New Kensington

Scholarship reception features Penn State Poet laureate

Penn State Laureate Robin Becker was the keynote speaker Oct. 15 at Penn State New Kensington's Scholarship Reception, an annual event that brings together scholarship recipients and donors.

Becker, professor of English and women's studies in the College of the Liberal Arts and a nationally acclaimed poet, is the third Penn State laureate, succeeding Anthony T. Leach, associate professor of music and music education, and inaugural laureate Kim Cook, professor of music in cello, both in Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture. Cook performed at the campus' 50th anniversary gala in 2008.

The laureate is a full-time University faculty member in the humanities or fine arts who is assigned for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences. The laureate is a highly visible representative of Penn State who appears regularly at events University-wide and throughout the Commonwealth at community and statewide events.

In addition to the reception, Becker’s agenda at New Kensington included leading a class discussion of her poems in the women writers class taught by Lois Rubin, associate professor of English, and a poetry reading for students, faculty and staff.

The scholarship reception gives students who receive New Kensington campus scholarships a chance to meet their benefactors face to face. Scholarships are awarded to eligible students on the basis of academic promise, leadership qualities, community service and financial need. This year, new and returning students at the New Kensington campus earned a total of $160,000 in scholarship money. Thirty-nine scholarships were awarded to 99 students with an average award of $1,661 per student.

Donna Speer, director of development, recognized two new $50,000 endowments: the Dr. N.A. Kopelman and Freda D. Kopelman Trustee Scholarship and the William and Claudia Harbaugh Trustee Matching Scholarship. The $50,000 Kopelman scholarship was established by Jim and Eileen Kopleman of New Kensington, Pa., in memory of Jim's parents. Kopelman practiced general and internal medicine in Arnold and New Kensington for more than forty years. The $50,000 Harbaugh endowment was created by Bill and Claudia Harbaugh of Greensburg. The scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate students from Westmoreland County who are enrolled at the campus.

Through the trustee matching scholarship program, donors become partners with the University in supporting students. The annual spendable income on an endowed scholarship, which averages 5 percent, is matched by the University and allows donors to make the most of their philanthropic dollars.

Penn State New Kensington is part of "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students," a University-wide effort to raise private donations to strengthen support for students, faculty and programs. All gifts enhance Penn State's historic mission of teaching, research and service to society.

Penn State Laureate Robin Becker reads one of her poems at the New Kensington campus Scholarship reception. Credit: Bill Woodard / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 18, 2010

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