A Legend. A Legacy. Joe Paterno’s greatest gift to Penn State was the spirit of giving When Joseph V. Paterno died on January 22, much was written about his six decades of leadership at Penn State— the football program he built into a national contender, the student-athletes he guided to greatness on and off the field, the far-flung community of alumni and friends he united—but the thousands of donors who choose to support the University every year are also part of his legacy. Joe Paterno showed Penn Staters the deep connection between caring and committing, between taking pride and giving back.
“Joe pushed his players and all Penn State students to strive
response was to thank me right back....
for academic excellence. He knew that education was the most important resource available to us. Through the Paterno
“The Paterno Fellows Program has shaped my experiences
Fellows Program, I was admitted to the Schreyer Honors
and will continue to help scholars excel…. Joe believed in
College based on my merit and hard work. Each day, we are
this University more than anyone, and he believed in all of us.
thankful for the academic opportunities that Joe and his fam-
By being the most kind, thoughtful, and hard-working ver-
ily have afforded us.
sions of ourselves, together we can continue to make JoePa as proud of us as we are of him.”
“The generosity of Joe and the Paterno family is immeasurable. In 2010 and 2011, I was awarded funding through
From the remarks delivered by senior Lauren Perrotti at a
the Paterno Fellows Program to help to cover costs when
January 26 memorial event in the Bryce Jordan Center. Lauren
I studied abroad in Italy and conducted my research in
will be among the first graduates of the Paterno Liberal Arts
Spain. I will never forget that when I thanked him at the
Undergraduate Fellows Program, one of the many programs
Paterno Fellows Recognition Ceremony in 2011, his
supported by the Paterno family. She is the president of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, and she is a student director of the Beaver Stadium Run, which benefits Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. Lauren has also been involved with Lion Ambassadors, THON, and many other organizations and committees. She is completing degrees in Spanish, Italian, and international studies, as well pursue graduate studies and an academic career in Hispanic linguistics.
Chloe Elmer
as a minor in linguistics, and she plans to