Delaware Chapter, Penn State Alumni Association

Dear Penn Stater:

The Penn State Alumni Association is exploring the potential relaunch of a Delaware Chapter, and we’d love your input.

Penn State alumni chapters help connect alumni, parents, students, and friends of the University through game watches, social events, networking opportunities, community service, student support, and more. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with fellow Penn Staters or help shape the future of alumni engagement in Delaware, we’d love to hear from you.

If you haven’t already, please take a few moments to complete this brief survey by May 22: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R5DQ28D

We’ll also be sharing this survey with Penn Staters in the broader Delmarva region as we explore potential opportunities for alumni engagement across the area.

Feel free to share this post with other Penn Staters in Delaware who may be interested.

For the Glory!

Zach Graboyes ’16
Volunteer Leader

Zach Barton, ’11
Regional Director, Volunteer Engagement
Penn State Alumni Association
[email protected]

Delaware Chapter Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Welcome to football season fans! Some folks have asked us where they can gather to do some game-watching. While we no longer host "official" TV Tailgates, there are plenty of 'Staters who make their weekly pilgrimage to local spots to root for the Blue & White.

Here are some suggestions for you in the Wilmington area, and if you know others, or are located outside of New Castle County and know of a spot, please comment below! LET'S GO STATE!

***NEW SPOT ALERT: Homebase Delaware has extended an invite to all 'Staters to come up and check out their new space on Concord Pike!

OTHER VENUES
*Anejo Mexican Grill and Tequila Bar, Trolley Square, Wilmington
*Grotto Pizza, Pennsylvania Ave, Wilmington
*Timothy's on the Riverfront, Wilmington

To our Delaware Chapter friends & family:

We are heartbroken -- as indeed the entire Penn State and state of Delaware communities are -- as we mourn the loss of our dear friend, Edna Bennett Pierce. She was an extraordinary person, a Pioneer among Nittanys, and a most kind, gracious, and generous soul. We share in her family's grief and send them our heartfelt condolences. She is truly a distinct and amazing alumna, friend, and woman.

Edna Bennett Pierce | Chandler Funeral Homes Delaware CENTREVILLE - Edna Bennett Pierce, age 90, passed away peacefully on July 22. She was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania to Metallurgy Engineer Karl F. Peterson and

Hey Delaware' Staters! These two fellow alumni --- Julia Natoli & Joshua Gold --- will be starring in City Theater Company's production of ONCE at The Delaware Contemporary, December 10-18! Come show your support for the blue & white AND the arts!

Get your tickets today at https://city-theater.org/

For more information about the production: https://www.facebook.com/events/910078796578336

ARTIST BIOS
Philadelphia-based soprano JULIA NATOLI is a native of Rochester, NY, and received her Professional Performer’s Certificate in Voice and Master of Music degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Penn State University. While there, she studied classical repertoire with Jennifer Trost and musical theatre repertoire with Mary Saunders Barton. She currently studies voice with Dr. Beverly Patton, Professor Emeritus from Penn State University. With Penn State Opera Theatre, she appeared as Elle in Poulenc’s La voix humaine, the title role in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe, and as The W***e in the workshop premiere of Susan Russell and Alex Heppelmann’s new opera, Leavings. She also sang Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 in Penn State’s New Recital Hall under the baton of Laurel Charleston in February 2019. After moving to Philly in 2021, she sang Sarah Brown at the Levoy Theatre in Millville, NJ, with the Off Broad Street Players and appeared as Announcer #3 in their production of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds 1938 Broadcast. This December, she will appear as Girl in Once with City Theater Company at The Delaware Contemporary in Wilmington, Delaware.

JOSHUA SERI GOLD is thrilled to be playing Eamon in City Theater Company’s production of Once. Josh is a recent Penn State grad, finishing school during the pandemic in the Class of 2021. He graduated with BFA in acting and Minor in Medieval Studies. Since graduation, Josh has participated in many different projects ranging from Philly Fringe shows, VO productions, haunt attractions, and more. Aside from theatre, Josh also has a passion for history and all things nerdy. He hopes you come to see Once, and promises you won’t be disappointed!

Wilmington-area 'Staters: Word on the street is this weekend, our friends at Añejo Mexican Grill and Tequila Bar in Trolley Square will be welcoming local Nittanys to game-watch.

Matt and his crew are great friends of this Chapter (and their margaritas are killer...ask for Michelle's "bougie 'Rita"), so if you're in the area and want a Blue & White hangout, stop on by!

And...GO STATE!

Local Penn Staters! Here's your chance to score football tickets AND support a wonderful local animal charity. Check out Faithful Friends Animal Society's online auction of Penn State-Rutgers tickets (or any other of their amazing auction items), and thanks in advance for supporting the animals!

Penn State vs. Rutgers College Football Tickets Auction item 'Penn State vs. Rutgers College Football Tickets' hosted online at 32auctions.

Penn State vs Iowa at 4PM! This is gonna be a big one. There’s no official chapter viewing party so where will you and your crew be watching the game?

Delaware (and beyond) 'Staters: It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we share with you the passing of longtime board and chapter member, Kathy West ('88). Kathy left us unexpectedly last week, but her love and dedication for this Chapter and for our Alma Mater will never fade.

As you can see, Kathy was always "in the thick" of things and loved being so. She was a member of the Delaware Chapter for more than 25 years, and gave so much of herself to its success.

She was an ardent participant in and supporter of our community service activities, especially the ACS Relay for Life & our Lions for Life team.

She lovingly and painstakingly oversaw our Chapter's private scholarship solicitation and distribution efforts...if you got a letter about the Chapter's scholarship, you can bet it was Kathy who got it to you.

Kathy was one of the friendly Delaware faces who welcomed you to almost every Penn State Alumni Beach Happy Hour since its inception. (She was also a fantastic sandcastle creator.)

She would annually give her time (and her yummy pasta salad) for each Chapter Picnic & Freshmen Send-Off.

Of course, she was a fixture at nearly every TV Tailgate or PSU football-related event we hosted...and one of PSU's most vocal fans! 😉

Beyond her love for the blue & white, Kathy was a scientist (a GEOLOGIST, as she would proudly correct us); an avid traveler; a maker of distinct, delicious jams & jellies (ask around about her violet jelly); a loving cat mom; and a talented photographer, whose work appeared in several exhibits here in Delaware.

We are broken by the great loss of our friend and colleague, but we are better for having known her and shared in her passions. Our hearts and prayers are with Kathy's family and her many other friends.

We send you thanks, peace and love, Kathy, until we see you again in the great Blue & White. 💙🤍

MEMORIAL SERVICE INFO:
Memorial viewing for Kathy West will be held Wednesday, 8/4, 6:00-8:00pm and Thursday, 8/5, 10:00-11:00am at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE 19711.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathy's name to the Delaware Chapter’s university-endowed scholarship. Gifts (payable to “PSAA-DE”) can be sent to PSAA Delaware Chapter Treasurer, Lee Lenkner, 431 Geddes Street, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Kathy's full obituary may be viewd here: https://spicermullikin.com/kathryn-a-kathy-west/.

Dear Fellow Delaware Penn State Alumni,

I hope this message finds you and your families well. It is exciting to watch the world open up again and activities to start to return to “normal”, however, as with most organizations, this past year has been a tough one for the Delaware Chapter of the Alumni Association. In the past we’ve offered many fun and exciting activities for our membership and have always had a goal of supporting new and current students. As society re-opens, the chapter, needs to take a hard look at what direction our organization is headed. and determine which activities to continue, because we can’t do any of it without the support of our members. Over the next six months, we will be evaluating the effectiveness of planned activities and what value they give to you, our members.

As states and the country opens up, we will be looking to you, as members, for feedback on past activities, to see if we can add additional chapter board members or engage members who can plan and develop activities and of course, support for awarding the 2020 scholarship and help to offer another scholarship later in 2021.

We strive to continue activities for our membership, but we can’t do it without YOU being an active member! Please feel free to reach out to me, or anyone on the board, if you have questions or interest in helping the Chapter develop activities. There will be more to come so stay tuned.

For the glory
Ricky Williams ‘95
President
Penn State Alumni Association, Delaware Chapter

Hello Fellow 'Staters! We hope this post finds you all healthy and happy!

We know many of you are excited to return to Dewey Beach this summer and reconnect with one another, safely and respectfully.

IF YOU ARE, northbeach is OPEN and EXCITED to welcome PSU alums for an UNOFFICIAL gathering, SATURDAY, JULY 31, from 12:00-4:00pm.

While this is NOT an official PSU Beach Happy Hour, nor hosted/sanctioned by PSAA chapters, there will be some familiar fun --- food & drink specials will be offered (TBA) and if you arrive in PSU gear, you might get a *surprise* giveaway, courtesy of our friends at northbeach.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no t-shirts or sign-in table with PSU items, and the Lion is holding off on appearances this summer.

But there will be a chance to reunite with fellow alums, support our longtime pals at northbeach, and enjoy much-needed sun and surf.

Please continue to adhere to Delaware state safety guidelines during your visit, and thanks for your continued patronage of the businesses who support us at the beach!

Here's a Bernie for all you "'Staters of a Certain Age"... Happy Friday! (Creation of alum Mark Krawiec)