The Penn Stater Magazine

08/20/2026

The serve can dictate the tone of a badminton match, so it’s important for skilled and backyard players alike to be proficient—and versatile. John He, the vice president of the Penn State Badminton Club, breaks down what goes into a successful serve, and when and how to change it up:

How to serve excellence in a badminton match.

08/19/2026

"My grandfather, Jacob Cohen ’31 Bus, was the news editor of the Penn State Collegian newspaper in the summer of 1931. The Penn State Collegian was the direct predecessor to The Daily Collegian...In recognition of his service to the newspaper, Jacob received a charm that found its way to me upon his passing several years ago." Read more from Andrew Cohen '95 Com:

Commemorative charm from the Penn State Collegian, submitted by Andrew Cohen ’95 Com

08/13/2026

From our May/June '76 issue: Today, Pennsylvania produces more ice cream than any other state. And, believe it or not, just about every ice cream company in the world has a Penn State connection—someone on its staff who holds a Penn State degree or who has attended the oldest and, most authorities agree, best course of its kind anywhere—the two-week ice cream short course taught every January at University Park. Read more: https://pennstatermag.com/icecream

08/11/2026

In historian Amanda Scott’s HIST 492 class, students learn that witches weren’t “warty old women stirring cauldrons.” Beginning in the ancient world with the study of Biblical references to witchcraft, then moving onto superstition and magic in the Greek, Roman, and medieval periods, students learn how the 16th and 17th century fears of heretics, religious minorities, and other persecuted people factored into perceived witchcraft. Read more:

Students in Amanda Scott's HIST 492 study the portrayal of witches in 16th and 17th century Europe.

08/10/2026

One of the university’s most beloved destinations was dedicated in 2010, but it was more than three decades in the making by that point. Read our Campus Life section for more on the Arboretum's origin story: https://pennstatermag.com/campus-life/campus-life-july-august-2026

08/04/2026

Alums, what was your favorite Beaver Stadium tradition? Share with us for a chance to be included in a future issue's Reminiscing page.

08/03/2026

Writing your obituary in advance of your demise is a favor to your survivors and could be a way to control your legacy, says R. Thomas Berner is a Penn State professor emeritus of journalism and American studies. Read more:

Sharing creative life lessons from the crypt.

07/29/2026

Penn State has long been a pioneer in innovations that change the world. Across more than 100 research centers and institutes, faculty and students are driving discoveries that create economic opportunities, inspire startups, and save lives.

Sure, Penn State research is about making headline-worthy innovations: The beginnings of the birth control pill and the HPV vaccine were developed here. The rechargeable pacemaker was created here. The first Earth-sized planet found to be orbiting a star in the habitable zone was discovered by a team of astronomers that includes Penn State scientists. But Penn State research also is about creating strategic partnerships with industry to improve ideas developed on campus. It’s inviting promising researchers to become part of the Penn State family. It’s supporting students and faculty as they advance science, technology, and knowledge importantly yet incrementally. And it’s helping researchers file patents, issue licenses, and create startups that bring their discoveries to the public.

Penn State research is not one story, but many. Here are five of them.

Encompassing colleges and campuses across the entire university system, the scope of Penn State’s world-class research enterprise holds the potential to boost economies, cure diseases, and alter countless aspects of everyday life for the better.

07/28/2026

Architects often see sustainability as an ecological problem because buildings are responsible for a lot of CO2 production. But social sustainability is foundational for ecological and economic sustainability, says Alexandra Staub, a professor of architecture and an affiliate faculty member of Penn State’s Rock Ethics Institute. Read more about her research into how social considerations might make our built environments more inclusive:

Alexandra Staub studies social sustainability in architecture.

07/23/2026

Since its launch in 2018, Penn State’s Fostering Lions Program has helped nearly 200 students from foster care manage the challenges of college life—challenges for which they often lack support. Now, the program’s leadership is focused on maximizing what works in hopes of better supporting students all the way to graduation: https://pennstatermag.com/collections/FosteringLions