For the
Spring/Summer 2012
A changing world A changing Penn State
In This Issue: Philanthropy is transforming the student experience
They’ve worked hard to get here…whether they can stay could be up to you.
Emergency Scholarship Support at Penn State College is meant to be a time when
students are challenged—to learn, to grow, to succeed. The challenges facing some undergraduates can seem insurmountable, however. Hard work alone may not be enough to overcome the impact of a family member’s job loss, illness, or death. Ambition and dedication can be overwhelmed by accidents and natural disasters. Through no fault of their own, the young people who could benefit the most from earning a degree must sometimes abandon that dream in the face of devastating personal and financial circumstances. With a gift to our emergency scholarship fund, you can make the difference for undergraduates who need and deserve a helping hand. Your support will be directed to students experiencing extraordinary and unexpected hardships that affect their ability to cover the costs of their education. If
“During Tropical Storm Lee, my family’s home was flooded. At first, I was just glad that everyone made it out safely, and finances were the last thing on my mind. A few weeks later, when my tuition bill was due, I started to realize just how costly it was going to be for us to rebuild. I talked with the Office of Student Aid, and they were able to award me a scholarship that made it possible for me to continue my studies at Penn State. The scholarship had more than monetary value,
you would like to assist students in getting
though: It said to me that the Penn State community was there for
through tough times, please visit givenow.
me during this disaster.”
psu.edu and target your online gift to the
Student Aid Future Fund.
Christopher Root is a Biology major from Manheim, Pennsylvania. He is a trustee of the Alliance Christian Fellowship and a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, an honor society for students pursuing health professions. He plans to attend medical school after graduation.
A Message from Peter Tombros When I came to Penn State as a freshman in 1960, Joe Paterno was just an assistant football coach who had recently met a redhead named Sue. More than fifty years later, the Paternos have changed my alma mater and my life in ways that I could never have predicted. I would probably not be writing this message to you today, in my role as chair of a $2 billion fundraising campaign, without the extraordinary example of generosity and service that Joe and Sue have set for all of us who share their love for the University. In this issue of For the Future, we celebrate the belief in giving back that the Paternos have embodied and encouraged for decades. Joe and Sue have been especially committed to transforming the experience that we offer to undergraduates, and we are highlighting just a few of the ways in which philanthropy, from the Paternos and other visionary donors, has changed what it means to be a Penn State student today. From the Liberal Arts fellows program that bears their name to opportunities for service in the community and around the world, private support is challenging undergraduates to be leaders, and scholarships, travel funds, and other gifts are making sure that young people from every background can become engaged and educated citizens. Even as philanthropy has allowed the Penn State experience to change in response to a changing world, Joe and Sue have reminded us that a strong library remains the core of any academic institution. In the pages that follow, you’ll learn more about a project that’s especially close to my own heart: the Knowledge Commons in the University Libraries. My wife, Ann, and I are proud to have joined with our friends Jeanette and Jack McWhirter, as well as other donors, to support this extraordinary new home for learning. On a recent visit to the facility, as I watched undergraduates using digital tools to connect with each other and with all the resources of the University, I was struck by how far we have come as an institution since my own Penn State years, and how much farther philanthropy can still take us. Thank you, Joe and Sue, for showing us the way. Sincerely,
Peter G. Tombros Chair, For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students If you’d like to read other stories about Penn State Cover photo: Andrew Dunheimer
philanthropy or learn more about how you can support the University, please visit giveto.psu.edu.
For the Future 3
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
Penn State was still three years away from being officially designated as a university when Joe came to Happy Valley in 1950. The institution that mourns him now is recognized for its international leadership in education, research, and service. This transformation would not have been possible without the ambition and the philanthropy that Joe helped to inspire. Joe was with Penn State from its earliest organized fundraising efforts through the current campaign. He always urged the University to dream bigger, aim higher. Many alumni and friends made their first gifts, and their most recent ones, because Joe personally reached out and told them that they had the power and the responsibility to make Penn State great. And he and Sue led by their own remarkable example. Through formal volunteer roles in our campaigns
“The good news is that we’ve got the money. The bad news is that it’s in your pockets.”
Andrew Dunheimer
Joe Paterno at the 2010 kick-off of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students
and even more demanding informal work behind the scenes, they helped to create the culture of giving back that has become an essential part of the Penn State identity, and their own gifts set—and continue to set—a new standard for philanthropy at the University. The overwhelming majority of their private support was for academic, not athletic, purposes. The Paterno family’s gifts to the University Libraries may be their most widely known, but they have also supported faculty endowments, fellowships and scholarships, and facilities and programs. What Penn State lost with Joe Paterno’s death is immeasurable, but what he leaves behind is immeasurable, too: the enduring faith of Penn Staters in their institution and in themselves, the knowledge that the future of the University is in their hands.
From the Classroom to the Community
A recent immigrant to the United States and daughter in a single-parent household, Zanya Stephenson hasn’t let her own challenges prevent her from giving back to her new community—and inspiring others to do the same. Thanks to an internship with Penn State Brandywine’s Laboratory for Civic Engagement, the junior Communication Arts and Sciences major has taken her idea for a teen service program and implemented it for middle and high school students in north Philadelphia. The program is already getting rave reviews, and Zanya credits the experiences she has had through the Laboratory and the campus. “If I hadn’t participated in service-learning activities at Brandywine and developed a love for civic service, I probably wouldn’t have started my volunteer program,” she says. “At Penn State, I’ve learned that I can make a difference.” For the Future 6
Zanya is among the many Penn State Brandywine students who are channeling their passion for service with the help of the Laboratory for Civic Engagement. Led by Associate Professor of Earth Science Laura Guertin and buoyed by philanthropy, the program promotes the integration of community service into academics and co-curricular activities. The tradition of service already has a solid footing on the Brandywine campus, where students are involved in three volunteer organizations, more than twenty civic engagement-focused classes this spring alone, and a community engagement minor that has fifty-eight alumni. Championing the principles of citizenship, scholarship, and leadership, the Laboratory is consolidating these efforts and calling attention to them through communications like social media, as well as opening the door for new partnerships with community members and faculty.
Dan Z. Johnson
Philanthropy helps Penn State Brandywine students learn how to give back
“How can students take what they are doing in class and share these lessons with others beyond the boundaries of campus?” Dr. Guertin asks. “Through the Laboratory, we want to get students thinking forward and taking action to include not only their peers but also faculty, alumni, and community members. I want to see everyone working together.” The program was launched last fall through the David and Marjorie Rosenberg Fund for Civic Engagement. David Rosenberg, a 1974 Penn State graduate who makes his home in Villanova, Pennsylvania, offers his skills and support to a number of organizations focused on youth, ethics, community service, character development, and Jewish life in the Philadelphia area. At Penn State Brandywine, however, he saw a “really special opportunity” to encourage students who already shared his passion for community service. He and his wife, Marjorie, created an endowed fund to support Dr. Guertin’s leadership of the Laboratory and the students’ work.
groceries on a fixed income. The student, a military veteran who had benefited from the program, told Dr. Guertin, “You have no idea how much your work helps those of us in the military.” With Dr. Guertin’s assistance, she is organizing a speaker series calling attention to veterans’ issues. Eileen Fresta, a mother of three college students and now a Penn State Brandywine student herself, is involved with many initiatives that the Laboratory supports. The junior in American Studies has knitted scarves for the homeless, Special Olympians, and domestic abuse victims through Knittany Lion Needleworks; gathered supplies for schoolchildren affected by the 2010 Haitian earthquake; and participated in the Philabundance canned food drive project competition, Canstruction. “It’s not necessary to participate on a global scale to make a difference,” Eileen says. “Volunteering can be done in your own neighborhood. A guest speaker in our civic engagement class said to us, ‘Never pass up an opportunity to do something good for someone else.’ His words have motivated me to go beyond the classroom and take advantage of wonderful civic engagement opportunities at Penn State Brandywine.”
“We saw our gift as a great investment in the future,” David says. “Penn State Brandywine has established an audience that already understands benefits of giving back. The students know there’s more to their education than just being in the classroom and getting a degree. In today’s world, we are responsible for assist- The Laboratory for Civic Engagement reflects Penn ing others who are less fortunate. That belief is really State’s growing commitment to connecting education and service. Brandywine is one of seven Penn alive at Penn State Brandywine.” State campuses (along with University Park, Erie, Schuylkill, Greater Allegheny, Beaver, and >> The Laboratory is capitalizing on this belief and encouraging students to take the next step by starting their own initiatives. One student came to see Dr. Guertin after hearing that Penn State Brandywine’s Overseas Coupon Program had sent more than $650,000 in savings to U.S. military bases overseas, assisting families who must purchase overpriced
Eileen Fresta, Zanya Stephenson, and Dr. Laura Guertin (opposite); Marjorie and David Rosenberg (right)
Lehigh Valley) to provide a minor in Civic and Community Engagement. Those programs introduce students to public scholarship concepts and conclude with a capstone project that benefits some aspect of the community. At Penn State Brandywine, the academic minor, the Laboratory, and philanthropy are expanding the culture of giving that already exists at the campus.
“In the Philadelphia region, there are an enormous number of universities, and many have civic engagement programs,” Dr. Guertin says. “What sets Penn State Brandywine apart is that we’re letting students drive the Laboratory forward. Knowing we have partners like the Rosenbergs is giving us energy to keep going down this path.”
The Laboratory for Civic Engagement reflects a growing movement across the University to integrate education and service. The following classes and programs are just a few examples of how Penn State students are earning course credit as they make a difference in their communities and the Commonwealth. Center for Service Learning and Community-Based Research At Penn State Berks’ Center for Service Learning and CommunityBased Research, University and community members alike collaborate to apply scholarship to solve real-world issues. For example, Assistant Professor Mahsa Kazempour’s environmental science class is partnering with various local organizations, like the Berks County Conservancy and Berks County Parks Department, to fill community education, knowledge, and service needs. Students are using their research skills to investigate and recommend actions to peers, organizational leaders, and community members to enhance their environmental efforts. Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network (PAIRWN) Internship Associate Professor Senel Poyrazli challenges her Penn State Harrisburg students to receive a full educational experience—one that includes making a difference in their communities. She’s organized a three-credit internship with the local Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network (PAIRWN), which aims to help these women navigate their new surroundings in the United States. Students organize events and workshops, volunteer for networking activities, and serve on the board of directors, often spurring a commitment to helping underserved women long after the internship is over. NUTR 497G: Community Food Security Addressing real health issues beyond the University Park campus, students in Assistant Professor Dorothy Blair’s nutrition class travel to inner-city Philadelphia neighborhoods to work with local residents and community organizers to improve access to
fresh foods. The course’s hands-on approach to learning allows students to put classroom theories into practice and help communities to reshape food systems. Their actions are focused on increasing access to wholesome foods, which are often lacking in urban areas, and creating economic opportunity for residents. CAS 250: Small Group Communication for CommunityWide Crisis Response In Associate Professor Deborah Eicher-Catt’s communication arts and sciences course at Penn State York, students don’t simply learn how to develop crisis response plans; they actually implement their ideas for community organizations. Penn State York students work with groups like the York County AmeriCorps Program’s SecureCorps and the York-area Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to create emergency, business contingency, and agency service plans, and participate in training drills. The organizations gain valuable preparedness infrastructure while students develop real-world business skills. English 202H: Writing in the Humanities, Adult Literacy In this course offered by the Department of English and the Schreyer Honors College, students explore literacy issues in America in-depth—by working hand-in-hand with those facing these challenges. To complement coursework, students complete tutoring training and then volunteer at least three hours per week at the Pennsylvania Literacy Corps, instructing students who are learning English as a second language or adults who are earning their GEDs. Penn Staters emerge from the class with internship credit and become a certified tutor who has made a difference in someone’s life.
Moving Forward, Paying Back
Morgann McAfee
As one student graduates, he makes a difference for those who will follow him Hiroshi Hamasaki was already thinking about giving something back to Penn State while he was completing his master’s degree in geosciences last fall. For most prospective graduates, that might mean small annual gifts once they land their first jobs, with hopes of doing more later on.
“I don’t think I have ever been aware of any sort of philanthropy of this magnitude by a person who was still enrolled as a student at Penn State,” said William E. Easterling, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, at the event. “This to me was just a remarkable moment of selflessness.”
But Hamasaki—Hama, as he likes to be called—has an uncommon idea of what “giving back” means for someone at his point in life. While he intends to continue his studies in astrobiology in the future, Japan’s earthquake and tsunami last year inspired him to accept a post with Tokyo Gas Company and help his mother country shift its energy strategies. First, though, he wanted to do something for his soon-to-be alma mater, and he decided to commit $100,000 to the Department of Geosciences.
“Not selfless,” Hama demurs politely. “It’s a give-andtake. I was supported by many people for a long time. So now is the time to pay back.”
It’s not that Hama is independently wealthy or a lottery winner. On the contrary, he had saved diligently to pay for graduate school, but the research assistantships he received meant that his education ultimately cost less than he’d anticipated. He offered the gift in November and formally presented it at a ceremony on February 14.
“I want to give life to my money,” explains Hama. “I’m a fortunate person because I could graduate from school in the United States and get a job offer. So I’m satisfied, and I don’t need all that money for myself.”
Though Hama has not designated a specific use for his gift, part of it will go to a fund maintained by his adviser, Dr. Hiroshi Ohmoto, to support initiatives like research and field work. It will help to secure for future graduate students the kind of first-rate education Hama wants to celebrate.
For the Future 9
A Space for Success Penn State donors join forces to create a new home for learning at the heart of the Libraries
A student enters a presentation practice studio and plugs her thumb drive into its computer console. With one tap of a big silver button, the lights come up, the computer powers on, and the room’s video camera is ready to record her presentation before a green screen. When she’s done, another tap of the button saves her presentation to the thumb drive, and she takes it across the hall to a media production room where the rest of her class project group is waiting. They view the raw video and exchange ideas, and before long, their project has been edited, finalized, and uploaded to their class website.
and furnishings to make the commons as comfortable, attractive, and user-friendly as possible.
It’s just another day in the life of a Penn State undergraduate, but it’s a more efficient and productive day because it’s spent in the new Tombros and McWhirter Knowledge Commons in Pattee Library. Here students will find everything they need to complete the most complex of assignments for a modern college course—all in one place.
“Students often work together in groups,” explains Joe Fennewald, head of the commons, “so there’s a big emphasis throughout the Knowledge Commons on providing collaborative spaces for them.” The facility features seventeen glass-walled group study rooms, several of which allow multiple students to plug their laptops or tablets into a shared work surface and display information from any of their computers onto the room’s wallmounted big-screen monitor.
Spearheaded by an innovative joint gift of $2.5 million from Ann and Peter G. Tombros and Jeanette and John R. McWhirter and supported by additional gifts from private donors, the Knowledge Commons is the product of years of planning and coordination among the University Libraries and several departments across campus. Students had a voice in the facility’s final form, too: Lennartz created and chaired the University Libraries Undergraduate Student Advisory Board, whose members helped to select technology For the Future 10
There’s also a multimedia Mac classroom, a group instruction room, and two presentation practice studios. The main area of the commons in West Pattee features forty-eight PC workstations, several quick access PC stations, and study lounge spaces with comfortable seating. The area is aesthetically striking, framed by dark wood and punctuated with greenery. Sections in central Pattee, such as the Sidewater Commons computer lab and the open-seating Franklin Atrium, bear the names of donors who have made major gifts to the Knowledge Commons. The services available are comprehensive: traditional library assistance; an IT help desk (formerly the Willard
Andrew Dunheimer
“Oh my gosh, it’s beautiful,” says junior Courtney Lennartz, summing up the general buzz surrounding this major renovation of Pattee Library’s first floor. “All the technology, the space, everything—it’s great, and students are loving it.”
“We’re very excited to see the Knowledge Commons open and being actively used by students,” says Barbara I. Dewey, dean of the University Libraries, “and it wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing generosity of our donors, in particular the Tombroses and McWhirters. We’ve taken great care to integrate the physical layout and the technology to meet the needs of today’s undergraduates.”
Help Desk); Media Commons, which staffs consultants to help with audio/video projects; and writing tutors provided by the Learning Center. “We’ve put a lot of things in place here to make it really an attractive and inviting environment for students,” Fennewald says. And that appears to be working. The commons opened in January, and it is available at all hours except midnight to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It has quickly become one of the busiest places on campus. Almost always packed with students during the day, the commons often sees steady use even during the overnight hours. “I think the 24-hour aspect of it is really helpful because it gives students a place they know they can always go if they need to get work done,” says Penn State junior John Zang, who currently chairs the University Libraries Undergraduate Student Advisory Board. “It’s getting tremendous use, and I personally love it.” “That’s the real be-all/end-all: that it’s being used by students,” says Peter Tombros. “That’s very gratifying.” Jeanette McWhirter agrees. “We really like watching students enjoy the space and work in there,” she says. “It’s just a very good energy.” The Tombroses’ and McWhirters’ involvement with the Knowledge Commons project began when Ann and Jeanette, lifelong friends, were serving together on the Libraries Development Board in 2007, as planning for the commons was launched. For both couples, a belief in the great importance of the libraries motivated their gift—a belief inspired by Joe and Sue Paterno.
From top: John Zang, Joe Fennewald, Courtney Lennartz
“I’ve always respected what they did to create such an extraordinary resource for the University community,” Jeanette McWhirter says. “It’s just amazing how interested Joe was in the minds of Penn State students, and we hope that the Knowledge Commons gives those minds the tools they need to grow.” For the Future 11
Today’s Penn State experience goes far beyond our campuses, thanks to philanthropy
Undergraduates in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism will be able to follow the footsteps of Philadelphia radio star Mike Missanelli ’77 Com all the way to NCAA tournaments and championship games with his support for off-campus student coverage of major athletic events. Through Missanelli’s firstof-its-kind endowment, aspiring journalists will get hands-on experience and a valuable edge in applying for post-graduation opportunities.
Each summer, the next class of Geosciences and Geobiology
Landscape architecture students are working with Tanzanian
seniors get their hands dirty in a required six-week field camp in
villages to meet human needs while preserving the region’s
the Rocky Mountains. The experience is invaluable, but the cost
biological diversity, thanks to a five-year commitment from Don
can be a hardship. Penn State alumni Dr. David Vaughan ’63g
Hamer ’68 Eng. In partnership with faculty members Brian Orland
EMS and Julianne Vaughan ’63 Edu recently created a fund that
and Larry Gorenflo, the undergraduates are evaluating land and
will help to offset the expenses of this capstone course and other
resource use, and the project will ultimately include preparing
field experiences for students with financial need.
plans that will help the communities long after the Penn State groups return to campus.
For the Future 12
Student performers are serving as ambassadors for Penn State all over the world with support from alumni and friends. In 2010, for example, a gift from the Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation made it possible for the Penn State Behrend Choir to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall. The late Richard Fasenmyer ‘69 Bus was an alumnus of the campus, and the concert was dedicated to the memory of his mother, herself an accomplished musician.
Alternative spring breaks, which offer undergraduates a chance to serve and learn during their “vacations,” are increasingly popular, and support from unrestricted Future Funds and other philanthropic sources are making these experiences possible for students who might not otherwise be able to participate. During recent trips, a group from Penn State Abington prepared food in Washington, D.C. homeless shelters; Shenango students dedicated themselves to wildlife rescue in Costa Rica; and Penn State Altoona undergraduates taught English and practiced Spanish in Dominican schools.
For the Future 13
A Family Affair Scholarships are only the beginning of the support that the Salizzonis offer to Penn State students When Frank ’60 Eng and Sarah Salizzoni hear that the grade point average of one of their scholarship recipients has dropped, they don’t pick up the phone to call the University and discuss revoking the award. Instead, they work with Penn State to find ways to help the student overcome academic challenges and get back on track to graduate. “On several occasions, I considered withdrawing from Penn State,” says Pamela Oduho, a double major in Marketing and Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional For the Future 14
Management, and a current recipient of the Salizzoni Family Foundation Scholarship. “But the investment the Salizzonis made in me and my education inspired me to stay in school. Their care and interest truly impacted my Penn State experience.” Frank, a retired executive, explains that when he and his wife, Sarah, established the Salizzoni Family Foundation Scholarship at Penn State in 1996, they were interested in helping students from low-income households achieve their goal of receiving a university education. Many of the Salizzonis’ scholarship recipients are the first in their family to attend college. “We don’t require that our students earn top grades,” Frank says. “We just want them to find a major that they enjoy, receive a quality educa-
tion, and earn their degree. I look at the opportunities my Penn State education has afforded me, and I hope to create similar experiences for our scholarship recipients.”
Chloe Elmer
The Salizzoni Family Foundation, whose board includes Frank, Sarah, and their three children, currently offers annually funded awards of $3,500 each to approximately forty Penn State undergraduates. New scholarships are awarded to ten to twelve incoming freshmen each year, who generally retain the award for the duration of their academic career. Frank says that all scholarship decisions and recommendations are agreed upon by the entire family. “I think it’s important that everyone’s voice is heard, even if that means things don’t always go my way,” Frank says. “My children didn’t attend Penn State, but they have visited the University and are very supportive of the scholarship program.” For current students like Pamela Oduho, the Salizzonis’ scholarship has already made a life-changing impact. In the early 1990s, Pamela escaped from civil-war-torn southern Sudan with her seven siblings and single mother. At the time, the current Penn State senior wasn’t sure she would ever be able to attend a university. “Thanks to the Salizzonis, I have achieved my educational goals, as well as my family’s dreams for a better life in America,” she says. “Their generosity has inspired me to someday return to Sudan and share what I have learned with those who didn’t have the opportunity to leave the country and receive a world-class education.” After scholarships are awarded, Frank and Sarah maintain contact with their recipients through holiday letters and by phone or e-mails when possible. “The Salizzonis often asked about my courses, grades, and activities,” says Johnnie Lewis ’02 Bus, a senior manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers and former recipient of the Salizzoni Family Foundation Scholarship. “They’ve always shown a genuine interest in my life.” The Salizzonis also hold an annual brunch for current and former scholarship recipients on the University Park Pamela Oduho (opposite); Sarah and Frank Salizzoni (right)
campus during Homecoming weekend. The event is an opportunity for the family to meet their recipients in person and a chance for students to meet one another. “We have awarded 144 scholarships since 1997, and about 80 percent of our recipients have graduated,” says Frank. “It’s great to visit with them, have them introduce themselves to the other scholarship recipients, and know that our efforts to help them earn a college education have had a positive impact on their lives.” Johnnie, one of the first recipients of the Salizzoni scholarships in 1997, remains in contact with Frank and Sarah and says he still consults with the couple about career decisions. “I remember calling Frank to get his thoughts before I accepted a position with PricewaterhouseCoopers,” Johnnie says. “The Salizzoni scholarship launched my career by providing the encouragement and self-confidence I needed to become the first person in my family to earn a college degree. I’m not sure I could have done it without their support.” For the Salizzoni family, it is the students’ stories of ambition and success that make the scholarship program worthwhile. “Penn State is a great university, but it’s not ‘giving to Penn State’ that’s important to our family,” Frank says. “What’s important is giving our scholarship recipients the opportunity to create a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Office of University Development 2 Old Main University Park, PA 16802 W E
A R E
P E N N
S T A T E
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. U. Ed DEV 12-11
T H E C A m PA I G N O B j E C T I v E S Goal: $2,000,000,000
Progress to date: $1,542,112,231 77.1%
Ensuring Student Opportunity
Students with the ability and ambition to attend the University will have this opportunity through scholarship support.
Time elapsed: 70.1%
Total to date
Goal
%
$324,804,985
$435,000,000
74.7%
$64,794,371
$100,000,000
64.8%
$105,354,388
$164,000,000
64.2%
$139,509,956
$271,000,000
51.5%
$271,794,633
$386,000,000
70.4%
$635,853,898
$644,000,000
98.7%
Enhancing Honors Education
Students of exceptional ability will experience the best honors education in the nation.
Enriching the Student Experience
Students will thrive in a stimulating atmosphere that fosters global involvement, community service, creative expression, and personal growth.
Building Faculty Strength and Capacity
Students will study with the finest teachers and researchers.
Fostering Discovery and Creativity
Students and faculty members will come together within and across disciplines to pioneer new frontiers of knowledge.
Sustaining a Tradition of Quality
Students will continue to work and study with faculty whose scholarship is enhanced by continuing philanthropic support.
as of March 31, 2012