Impact

The year in review, in news and images: A look back at 2019 at Penn State

Photos and stories recap some of the year's most notable moments at the University

A gallery of photographs reflecting on events, people and special moments at Penn State during 2019 can be viewed at https://news.psu.edu/gallery/600897/2019/12/05/2019-year-photos. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the door closes on 2019, we review a small, representative selection of achievements and visual reflections on the year that was at Penn State, from among the many University-wide accomplishments in academics, research, athletics, student life, sustainability and philanthropy. View a photo gallery and collection of news highlights at https://news.psu.edu/gallery/600897/2019/12/05/2019-year-photos. 

Davina Chang, a senior at Penn State studying psychology with a minor in human development and family studies, demonstrates a technique called ‘hand breath’ in Penn State’s Mindfulness Lab. The technique helps to guide breathing while focusing on tracing the outline of your hand. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Kathleen Gehoski, a research and development engineer at Penn State's Materials Research Institute, examines a sample in the Lithography lab at Penn State's Nanofabrication facility. The rooms in this lab are always bathed in yellow light to prevent photoresist exposure to the nano and micro scale samples the researchers examine. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Kerriana Moore, a junior at Penn State, helped organize toys for the creation of ‘Jared Boxes’ during the 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 21. Penn State students volunteered at a variety of organizations and charities throughout the day. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Dancers, volunteers and more filled the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center as THON Weekend 2019 officially began on Feb. 15. The three day event was the culmination of a year long philanthropic drive that provides support for children with pediatric cancer. Credit: Reagan Mulholland / Penn State. Creative Commons

Jasmine Forsberg, a sophomore in Penn State’s B.F.A. Musical Theatre program, rehearses a scene from the Penn State Centre Stage presentation of ‘Hands on a Hardbody’ at the Playhouse Theatre. 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of theater at Penn State. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Wrestling Team, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, won the 2019 NCAA Championship in March. The team crowned three individual champions on the way to the programs eighth national title. Credit: Penn State Athletics. All Rights Reserved.

John Domenico, a graduate student studying ceramics at Penn State, applies sand paper to his work titled ‘Polymeric’ in the sculpture studio area at the Visual Arts Building. Penn State’s School of Visual Arts offers degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level in studio art, art education, and digital arts and design. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The annual ‘Movin On’ music festival welcomed students to an evening of musical performances by several national acts. The yearly concert is a celebration of the end of the spring semester at Penn State. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Claudia Tatiana Galindo-Martinez, a doctoral candidate in biology at Penn State, uses a fluorometer to determine the photochemical efficiency in sea coral at her lab in Mueller Building. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State’s Claire Swedberg attempts to lay down a bunt during a weekend series at Beard Softball Field vs Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions finished the 2019 season with their best record since 2016, and hit a total of 49 home runs, a new program record. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

An impressive sand sculpture by guest artist Greg Glenn was on display in Sidney Friedman Park in downtown State College at the 2019 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Credit: Michael Garrett / Penn State. Creative Commons

Graduates pose together for a selfie prior to spring commencement ceremonies at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State awarded more than 21,000 degrees to undergraduate and graduate students throughout 2019. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

James Lyon, a professor of music at Penn State, rehearses with the Music at Penn’s Woods Orchestra prior to the Penn’s Woods Music Festival in June of 2019. Credit: Stephanie Swindle Thomas / Penn State. Creative Commons

Running back Journey Brown breaks through the Idaho defense for a 23-yard touchdown run during Penn State's season opening win. The Nittany Lions completed the 2019 regular season with 10 wins for the third time in the past four years and will face Memphis in the 2019 Cotton Bowl. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Arboretum at Penn State hosted their annual Pumpkin Festival in late October. The event featured jack-o’-lanterns judged by a panel of campus and community leaders, refreshments, and a variety of seasonal displays. Credit: Laura Stocker Waldhier / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Nittany Lion welcomed World War II veteran Francis Chesko onto the field at Beaver Stadium during ‘Military Appreciation Day’ Nov. 16. Chesko, a purple heart recipient and combat engineer with the Army’s 7th Armored Division, was one of several World War II veterans honored. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Philip Smith, director of Penn State’s Metabolomics Core Facility, replaces solvents in a lab in the Huck Institute of the Life Sciences. Smith and team are working toward being able to detect chemicals in urine or blood that are associated with diseases such as cancer. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

A joint-service color guard representing all of Penn State’s ROTC units made their way down College Avenue during the 2019 Penn State Homecoming Parade on Oct. 4. The parade was one of the highlights of the 100th Homecoming Week in Penn State history. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Homecoming Student Court members Freddy Purnell and Marlisa Shaw each received the Guide State Forward Award for 2019 during halftime festivities at Beaver Stadium Oct. 5. Penn State celebrated the 100th Homecoming Week in school history in 2019. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Arboretum at Penn State hosted the annual 'Winter Celebration' in December of 2019. The yearly event includes seasonal decorations, music and refreshments. The displays remain in place until early January. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Scaffolding was erected around the Old Main Tower as renovations began in mid-May of 2019. The full restoration of the Penn State landmark included stone and brick masonry repointing, stone replacement and waterproofing. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Davina Chang, a senior at Penn State studying psychology with a minor in human development and family studies, demonstrates a technique called ‘hand breath’ in Penn State’s Mindfulness Lab. The technique helps to guide breathing while focusing on tracing the outline of your hand. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Kathleen Gehoski, a research and development engineer at Penn State's Materials Research Institute, examines a sample in the Lithography lab at Penn State's Nanofabrication facility. The rooms in this lab are always bathed in yellow light to prevent photoresist exposure to the nano and micro scale samples the researchers examine. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Kerriana Moore, a junior at Penn State, helped organize toys for the creation of ‘Jared Boxes’ during the 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 21. Penn State students volunteered at a variety of organizations and charities throughout the day. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Dancers, volunteers and more filled the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center as THON Weekend 2019 officially began on Feb. 15. The three day event was the culmination of a year long philanthropic drive that provides support for children with pediatric cancer. Credit: Reagan Mulholland / Penn State. Creative Commons

Jasmine Forsberg, a sophomore in Penn State’s B.F.A. Musical Theatre program, rehearses a scene from the Penn State Centre Stage presentation of ‘Hands on a Hardbody’ at the Playhouse Theatre. 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of theater at Penn State. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Wrestling Team, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, won the 2019 NCAA Championship in March. The team crowned three individual champions on the way to the programs eighth national title. Credit: Penn State Athletics. All Rights Reserved.

John Domenico, a graduate student studying ceramics at Penn State, applies sand paper to his work titled ‘Polymeric’ in the sculpture studio area at the Visual Arts Building. Penn State’s School of Visual Arts offers degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level in studio art, art education, and digital arts and design. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The annual ‘Movin On’ music festival welcomed students to an evening of musical performances by several national acts. The yearly concert is a celebration of the end of the spring semester at Penn State. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Claudia Tatiana Galindo-Martinez, a doctoral candidate in biology at Penn State, uses a fluorometer to determine the photochemical efficiency in sea coral at her lab in Mueller Building. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State’s Claire Swedberg attempts to lay down a bunt during a weekend series at Beard Softball Field vs Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions finished the 2019 season with their best record since 2016, and hit a total of 49 home runs, a new program record. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

An impressive sand sculpture by guest artist Greg Glenn was on display in Sidney Friedman Park in downtown State College at the 2019 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Credit: Michael Garrett / Penn State. Creative Commons

Graduates pose together for a selfie prior to spring commencement ceremonies at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State awarded more than 21,000 degrees to undergraduate and graduate students throughout 2019. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

James Lyon, a professor of music at Penn State, rehearses with the Music at Penn’s Woods Orchestra prior to the Penn’s Woods Music Festival in June of 2019. Credit: Stephanie Swindle Thomas / Penn State. Creative Commons

Running back Journey Brown breaks through the Idaho defense for a 23-yard touchdown run during Penn State's season opening win. The Nittany Lions completed the 2019 regular season with 10 wins for the third time in the past four years and will face Memphis in the 2019 Cotton Bowl. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Arboretum at Penn State hosted their annual Pumpkin Festival in late October. The event featured jack-o’-lanterns judged by a panel of campus and community leaders, refreshments, and a variety of seasonal displays. Credit: Laura Stocker Waldhier / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Nittany Lion welcomed World War II veteran Francis Chesko onto the field at Beaver Stadium during ‘Military Appreciation Day’ Nov. 16. Chesko, a purple heart recipient and combat engineer with the Army’s 7th Armored Division, was one of several World War II veterans honored. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Philip Smith, director of Penn State’s Metabolomics Core Facility, replaces solvents in a lab in the Huck Institute of the Life Sciences. Smith and team are working toward being able to detect chemicals in urine or blood that are associated with diseases such as cancer. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

A joint-service color guard representing all of Penn State’s ROTC units made their way down College Avenue during the 2019 Penn State Homecoming Parade on Oct. 4. The parade was one of the highlights of the 100th Homecoming Week in Penn State history. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Homecoming Student Court members Freddy Purnell and Marlisa Shaw each received the Guide State Forward Award for 2019 during halftime festivities at Beaver Stadium Oct. 5. Penn State celebrated the 100th Homecoming Week in school history in 2019. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Arboretum at Penn State hosted the annual 'Winter Celebration' in December of 2019. The yearly event includes seasonal decorations, music and refreshments. The displays remain in place until early January. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Scaffolding was erected around the Old Main Tower as renovations began in mid-May of 2019. The full restoration of the Penn State landmark included stone and brick masonry repointing, stone replacement and waterproofing. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

drawing of a battery with nickel added for heatingIn and out with 10-minute electrical vehicle recharge

Electric vehicle owners may soon be able to pull into a fueling station, plug their car in, go to the restroom, get a cup of coffee and in 10 minutes, drive out with a fully charged battery, according to a team of engineers.  Full story

 

Protecting Pollinators Impact Campaign 2019Protecting pollinators: Penn Staters working to reverse bee population declines

Within the past decade, beekeepers across the globe have observed massive declines in managed honey bee populations. Given their critical role in the nation’s agricultural industry, Penn State’s Christina Grozinger and the Center for Pollinator Research are implementing creative approaches to protecting bee populations in Pennsylvania and beyond.  Full story

World in Conversation Day of Dialogue Jan. 21, 2019

Day of dialogue offers community chance to have conversations that matter

 

More than 600 campus community members came together on Jan. 21 for student-facilitated conversation, a "Day of Dialogue" pilot event hosted by World In Conversation: A Center for Public Diplomacy.  Full story

 

 

Architect's rendering of Student Veteran CenterPenn State set to open new Student Veteran Center

With the official ribbon cutting on Nov. 15, Penn State’s student veterans will have a new place to call home at the University Park campus. The 6,300-square-foot center, housed in Ritenour Building, will consolidate and expand services, support and activities for student veterans in a central location on campus.   Full story

 

 

Spotted lanternfly adults on ailanthus treePenn State receives $7.3 million grant to advance spotted lanternfly research

A $7.3 million grant awarded to Penn State will support an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional team of researchers as they conduct research and develop strategies to combat the spotted lanternfly.  Full story

 

 

 

Nittany Lion celebrates with other inducteesNittany Lion officially inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame

Penn State’s Nittany Lion was officially inducted in the Mascot Hall of Fame on June 16 in Whiting, Indiana.  Full story

 

 

Group shot of teamWrestling wins eighth NCAA title in last nine years

The Penn State Nittany Lions, under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson, entered the final session of the 2019 NCAA Championships having already clinched their eighth team title in the last nine years. Sanderson's squad left the National Finals and PPG Paints Arena with three individual national champions. Penn State won the 2019 crown by over 40 ponts.   Full story

 

 

Penn State President Eric J. Barron signs a solar panel at the groundbreaking for a utility-scale solar project in Franklin County on Sept. 6, 2019.Penn State, Lightsource BP break ground on largest solar project in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf joined Penn State President Eric J. Barron at the groundbreaking ceremony for a 70-megawatt, utility-scale solar project that will provide 25% of Penn State’s purchased electricity over the next 25 years. The project, a partnership between Penn State and Lightsource BP, will advance energy security and sustainability goals for the University and commonwealth.  Full story

 

 

Woman meditating on the beach

People with anxiety may strategically choose worrying over relaxing

Relaxing is supposed to be good for the body and soul, but people with anxiety may actively resist relaxation and continue worrying to avoid a large jump in anxiety if something bad does happen, according to Penn State research.  Full story

 

Penn State's Old Main building at sunset.

Study: Penn State contributes $11.6 billion to PA economy

Penn State is an economic powerhouse, contributing more than $11.6 billion to the state’s economy and supporting, directly and indirectly, more than 105,000 jobs across Pennsylvania in FY 2017, according to a newly released study. The study also found that for every $1 in state appropriations received by Penn State, the University returns $1.24 in tax payments to the commonwealth.  Full story

 

Nittany Lion Shrine illuminated by sunlightPenn State breaks fundraising record for the second year in a row

For the second year in a row, Penn State supporters have broken the University’s record for fundraising results, committing $372,555,732 to its current campaign, “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence” — an increase of 3.1% over last year.   Full story

 

 

Nanofabrication LabPenn State research expenditures again reach record high, topping $968 million

 

Penn State’s research expenditures reached $968 million in fiscal year 2018-19, a record high for the third year in a row.  Full story

Last Updated December 18, 2019

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