Alumni Association

U.S. serviceman, Penn State alumnus supports the Alumni Courtyard

From his post in the Middle East, one U.S. Marine wanted to be sure his Penn State memories and pride had a solid home. So, he bought a brick -- the last one available -- on the Alumni Courtyard on May 26, just in time to recognize Memorial Day, too.

The class of 2004's Douglas Ninkovich, now serving in Kuwait, was deployed three times as a Penn State student. A member of the Marine Corps Reserve out of Harrisburg, he juggled both school and work during his deployments. Ninkovich also was a member of the Penn State men’s rugby team and vice president of the Penn State University Office of Veterans Program (PSUVO). To date, he’s been to 33 different countries and five continents, and has been deployed seven times altogether, during four activations. Ninkovich has a leadership position in the newly formed Veteran Alumni Affiliate Program Group at Penn State York. He is expected back in the United States in August, just in time to see his brick installed.

Ninkovich’s purchase on Friday, May 26, marked the last of the 2,090 red bricks, available on the Alumni Courtyard, which was launched in January 2012 by the Penn State Alumni Association. Bluestones and granite centerpieces are still available, and applications for these need to be received by June 14 in order to be included with the August installation. A smaller installation will take place this fall (weather permitting) and again in the spring of 2014.

The Alumni Courtyard is now at 92 percent capacity of bricks and stones sold. The Alumni Association will be celebrating the Courtyard initiative and thanking all of those members who participated with a dedication ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Hintz Family Alumni Center, just prior to the Homecoming Parade. More event information will be available in the coming weeks. For details about the Alumni Courtyard, visit alumni.psu.edu/alumnicourtyard.

The Alumni Courtyard, nestled beside the Hintz Family Alumni Center Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated June 17, 2013

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