Edward J. Fitzpatrick, who spent two years at Penn State Abington and graduated from the University in 1988, recently received Penn State's most prestigious alumni award, the Alumni Fellow Award. Fitzpatrick, one of 23 recipients of the award in 2010, was honored for his outstanding professional accomplishments.
Penn State Abington's Dec. 17 fall commencement, featuring Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams as the keynote speaker, was recently reported on by USA Today. Williams, a Penn State alumnus himself, inspired the graduates with his "It's the struggle that makes us strong," speech. To read the full story, visit http://usat.ly/gXLWQY online.
Angel Bernardy -- one of the many proud graduates to walk in Penn State Abington's fall 2010 commencement -- traveled a road of perseverance and hard work on his way to earning a business degree. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1995, Bernardy attended Penn State Abington for one year; he then joined the Air Force. Following his four-year stint in the military, Bernardy worked for Philadelphia Park Race Track. During his six years with Philadelphia Park, he worked his way up into management before returning to Penn State Abington nearly 10 years later in the fall of 2004.
Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler will engage in one of her favorite duties as head of the scenic, suburban Penn State Abington campus -- congratulating nearly 250 students as she shakes hands and bestows upon them their hard-earned degrees. The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17, in the Athletic Building. Seth Williams, Philadelphia's District Attorney and a Penn State alumnus himself, will be the keynote speaker.
Member of the quiz team, editor of the school newspaper, a National Merit Semifinalist, involved in chorus, the honor society, plays and co-valedictorian of the class of 1960 -- it is clear that Karen Wiley Sandler, now chancellor of Penn State Abington, was no wallflower when a high school student at Strath Haven High School (formerly Nether Providence and Swarthmore). Located in Wallingford, the school recently inducted Sandler into the school's "Wall of Honor" as recognition of her career success in the field of higher education. During the ceremony, Sandler -- one of five 2010 inductees -- gave an inspiring speech to the senior class to share with them how she attributes much of her success today to the quality education and experiences she earned at her alma mater.
Penn State Abington's faculty, staff, students and alumni have been busy helping Santa spread holiday cheer to those less fortunate throughout the Delaware Valley. Thanks to their efforts, there will be plenty of canned goods in the food pantry and presents under the tree for sick kids.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Penn State Abington hosted the semester's second event of the think-tank series "Penn State Abington Examines." The concerning topic that evening was education -- "The State of Our Schools: Do We Need Superman?" Four successful leaders in the field of education discussed the questionable state of our country's educational system -- a timely event due to the October release of the documentary "Waiting for Superman," by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim (director of "An Inconvenient Truth"). The film addresses the subject of our failing public schools.
Kick off a merry weekend on Friday, Dec. 3, at Penn State Abington with the "Film and Theater Review: In Time for the Holidays," followed on Sunday by "Green Thumbs: Going Natural for the Holidays."
Penn State Abington's Veterans club "gives-back" to returning vets by offering a plethora of services and support to help them assimilate easily into college and civilian life. With approximately 140 student veterans enrolled at Penn State Abington, sharing common ground with fellow military personnel is essential, according to the Veterans Club Co-Faculty Adviser Nick Santarone.
A cultural arts filled weekend at Penn State Abington begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19 when the AbingTones -- Penn State Abington's a cappella group -- takes center stage in 112 Woodland Building. The students will perform Broadway standards, contemporary pieces and pop music including solo performances. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. To listen to a clip of the AbingTones singing the Penn State Alma Mater, visit hear the sounds of the AbingTones, visit http://goo.gl/f6i4r online.