Class Gift Campaign celebrates an 'Evening of New BEEginnings'

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 2019 Class Gift Campaign hosted students, faculty and University community members on March 22 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center for an evening of learning and celebration of the 2019 class gift to the University: an Entry Gate to the Pollinators’ Garden at the Arboretum at Penn State.

Co-hosted by the Lion Ambassadors, the event, titled "An Evening of New BEEginnings," featured design replications of the entry gate that allowed attendees to better understand the intended structure and design of the gift. Attendees then had the opportunity to hear remarks from Class Gift Campaign Director Tom Beeby, a senior in political science and economics; Sam Anawalt, a junior in energy and sustainability policy; and two representatives from the University that spoke on the significance and meaning behind the gift.

One of those representatives, Patrick Williams, director of development at the Arboretum, expressed his eagerness for the entrance gate.

“It is a place that students can enjoy,” Williams said. “They can go there to learn and faculty can bring their classes out.”

According to the Arboretum’s website, the plan for the pollinators' garden is to demonstrate a collection of Pennsylvania biodiversity by “taking advantage of a particular strength in University faculty expertise to create a unique and innovative approach.”

Christina Grozinger, distinguished professor of entomology and director of the Center for Pollinator Research, expressed her enthusiasm for the gift. She informed the crowd that this gift will lead to a widened pedagogical opportunity for understanding of the pollination process.

“150,000 to 200,000 people pass through the Arboretum each year,” she said. “So this is just a fantastic opportunity for us to tell people about the pollinators and what people can do to help them out.”  

The night then concluded with a gift basket raffle, while attendees enjoyed food and dialogue with Class Gift Campaign members and event speakers.

To learn more information about the Pollinators’ Garden, visit https://arboretum.psu.edu/gardens/the-future/future-gardens/.

To learn more about the Pollinators’ Garden Entry Gate, follow the Class Gift Campaign social media: Instagram: psuclassgift; Twitter: @PSUClassGift; Facebook: Penn State Class Gift Campaign.