University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's class of 2004 has chosen to enhance Willard plaza as its gift to the University. Seniors have pledged nearly $22,600 so far to the Willard plaza project, to be located on the University Park campus. For pictures from the announcement, go to http://live.psu.edu/still_life/10_29_03_classgift/index.html
Bob Fay, chair of the 2004 senior class gift committee, explained that the gift will fund renovations to the area on the Pollock Road side of Willard Building, which will include the road and be similar in design to the plaza in front of the HUB-Robeson Cultural Center. In the next few weeks, the senior class gift committee will invite seniors to suggest how they would like the new Willard plaza to look and feel. Possible suggestions may include additional bike racks, seating and planters, but all ideas will be considered.
"In addition to adding an aesthetic touch to an area popular with students, the Willard plaza project will provide a comfortable place to gather in one of the most highly visible areas on campus," said Fay. "We're excited that the class gift of 2004 will meaningfully add to the sense of community on campus. The input of the senior class will be invaluable to shaping and crafting the gift we will leave to Penn State."
Over the next several months, Fay noted, members of the senior class gift committee will work with the Office of Physical Plant to plan the project. A plaque noting the senior class contribution will be placed in a prominent location on the plaza.
"I am pleased to accept this gift on behalf of the University," said Jan Jacobs, vice provost for Undergraduate Education and International Programs. "The Willard plaza is a fine opportunity for the senior class to enhance an already popular gathering place for many of the students on campus. This gift promises to provide a creative and unique legacy for the class of 2004 that will become a lasting part of Penn State's history."
About 1,911 seniors cast ballots last week (Oct. 21-24) in person and online, with 66 percent choosing to vote via the Web. The winning proposal was submitted by the Office of Physical Plant and was chosen over two other proposals — the Obelisk Garden and the Park Bench project.
Most of the funding for class gifts comes from seniors pledging the balance of their general deposits. The University holds general deposits for each student to cover unforeseen expenses, fees and emergency costs.
The 2004 senior class gift committee is led by Bob Fay, of York (overall chair); Janet Moccia, of Brookhaven (advertising/public relations chair); Robyn Ricketts, of State College (ballot selection/gift promotion chair); Jaci Czarnecki, of Greensburg (fund-raising chair); Mike Lutz, of Allentown (voting/special events chair); and Lee Sobotkin, of Lansdale (Web/IT chair).
Penn State seniors have been making class gifts to the University for more than 100 years, beginning when members of the class of 1861, at their reunion in 1890, gave the University a portrait of Penn State's first president, Evan Pugh, that still hangs in the lobby of Old Main. More recent gifts include historic shepherd's crook lamps to light campus walkways (class of 2001); historic street clocks (class of 2002); and a historical mural to be located inside the HUB-Robeson Center (class of 2003).
Visit http://www.seniorclassgift.psu.edu to see what gifts previous senior classes have made to Penn State.