A Magazine of Penn State Philanthropy
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Campaign support is breaking records—and changing lives
Spring 2022
We make a life by what we give.
A message from President Neeli Bendapudi Serving this community as the 19th president of The Pennsylvania State University is the honor of a lifetime. I am inspired by the “We Are” spirit I’ve found on our campuses and excited to continue to build on the success of the Greater Penn State campaign to help students succeed, deepen research and service collaborations, and serve communities across the Commonwealth and far beyond. I have long believed that we make a living by what we make, but we make a life by what we give. Thank you for giving of your time, talent, and treasure. I look forward to seeing you on campus and shaping the future of this University together.
A Message from Rick Sokolov For more than a century and a half, people have come to Penn State with a desire to improve themselves, their communities, and our world. At the start of his presidency, Dr. Eric J. Barron saw this same potential for growth and greatness in this institution. In 2016, his vision of a deeper investment in educational accessibility, transformative educational experiences, and research and outreach designed to strengthen communities around the globe launched A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence. It also presented a challenge to you—our alumni and friends—to become partners in bringing that greater version of Penn State to fruition.
On the cover: A proud audience of supporters filled the Bryce Jordan Center in April as the University surpassed its $2.1 billion Greater Penn State campaign goal ahead of schedule. Turn to page 2 for event highlights. Photo: Christopher Lee
We asked, and you answered emphatically. On April 22, 2022, the University announced that your collective support surpassed the $2.1 billion campaign goal with a record-breaking $2.166 billion raised in less than six years. As we approach the end of the campaign on June 30, 2022—and await the reveal of a final total—this issue celebrates what these profoundly generous numbers mean for the students, faculty, and community members who call Penn State home. You will see highlights from April’s campaign closing celebration during which students expressed how the support from this campaign is transforming their lives. You will meet three entrepreneurs who, with the help of philanthropic investment in Invent Penn State, are addressing equity in the technology sector, rural access to health care, and economic growth within the Commonwealth. You will be introduced to a student and aspiring educator invested in advancing public education for elementary students thanks to scholarship support you helped to provide. You will hear from two Penn State alumni succeeding in their careers now thanks to support received during the earliest years of the campaign. And you will learn the story of one alumnus whose commitment to the vision of A Greater Penn State tracks back to his experience as an 8-year-old Four Diamonds child.
’23 A&A
We are arriving at a historic moment for the University because of your investment in our students’ potential, your pride in this institution, and your unswerving commitment that we can and will always become better. Thank you, as ever, for your tremendous support. We are greater together. Together, we are Penn State.
Rick Sokolov ’71 Lib Chair, Executive Committee, A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence
Spring 2021 — we are
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BRIGHT LIGHTS,
BIG NUMBER Six years ago, now-retired President Eric J. Barron introduced A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence—a modern vision for realizing the University’s mission to serve the public good and an ambitious call to alumni and friends for their partnership. On April 22, more than 1,400 supporters came together to honor the campaign’s successes—and celebrate Penn State surpassing its campaign goal early, with $2.166 billion raised to date that evening. Students and faculty stepped into the spotlight to share A Greater Penn State’s lasting legacy of support, one that only stands to deepen as the University counts down to the June 30, 2022 campaign close.
Thanks to you, we have truly become A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence.” PRESIDENT ERIC J. BARRON
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we are — A Magazine of Penn State Philanthropy
The campaign imperative to Open Doors has given rise to more than 2,600 new scholarships and paved the way to a timely and affordable degree for students from every background. Students like Casey Sennett ’23 Lib have taken this support to heart.
For students like me, becoming a Penn Stater means everything. And it means everything that the Penn State community has helped us to make it happen. Wherever
As student-athletes, Maddie Holmberg Nickal ’20 HHD, ’22g HHD WC and Bo Nickal ’19 HHD utilized advanced digital technologies and pursued international opportunities to elevate their performance in competition and in the classroom. Gifts to the campaign imperative to Create Transformative Experiences will ensure that future generations are empowered to succeed through digital innovation, artistic expression, study abroad, and more.
Dr. Cynthia Chuang knows firsthand the importance of the campaign imperative to Impact the World. As a physician and researcher at Penn State College of Medicine, philanthropy has allowed her to spearhead research on patient care and keep the health system’s COVID-19 treatment efforts on track.
At Penn State Health, our work has never been harder or more important. Our physicians
we go, we carry your support with
and students want to offer
us—and we recognize that the
excellent care, but they also
doors to our futures are open in
Our lives as people, competitors,
want to engage in work that will
part because of you.”
and now partners have been
revolutionize health as we know it.
defined by being a part of this
That’s impossible without support
community and the transformative
from people like you.”
experiences we enjoyed at Penn State. You have given us so many reasons to be proud Penn Staters.”
Visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu to hear more from Casey, the Nickals, Dr. Chuang, and other Penn Staters who participated in the April celebration, and as the campaign approaches its June 30, 2022 close, learn how you can drive Penn State to even greater heights.
Spring 2022 — we are
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FROM IDEA TO IMPACT Eleanor Brown | DiversiBoard
A great idea is a powerful thing. But the road from great idea to successful venture is a difficult one. Enter Invent Penn State. Since 2015, this initiative has been helping Pennsylvanian entrepreneurs to unleash the power of the creative spirit—most notably through its statewide network of twenty-one innovation hubs and LaunchBoxes that put free resources like mentoring, prototyping equipment, and coworking spaces in the hands of students and community members. University alumni and friends have committed more than $25 million to Invent Penn State programs through the Greater Penn State campaign—a remarkable investment that has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs, launched hundreds of new businesses, and strengthened economies across the Commonwealth. The following stories highlight just a few of the ways this powerful philanthropic support is making a difference here in Pennsylvania and around the world.
For information on how to support aspiring Penn State entrepreneurs, contact Heather Winfield, director of strategic initiatives, at hbw11@psu.edu.
Diversity in any field is about connection—bringing together people of different backgrounds and experiences for mutual benefit. That’s the core idea behind DiversiBoard, the company that Penn State Law Professor Eleanor Brown started in 2020. She saw the opportunity to connect the technology sector in the developed world—in need of talent and short on diversity—to the high-caliber software engineers and computer scientists from British Commonwealth Universities in the Anglophone Caribbean, her home region. Using an online platform, DiversiBoard conducts vetting and skills testing for candidates and matches them with potential employers in North America and Europe. Invent Penn State personnel were instrumental in connecting Professor Brown to crucial resources such as Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Penn State’s venture capital ecosystem, and technical talent to develop the online platform. The company has already expanded to include candidates from West African countries and has launched a remote internship program for students at multiple institutions. “DiversiBoard’s mission is twofold: giving people in the developing world access to exciting employment opportunities in the developed world, and providing those companies with a more diverse range of talent from a broad international pool. Fostering diversity in industry matters tremendously, not only for the sake of the employees themselves, but also because when technology is developed by a diverse group of people, you’re more likely to get products that are more responsive to the real needs of people, especially those who have traditionally been underserved. I’m deeply grateful for Penn State’s role in helping to make this possible.” Eleanor Brown Founder/Director, DiversiBoard Professor of Law and International Affairs, Penn State Law Senior Scientist, Rock Ethics Institute
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Sheridan Miyamoto | SAFE-T Center Sexual assault survivors deserve a new standard of care, one that prevents further traumatization during highly invasive exams while also providing critical emotional support. Specially trained nurses and cuttingedge technology are at the core of bringing this new standard to life—especially in rural and underserved communities. To ensure this new standard meets patient need, Penn State Nursing Associate Professor Sheridan Miyamoto developed the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Center, which provides live telehealth support from specialized nurses during forensic exams aided by an innovative camera and secure telehealth system. Invent Penn State has supported the center’s team through mentoring, making connections to the Ben Franklin Techcelerator, and providing funding to hire a software engineer. Since 2018, the center has provided services to twelve hospitals statewide and continues to grow. Dr. Miyamoto plans to move from their current grant-based model to a business model that would provide long-term sustainability—for which Invent Penn State resources such as the Startup Leadership Network, pairing startups with experienced entrepreneurs, has been particularly helpful.
“The experience people have when they seek care after a sexual assault is so important. If they encounter personnel who are not equipped to respond effectively, they may leave feeling that they were not believed or that nobody really cares. SAFE-T Center’s outcomes have underscored the significance of quality care: our patients overwhelmingly say their exam was the first step in their healing process. They feel validated, cared for, and connected with local resources that can help them recover.” Sheridan Miyamoto Director, SAFE-T Center Associate Professor of Nursing, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Britta and Evan Teller | Steller Floors When she received her Ph.D. in ecology from Penn State, Britta Teller didn’t expect to start a flooring company. But her husband, Evan, whom she met in a Penn State lab, had an idea for innovative hardwood floors that snap into place without glue or nails. When their patent application was successful, they turned to Invent Penn State for inspiration and support, attending the Venture & IP Conference and networking events, connecting with technical talent, and using resources available through Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank. In 2017, they opened Steller Floors, based in Tyrone, to sell their locally sourced Pennsylvania hardwood floors. Britta and Evan are passionate about the company’s commitment to sustainability and to investment in rural communities. As it continues to grow, they envision creating more local jobs, enabling more carbon sequestration through their support for sustainable forestry, and eventually pioneering inventive ways to recycle and reuse their wood products. “Steller Floors is filled with staunch Penn Staters, so we love that the Penn State community has helped us so much. For us, this company is a way to contribute to a healthier environment and to help people from our community to build careers in craftsmanship and advanced manufacturing. Every time we sell a beautiful floor, another kid in Tyrone goes to camp, and that’s really exciting to us. If it wasn’t for Penn State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, there would have been no oxygen in the room for us to make it as far as we have.” Britta Teller Co-founder, Steller Floors
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KELLY WHALEN, AGE 8
The Great Equalizers Private support empowered Kelly Whalen to thrive at Penn State. Now, she’s preparing to empower students in a classroom of her own.
Kelly Whalen, an Elementary and Early Childhood
How did philanthropy affect your Penn State
Education major at Penn State Berks, first dreamed
experience?
of becoming a teacher when she was in kindergarten.
It changed everything. Participating in the PaSSS program helped me to get a jumpstart on my degree program and ultimately be able to start my career sooner. I received tuition support from a number of scholarships, and as a Cohen-Hammel Fellow got to enroll in a course on ethical leadership and carry out a service project. Inspired by the impact of philanthropy on my own education, I used Let’s Grow State—the University’s crowdfunding platform—to spread awareness about education inequality, including the effects of systemic racism. I collected $2,600 in donations, which enabled me to buy supplies like notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, books, and jump ropes—all purchased to meet the needs at 16th and Haak Elementary in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful feeling to know I’d made a tangible difference and an opportunity I wouldn’t have had without the support I received myself.
Now, she’s preparing to devote her life to addressing inequality in K–12 education and making a positive impact on students’ lives. But before she could fulfill her dream of helping others, she needed help herself. Philanthropic support made the difference. Together, the William G. Hintz, Jr. Scholarship Fund and Bruce E. Moyer Memorial Trustee Scholarship gave her the financial security to enroll; both the Charles and Susan Martin and the Glenn E. and E. Jane Moyer Family Open Doors Scholarships and involvement in the Pathway to Success: Summer Start (PaSSS) program gave her comprehensive support to hit the ground running; and the Penn State Berks Cohen-Hammel Fellowship empowered her with the leadership training to fight for resources and equity in public schools. Today, she’s developing and teaching engaging and culturally responsive lessons so every child from every background has the resources to grow and thrive.
Why do we need to worry about inequalities in public education?
How did you develop your passion for serving your community?
When I was growing up in the Poconos in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, my mom encouraged me to do the things I loved—gymnastics, Taekwondo, soccer, track and field. But she also taught me that it wasn’t enough to build a life around your own happiness. She operated a nonprofit soup kitchen for seven years, and I can remember one evening she served a woman who was living out of her car, then invited her to spend the night in our home. That gave me a lot of perspective and reinforced how a minor sacrifice can make a huge difference in someone else’s life.
Right now, schools that are located only a mile apart can have vastly different levels of funding because of how our education system is supported through local property taxes. It’s a recipe for perpetuating and exacerbating existing inequality. And on top of that, standardized testing tends to funnel resources to schools that already have the tools and support to drive achievement, pulling the rug out from the schools and students that most urgently need an influx of resources. We can’t keep doing this. Real solutions mean analyzing systemic issues plus partnering with local administrators to zero in on the challenges faced by a given school. My education at Penn State has helped me to understand there are many changes that must be made within our education system at national and local levels.
Why did you choose Penn State Berks?
The truth is I didn’t apply anywhere else! I knew it was the right place for me. The campus was gorgeous. The Lion Ambassadors were so inviting, and I was attracted to the close-knit community feel—not to mention that I have two brothers and a sister-in-law who are Penn State graduates and a photo of myself with the Nittany Lion at eight years old (left page, top photo). When I found out that I’d received Open Doors Scholarship support, I seized the chance to capitalize on the PaSSS program. That meant that in the summer before my first year, I could learn skills, establish connections, and earn credits, which was a real game changer for me.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now, I’m finishing up student-teaching in a classroom of about thirty fourth graders in the Reading School District. After graduation, I want to become an elementary school teacher, and someday I hope to help shape government policy on education. I can’t wait to get started.
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THEN The culmination of A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence will mark a new chapter of opportunity fueled by donor support. And for alumni who benefitted from early gifts to the campaign, that generosity is already translating to dreams realized. Jonathan Adrien and Ana De La Fuente Duran are Penn State graduates succeeding today because of gifts made during the first years of the Greater Penn State campaign.
2019
2022
JONATHAN ADRIEN ’20 ’23G When deciding where to attend college, Jonathan Adrien feared that the financial stress of higher education would be too much to take. But he’s never backed down from a challenge—and he found the support and confidence he needed to get started through the academic and financial support from Penn State’s Open Doors programs. “When I enrolled at Penn State, I expected to receive a world-class education that would help to prepare me for success in my career,” he said. “What I didn’t expect was for the University to become my second home—and looking back on it now, I can confidently say that it was one of the best surprises of my life.” Through the Pathway to Success: Summer Start program, Jon found the community and financial support he needed to build a strong foundation at Penn State Brandywine from day one. He embraced the Student Transitional Experiences Program as he acclimated to the “big school” culture of University Park in his third year, and he credits the support of these Open Doors programs as key to his ability to seek out academic and extracurricular opportunities that both interested and challenged him. Upon graduating from the College of Information Sciences and Technology in 2020, Jon secured a research associate position at Moody’s Analytics CRE, a role he’s balancing today with his pursuit of a graduate degree from Penn State in Leadership Development. “There aren’t words that can properly describe how much the power of the Penn State community has changed my life. Their decision to support my educational journey motivated me to explore every opportunity to learn about myself, and I am who I am today because of it.”
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NOW
2019
2022
ANA DE LA FUENTE DURAN ’20 Always a scientist at heart, Ana De La Fuente Duran grew up wanting to make a difference in the world. At Penn State, she found the support and encouragement to do so through the Millennium Scholars Program. The program—which has drawn more than $8.8 million in gifts from Penn State supporters during the Greater Penn State campaign—provides financial, academic, and advising support to students with ambitions of earning an advanced degree in a STEM field, many of whom belong to underrepresented communities in STEM including women, students of color, and those who are the first in their family to attend college. As a program participant, Ana seized the opportunity to deepen her research focus, connect with industry leaders, and advocate for more female Hispanic representation in her field. “The Millennium Scholars Program has had a profound impact on my life,” she said. “Because of donor support, I have been able to learn and succeed in more ways than I ever could have dreamed of.” As Ana now pursues a Ph.D. at Stanford University, she’s developing carbon emissions-free pathways to produce high-value industrial chemicals—and she’s inspired to pay forward the support she received. “I’ve spent a lot of time
For more stories about how our community’s support has impacted Penn Staters throughout A Greater Penn State, visit raise.psu.edu.
in research labs throughout my educational journey—and to this day, I’m often the only Hispanic female in the room. As I continue my research and grow as a scientist, I hope that my efforts will help to change that, and I plan to give back as I can to the University that gave me so much.”
Spring 2022 — we are
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116 Old Main University Park, PA 16802
W E
A R E
P E N N
S TAT E
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. U. Ed DEV 22-04
Why I Give
“
Almost my entire life has been impacted by the support of the Penn State community. I’m here today thanks to their generosity—and I am so proud to be a part of generating that same support for children battling cancer.
”
When Brady Lucas ’18 ’21g was diagnosed with leukemia at age eight, he became a member of the THON™ community— backed by Four Diamonds, Brady’s family never received a bill for his treatments. Nine years later, when deciding where to attend college, he enrolled at the institution he credits with saving his life. Brady gave back to THON in various student roles, including as a dancer in 2016 and as the special events director in 2018. Upon graduation, he became a Four Diamonds gift officer—making him the first Four Diamonds beneficiary to become a staff member of the organization. The Penn State community was there for Brady when he needed it most, a fact that drives his dedication to creating a Greater Penn State, where life-changing support is available for families and children who need it today.