At last weeks' meeting, we heard from Dr. Tina Richardson, Chancellor of Penn State, Lehigh Valley. As part of her doctoral studies, she focused on ways higher education institutions can better prepare students for their future roles in the workforce. She brought her years of study and expertise to Penn State Lehigh Valley after serving in progressively advanced positions at Lehigh University, George Washington University and Temple. Approaching her one-year anniversary as Penn State Lehigh Valley, Dr. Richardson spoke passionately about how the School serves as an affordable option when compared to the typical $40,000-$50,000 annual tuition of private institutions. For students who choose to live at home and commute to the campus, the cost is a very affordable $14,000 per year. Penn State Lehigh Valley offers a quality education without the high cost. Plus, with a network of 15,000 Penn State alumni living in the Lehigh Valley alone, graduating students who want to remain in the area have a ready pool of connections to help them pursue their careers of choice.
The longest running campus outside of the Main Campus in Happy Valley, Penn State Lehigh Valley offers eight degree programs and more than twenty special-interest clubs and organizations. It also boasts a vibrant athletic program, including: men’s and women’s basketball, golf, cross country, women’s volleyball, and coming soon, soccer; however, she assured us that football is not in the School’s future.
Dr. Richardson is extremely proud of the role that Penn State Lehigh Valley plays in the life of the community. \Students participate in programs such as America Reads, 5K Walk for Breast Cancer, Turning Point, Sixth Street Shelter, and Habitat for Humanity. The School also hosts fun events for the community such as Blue & White Night and Penn State Lehigh Valley Day. As a long-time resident of the Lehigh Valley and the place where she raised her family, Dr. Richardson understands the culture of our community and is committed to building relationships that will benefit the School and our residents – a win-win for all!
Other news of our club:
District Grant Award Announcement
Cindy Hornaman, District 7430 Grants Chairperson, notified our Club that our grant application for our Centennial Club Project to renovate the Rotary Children’s Park has been approved in the amount of $7,700. Congratulations are in order to Deb Geiger and former Club member, Ann Gibson, for their efforts in writing and submitting the grant for this project. The project scope includes cleaning out the overgrown brush, new plantings, installation of a paver base for donated sculptures, placement and anchoring of donated sculptuers, refurbishment of an existing gazebo and benches, and the creation of a mural on a building located adjacent to the park. Brennan Pursell and Mike Dunn are co-managing the project.
Who’s that Rotarian?
Club members learned something new about one of their fellow Rotarians: This Rotarian was very active in his Spring musicals in high school as Freddy Einsford Hill in My Fair Lady and as Luther Billis in South Pacific (singing solos and all!!!!) Can you guess who it is? (Answer at the bottom of this message)
July Birthdays
Pam Beatty led our Club in singing Happy Birthday to the following Rotarians born in July;
Mike Adams
Dennis Domchek
Mike Dunn
Deb Geiger
Rob Littner
Gary Maurer
Jane Pearson
Vern Shade
Bob Weed
Jordan Young
Our speaker for Wednesday, July 20th will be Bonnie Brosius of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. Please plan to attend.
