A family of thousands
By MARIAM ELHADRI
Staff Reporter
MUEII7@PSU.EDU
Upon entering college, most students
find it a luxury to he able to say,
“Just lour years and we're done with
it.” This is not the plan of hundreds
of people in over twenty campuses
that are employed in Penn State’s
Alumni Programs. Laurie Dobrosky,
the Assistant Director of Alumni
Relations at Penn State Harrisburg,
said, “Our job is not for the students
to just graduate and go on their
merry way. This is a team for life.”
She enthusiastically emphasized
that the Alumni Association's main
objective is to connect or reconnect
alumni back to their university and
campuses. This association enables
alumni to give back to their college
and community, as well as benefit
from the resources it has to oiler.
According to Penn State's Alumni
web site, the university's program
began back in IX7O with only twelve
alumni and a v ery strong purpose.
They wanted to give serv ices to their
members as well as to give back
and fulfill duties such as teaching,
researching, and serving their
university. This was only nine years
after its first class had graduated.
Now, it is one of the largest and most
successful alumni programs in the
world. With over 159,063 members
in the association, Penn State is
number one for having the largest
amount of dues paid in the country.
Dobrosky believes this portrays the
utmost commitment that Penn State
students have to their university.
Penn State University’s dedication
to the program as well as a hard
working staff contributes to making
it so successful. The association is
made up of many departments that
manage the program and plan events
year round. The Alumni Council and
Executive Board govern the program.
Composed of volunteers, alumni,
and professional stall, these boards
are all dedicated to supporting Penn
State alumni all atound the world in
enhancing their career growth. Here
at Penn Slate 1 larrisburg, there is a
Board of Relations and Volunteer
Board that Dobrosky said, “focuses
in on graduates and thcii needs as
they get older.”
Dobrosky, closing off her sixth
year this fall working for the Alumni
Association, has seen the program
grow and change over the years.
In addition to the 32,000 alumni
from Penn State Harrisburg, she
forecasts that with the expansion of
this campus, freshman admissions,
and increased number of graduates,
the alumni program will continue to
grow in student interactions with its
alumni in Harrisburg.
Despite the size of the program,
not many people are fully informed
and aware with how it works or w hat
it has to offer. Membership comes
with a variety and countless number
of benefits. Entertainment benefits
attract many graduates to become a
part of the program. Alumni receive
publications just for them. These
include The Penn Stater magazine,
the Football Letter, the Sports Letter,
as well as college or campuses society
newsletters. Sports tickets and other
events are made available to them as
well. Favorably, there are discounts
on everything from life insurance to
books. Alumnus Pete Strella, who
recently spoke to students on landing
careers, said that he likes to take
advantage of the deals on football
tickets and also uses the PSH gym
very often.
The alumni program is often
mistaken to be just for those who
have graduated and joined the
society. In result, many current
students miss the opportunities
that they can benefit from that this
association has to offer. The program
commits to teaching current students
in workshops for the future. After the
panel discussion, Strella stated, “The
opportunity to speak to the freshman
was also beneficial for me to reflect
on how I have reached the position as
sports editor in the Press and Journal.
It’s always good to remember
where you came from.” Dobrosky
wants students to benefit from the
knowledge, experiences, and diverse
stories many alumni have. She insists
they will arrange specialized speakers
for any club or sports teams who art
looking to learn more.
The Alumni association’s key tool
is the networking and mentoring
programs. According to the Alumni
Career Services web page, their
mission is to form partnerships,
provide and create resources, and
offer services that are receptive to
the life and career needs of Penn
State alumni. Alumnus Rodney
Horton gives most of his success
appraisal to networking. He joined
the association because he too,
once had a mentor from the alumni
program. During his sophomore year
of college, he was mentored by the
House Majority Whip, David Argali.
Out of this mentorship, Horton
received the opportunity to intern
with the House Republican Caucus.
“The networking opportunity that
existed with other Penn Staters
through various events and
information panels contributed to
my success post-graduation.” Now
serving on the Middletown Borough
Council, Horton hopes to “help
develop a close friendship between
the Borough and the student body.”
Penn State alumni pride is
supported by the Lion Ambassadors
across the campus, the community,
and the country. Heading the' Lion
Ambassadors as well, Dobrosky
assimilates her current students of
Lion Ambassadors, who want to
make a difference, with her alumni
and work hand in hand. They aid,
assist, and promote PSH and its
Alumni Association by running
their events. They coordinate
tours, class reunions, and greet any
visiting alumni, family, and friends.
President of the Lion Ambassadors,
Melissa Yingling, stated, “I am
looking forward to conducting
the alumni tours at the end of this
month, meeting with them, and
learning from their experiences at
this campus.”
The association holds events such as
socials, dinners, couple dances, panel
discussions, awards ceremonies to
recognize outstanding alumni, and
reunions. On Oct. 27, the Alumni
Association will be celebrating
PSH’s 40th anniversary and holding
an award ceremony as well.
Forthe students of today, the alumni
in-training, sharing the time and
talent with the university is important
before and after graduation. This is a
movement to commit to representing
your university and to “bleed blue
and white”, for life.
Camvi£a(en<{ar
Lectures & Events
Managing Your Finances as a
Student
October 9 from 12 - 12:50 p.m.
E-257
October 10 from 12:30 - 1:20 p.m
E-257
Career Services - “Etiquette Dinner
and Workshop”
October 9 from 6-9 p.m.
Special Events Room
Student Life - “Acquaintance Rape”
October 11 from 12 - 12:50 p.m.
W-242
“How do I cite
Learning Center -
this thing?”
October 11 from 12 - 12:50 p.m
E-257
October 12 from 12:30 - 1:20 p.m
E-257
Career Services - Intern Panel
October 11 from 1-1:50 p.m.
Gallery Lounge
Tking s ]kl A A f| To
You W vvllKnow
K 1 pills are available for all Harris
burg campus students. Stop by Stu
dent Heath Services during normal
business hours to pick them up.
Hours: Monday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Daylight Savings Time is October
29th. Set your clocks back one hour
to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m.
The eLiving Contract Process will
begin on Thursday November 30 at
noon. See www.eliving.psu.edu for
more info
One year later:
By SHANNON NORDT
Staff Reporter
SAPSOI9@PSU.EDU
A year later, devastation, frustration,
and years of memories still lie in a city
ruined by a natural disaster: hurricane
Katrina. Hurricane Katrina, unlike any
other storm, has managed to not only
tear apart cities and states and change
lives of the people affected, but it
has also helped promote the rumors
other countries have about how much
Americans care for one another.
“Together we stand, divided we fall” is
one of the most common phrases used
in the government system. However,
in case of one of the deadliest storms
seen in the United States, how the
government managed to handle the
events before, leading up to, and after
Katrina did not give proof that we
lived in a nation that stood together.
Experts say that Hurricane Katrina
was the sixth strongest land falling
U.S. hurricane on record and though
our government has systems in place
to warn us of upcoming storms, no
one believed this storm would be
so devastating. Hurricane Katrina
caused catastrophic disaster in most
of the areas it hit, but it managed to
Attention Seniors!
Personalize a Brick in the Ziegler Commons
Pledge your General Deposit of $lOO from your Tuition
Fill out the on-line pledge form at:
http: //www. hbg. psu. edu/philanthropy
THE CAPITAL TIMES
Career Services - Internship Search
Strategies
October 12 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
E-247
“Save a Life” (Alcohol Awareness)
October 16 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Special Events Room
Library - Resources in SET
October 16 from 5 - 5:50 p.m
October 17 from 1-1:50 p.m
Sexual Harassment
October 18 from 12 - 12:50 p.m.
Oliver LaGrone Cultural Arts Cen
ter, W-132 Olmsted
Library- Resources in Humanities
October 18 from 12 - 12:50 p.m.
Latin Dance Lessons
Oct. 15,22, 29, 3-4:40 p.m
Multipurpose Room
Library- Resources in Business
October 18 from 5-5:50 p.m.
CUB Information
All users of the fitness facility
(CUB) must present their Penn State
ID at the front desk. The desk moni
tor will sign you in and give you
any equipment you need.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-11
p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday
11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.-Bp.m.
Meetings
Chi Gamma lota, the veterans
fraternity meets every Monday at
12 p.m. in E-124. For informa
tion contact Matthew Mahoney at
mlmso39@psu.edu
really cause severe damage in places
like New Orleans, Louisiana, and
Mississippi. The states hit the worst
are still trying to rebuild and overcome
the changes that were forced to take
place in their lives.
Many organizations, government
foundations, and even individuals
have tried to donate their time and
money into helping to rebuild what
Katrina took away from so many
people: security, love, family, friends,
and hope. Many are desperately trying
to pick up the pieces, mend their lives
back together, and start fresh. Starting
fresh can sometimes be hard when you
have nothing to start with, and all you
ever knew vanished before your eyes
in the blink of an eye.
“Support and time may help us
get through this devastation,
but all the money in the world can
not bring back memories of loved
ones,” said Devinique Murray,
senior communications.
The attacks of 9/11 were not something
we could completely prepare for
because it happened, supposedly,
without the government knowing
about it. However, the devastation
brought on by hurricane Katrina could
Start A Tradition
October 9, 2006
October 19 from 1 - 1:50 p.m
Career Services - Prepare for the
Capital Region Internship Fair
October 19 from 3:30-4:40 p.m. -
E-247
Athletics (Home)
Women’s Volleyball
VS. Abington
October 17 at 7 p.m.
VS. York
October 21 at 11 a.m
Tennis
VS. Mont Alto
October 11 at 3 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
VS. Penn College
October 14 at I p.m.
VS. Hazelton
October 19 at 6 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
VS. Valley Forge Christian College
October 11 at 4 p.m.
Student Government Association
meets every Thursday at 12:30
p.m. in the Science and Technology
Building, room 118.
The Multicultural Academic Excel
lence Program meets every Wednes
day from 4:30 - 6 p.m. in the Oliver
LaGrone Cultural Arts Center,
W-132.
The Harrisburg Anime Association
meets every Thursday from 9-11
p.m. in the Oliver LaGrone Cultural
Arts Center.
Katrina
have at least been downsized if the
right actions would have taken place
to help prepare the anticipated cities
that were to be affected. The media
has also been criticized for not doing
its rightful duty by telling the truth
despite how the government feels.
Spike Lee took the first amendment
use into his own hands by developing
a documentary in conjunction with
HBO Films called When the Levees
Broke. This documentary is full of
personal accounts from people who
live in New Orleans and live footage
that supported their feelings of
abandonment and prejudice.
Though many are still so very upset
because of how the government
handled this situation, it can not
take away the fact that a disaster did
happen. As Americans, all we can do
now is help piece lives back together,
both financially and emotionally.
As we pass this one year anniversary
of the event, let us remember those
who were lost and those who have
survived and are still trying to
mend their lives. Hurricane Katrina
was not only New Orleans’ and
other states’ devastation, it was an
American devastation.