Campus event to mark 50 years

Many alumni are expected to return

Staff report

Sharon, Pa.

Penn State Shenango will kick off its 50th anniversary with a double celebration Aug. 22.

A community open house outside on the campus lawn from 3 to 5 p.m. will include music by the Bootleggers, children’s activities, refreshments, storytime, a community art show, tours of the campus, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

An alumni and friends event from 5 to 8 p.m. will include live music by Grant Street Exit, dinner, tours of the campus, a video montage of photos from the past 50 years and a Penn State football raffle ticket drawing.

There is a $10 fee for the event. Reservations can be made through Thursday by calling 724-983-2905. No tickets will be sold on the day of the event.

“We are really looking forward to having many of our alumni back on campus for the start of our 50th anniversary celebration,” said Steve Hessmann, director of development and alumni relations.

Discussions that brought Penn State University to our area began more than 50 years ago, when a group of local citizens had a dream of bringing an affordable college to the Shenango Valley. Following the idea, in 1964, the Penn State Board of Trustees met with The Shenango Valley Citizens College Procurement Committee, and in 1965, the first students enrolled at the school, then known as Penn State Shenango Valley Campus, which occupied the east wing of Kennedy Christian High School for the first two years of operation.

Flash forward to 2015, and Penn State Shenango now sits on 14 acres in downtown Sharon as the only urban campus in the Penn State system. The campus offers both baccalaureate and associate degree programs.

During the past 50 years, the Shenango campus has completed millions of dollars in new building construction as well as major renovations, transforming the former Sharon City School District’s grade school and junior high buildings, and the downtown North Flats area, into a state-of-the-art institution.

In celebration of its 50 years, Penn State Shenango will host more events throughout the academic year, including a 50th Anniversary Gala on March 31. For information, contact Liz Izenas at 724-983-2906.