more than $60,000 to the campus and scholarship. For the current academic year, the New Kensington society awarded a record $5,500 in scholarships to four campus students. Since 1998, the society has awarded $53,500 to 59 campus students.
Penn State alumni, students, parents and friends from the Penn State New Kensington service area -- Westmoreland, Allegheny, Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties -- are encouraged to re-connect with the University and campus by attending the society’s monthly meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The next meeting is May 16 at the Elks Lodge in Tarentum.
The society's next major fundraiser is the alumni golf scramble that is set for Monday, Aug.1, at Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club. For information on the golf outing, call Kary Coleman, director of development and alumni relations, 724-334-6057 or kxc22@psu.edu
For more information on the society, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Alumni/alumorg.htm