On March 19, Penn State's Board of Trustees approved the appointment of WTW Architects of Pittsburgh as the architect for the design of the Gymnasium Building addition at Penn State Beaver. The Board of Trustees architect/engineer selection committee recommended the appointment. WTW Architects will design and build a 4,000-square-foot addition to the existing gymnasium.
New and pending regulations and commitments to more sustainable practices present new challenges in energy production and consumption at Penn State, University Park Physical Plant officials told the University's Board of Trustees in an informational report Friday (March 19). The report detailed energy planning for the University Park campus. "In the next few months, we are going to have to begin design on some changes to the steam plant at University Park to comply with environmental regulations," said Al Horvath, senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer. "These changes will be significant and expensive."
Penn State Vice President for Outreach Craig Weidemann told members of Penn State's Board of Trustees March 19 that the need for University outreach programs and services has never been greater. "Penn State Outreach serves a central role in the University's mission to provide teaching, research and public service to the Commonwealth and beyond." said Weidemann. "Whether it's helping adult learners transform their careers through continuing and online education, or leveraging Penn State research to confront national and international issues, like childhood obesity and environmental sustainability, outreach is serving and will continue to serve as the University's vanguard in providing solutions."
Penn State's Board of Trustees held its regular bi-monthly meeting Friday (March 19) at the University Park campus. In his remarks to the Board, University President Graham Spanier discussed applications to the University, state appropriations, major research accomplishments, philanthropy to Penn State, and student, faculty and staff achievements. Spanier also took a moment to reflect on the recent passing of Emmanuel Osagie, chancellor of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, who died unexpectedly on March 9 from complications due to an illness.
The Penn State Lehigh Valley Women's Commission and the Alumni Society are sponsoring a book sale from March 15 to 20, in room 113 at the campus in Center Valley. All proceeds of the sale will benefit the Women's Commission Adult Learner Scholarship and the Alumni Society Campus Enrichment Fund. The book sale is open to the public.
Penn State mechanical engineering alumnus Clyde Shuman and his wife, Nancy, of Allentown, have pledged $1 million to the University's Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering to support students, faculty and programs. Part of their gift will endow the Shuman Family Early Career Professorship. The remainder will fund strategic initiatives to advance engineering education, provide resources for faculty and enhance the student experience.
Don Haile, a member of the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Advisory Board, recently pledged funds to create the college's first early career professorship, in support of promising young faculty members. Haile has pledged $334,000, which will be supplemented by $166,000 from Penn State.
Recently, Penn State Beaver received $150,000 in gifts and pledges designated for The Campaign for Penn State Students at the campus. Carl and Catherine Bartuch donated stock valued at $100,000 to be used for the development of the new Beaver campus Wellness Center. John O'Leary pledged $25,000 for the Penn State Beaver Leadership Endowed Scholarship, Nick Andrews pledged $10,000 to the General Scholarship Fund at Penn State Beaver, and Frank Papa contributed $10,000 for the Frank G. Papa Family Scholarship. Scott Noxon donated $5,000 to the Scott K. Noxon Endowed Scholarship.
Erie native and Penn State alumnus Daniel A. Cooney will establish the Daniel A. Cooney Enrichment Fund at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, an estate gift that will support the college's outreach programs that serve K-12 students as well as incoming first-year students.
Penn State's Office of Human Resources has announced the holiday schedule for 2010.
Penn State Altoona has received a commitment of $100,000 from Blair County-based Investment Savings Bank that will add to a previous gift made by the bank to support Summer Kids' College. The new commitment also will provide need-based scholarships for area youth.
Penn State alumnus Ken Fasola and his wife, Tenley, have created two scholarships to benefit students enrolled in both the Schreyer Honors College and the College of Health and Human Development. The Fasola Family Honors Scholarship in the College of Health and Human Development, endowed with a $125,000 gift, provides financial aid to a Schreyer Scholar studying health policy and administration. The Fasola Family Trustee Scholarship in the Schreyer Honors College, endowed with a $100,000 gift, provides financial aid to a Schreyer scholar who is preferably enrolled in the College of Health and Human Development.
In December of 2009, donors to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center contributed $10,137,227 through new pledges and outright gifts. This is the largest amount secured in the month of December of any year in the Medical Center's history. The previous record was set in December 2008 when more than $8.1 million in pledges and outright gifts were received.
The Penn State Board of Trustees Friday (Jan. 22) selected six Penn State alumni to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, the University's highest award for an individual. They include Joan Amble, Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Daniel S. Mead, Karen B. Peetz, Richard L. Trumka and Johannes D. Veldhuis.
The Penn State Lehigh Valley THON team will hold a silent auction during the week of Feb 8. Bids can be placed on a variety of donated items from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. All proceeds go directly to benefit THON and its mission to conquer childhood cancer. To prepare for the silent auction, the THON team will accept donations of items for the auction. In past auctions, donated items have included items such as handbags, Penn State gear and tickets to events. For more information, send an e-mail to ctn109@psu.edu or visit Student Affairs in room 214.
