The Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society raised $7,000, the second best total in bowlathon history, at its 14th annual Alumni Bowlathon on March 13. More than 150 alumni and friends filled Wildlife Lanes to capacity for the New Kensington society event that was only a $100 shy of the bowlathon standard of $7,100 that was set in 2014. Last year, the bowlathon netted $6,600. Proceeds from the 14-year event are plowed back into the society’s endowed scholarship at the campus.
As a Penn State New Kensington student, Josh Karelitz acquired his knowledge via excellent teaching. As a Penn State New Kensington instructor, Karelitz dispenses his knowledge via teaching excellence.
Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club and Penn State New Kensington scholarships are grounds for teeing it up Aug. 1 for the 17th annual Alumni Golf Outing in Latrobe. Golfers will play the same immaculate fairways (or dense rough) and undulating greens that Palmer played while growing up and earning the mantle of The King.
Penn State New Kensington Chancellor Kevin Snider honored two staff members May 19 as the recipients of the campus’ outstanding service awards. The initiatives were developed in 2015 by Snider to recognize campus staff members who have made a valuable impact on the campus.
Robert Mathers is Penn State New Kensington’s newest full professor. His promotion in June to professor of chemistry gives the campus four full professors among its 38 faculty.
While one personal water filter can save about 300 plastic water bottles from adding to the waste of the United States, one Penn State New Kensington water refilling station can save more than 100,000 plastic bottles from the same demise. Water bottle refilling stations, which are attached to the back of traditional drinking fountains, were installed five years ago as the New Kensington campus became more environmentally friendly. The station in the Administration building, which generates the most foot traffic, recently hit the 100,000 mark in bottles saved.
Danielle Richardson was named the 2016 recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award April 29 at the Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony at Penn State New Kensington. The Walker Award is given to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. The award was established in 1980 by Penn State President Eric Walker and is presented at each of Penn State's 24 campuses.
The next capital project at Penn State New Kensington should be the construction of an “awards” wing for the office of Jim Shields in the Academic and Career Success Center. The timing couldn’t be more serendipitous since the center is undergoing restoration after a ceiling water pipe broke in July and doused offices, equipment and the adjacent Penn State bookstore. Shields, career services coordinator, picked up another accolade in May when he was given the Warrior Award by the Western Pennsylvania Career Services Association. It was the third time in 14 months that Shields has been recognized for the quality of his work.
Students at Penn State New Kensington will pay the same basic, in-state tuition for the third consecutive year as the Penn State Board of Trustees approved the freeze July 22 for eight Penn State Commonwealth Campuses. Tuition stability ensures that all Penn State New Kensington students will have access to the campus’ quality academic programs. Affordability is the top initiative of Chancellor Kevin Snider’s seven-point strategic plan for the New Kensington campus.
Chancellor Kevin Snider conferred degrees to 79 graduates on May 7 at the 57th spring commencement exercises at Penn State New Kensington. James R. Shorkey Jr., a life success coach and founder of Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group, delivered the commencement address, “Blueprint for Success.”