Minnesota Chapter Penn State Alumni Association Update

President’s Message J ULY 2011 Inside this issue:

Nittany Nation, periences as the Nittany dents, and even JoePa, 2011 Football TV Tailgates..... 2 As I write this, another Lion. came to TCF Bank Stadium Scholarship Endowment ...... 2 Penn State class is going April 24th brought us to take on the Minnesota Changes in the Big Ten ...... 2 through the life altering our service event at Feed Golden Gophers. The Feed My Starving Children ... 2 phase of their lives from My Starving Children in weekend started with a Annual Summer BBQ ...... 3 college student to Alumni. the morning and then a pep rally at the Mall of PSU-MN 2010 ...... 4 It is both scary and exciting gathering at Dave & America where over 175 at the same time. As I Buster's in Maple Grove to Alumni from across the US JoePa’s 400th Victory ...... 5 think back to that day for cheer on the Blue & White joined in the fun! The next Penn State Word Search ...... 6 me, I knew that I loved in the annual spring foot- day, thousands of Penn Kelly Gordon’s Reflection ..... 6 Penn State, but even after 4 ball game. Throughout the State faithful cheered on Election Bios ...... 7 wonderful years at Univer- spring semester, our the football team to a vic- Insert: sity Park, little did I realize Alumni came out in sup- tory. Membership Form then how much I would port of the Nittany Lion All of these events that come to love Penn State athletes when the wres- we host each year cannot down the road. I feel very tling, baseball, and be done without the sup- 2011 Football Schedule: blessed that work and love women's ice hockey teams porting cast of the Board of 09/03/11 vs. Indiana State (though not necessarily in came into town. Directors. Next time you 09/10/11 vs. Alabama that order) brought me to In May, we officially see a Board Member, 09/17/11 at Temple Minnesota after gradua- kicked off a massive fund- please thank them for all of 09/24/11 vs. Eastern Michigan tion. By being involved raising effort with the their time and effort. If 10/01/11 at Indiana with the PSAA-MN Chap- Alumni Association enti- you are interested in get- 10/08/11 vs. Iowa ter from literally the day I tled For the Future: The ting more involved with 10/15/11 vs. Purdue moved here, I have not Campaign for Penn State Stu- the Chapter, please feel 10/22/11 at Northwestern only been able to grow that dents. In June, we hosted free to get in touch with me 10/29/11 vs. Illinois fondness for Dear Old our first official fundraising about joining the Board. State, but also to share my effort for the campaign by I would like to close by 11/05/11 Bye—Week passion with hundreds of offering box seats to Cirque reminding you that this is 11/12/11 vs. Nebraska other Alumni in the area De Soleil ALEGRIA. your Chapter and we value 11/19/11 at Ohio State through the many events As summer came to an your input. I would love to 11/26/11 at Wisconsin we host each year. end, we hosted our Annual hear any input you have on 12/03/11 Big Ten Championship Looking back at last Summer BBQ / Freshman other events you are inter- year reminds me of just Send-off and participated ested in or feedback you Lucas Oil Stadium—Indianapolis, IN how many Alumni we've in the Big Ten Alumni Soft- have on current events. been able to reconnect with ball Tournament. Of Stay tuned throughout course Labor Day weekend through the Alumni Asso- For the Glory, the year with our web- ciation and the University. meant the return of PSU site and email listserv We started the year off Football to the Medina En- for information regard- with our Annual Dinner in tertainment Center and our ing the 2011 Fall Foot- February with guest weekly TV Tailgates. Brian Binkley ’02 speaker Jim Schaude, a for- In October, we had the [email protected] ball Road trip. mer Nittany Lion mascot, rare opportunity to play who entertained us all eve- host to the entire Nittany ning with stories of his ex- Nation as Alumni, stu- 2011 Football TV Tailgates Changes for the Big Ten We look forward to forms as it was an- It became official in fall State, Purdue, and Wis- joining all of you again nounced earlier this year 2010 that Nebraska consin this season at the Medina that the white/blue trim would join the Big 10 Legends—Iowa, Michi- Entertainment Center for around the collar and Conference, bringing the gan, Michigan State, our football TV tailgates. sleeves would now total number of teams to Minnesota, Nebraska, This venue has proven to match the jersey color. twelve for the first time and Northwestern be a great meeting spot Still plain and simple in conference history. Each school will play the for people around the and no names on the Dividing the conference other five schools within twin cities to catch up backs—just the way into two divisions creates its division as well as with other alumni, fam- JoePa likes it! the need for a Big 10 three teams from the op- ily, and friends to cheer Keep an eye on the Conference champion- posing division, includ- on the Nittany Lions. website and your email ship game, thus declar- ing one cross divisional You may notice a slight for updates on game ing a true conference match-up guaranteed change in the team’s uni- times. winner. The Big 10 each year. With these Champion will go on to changes, we are guaran- Scholarship Endowment play in the Rose Bowl or teed to play Nebraska the National Champion- each year. As the new In March 2010, our sonal donations and indi- ship game. schedule takes effect this Chapter pledged the viduals time, our fund- The twelve teams were fall, let’s cheer on our lofty goal of raising raising events have been divided as follows: Nittany Lions to be the $22,000 by June 30th, a great success. Such Leaders—Illinois, Indi- first “official” Big Ten 2014. This would in- events include Cirque du ana, Ohio State, Penn Champion! crease our chapter’s Soleil and our Annual scholarship endowment Dinner Silent Auction. fund by 50%, resulting in It is our pleasure to an- a total of $66,000. nounce that as of May We want to personally 15th, 2011 we have raised thank all of you for your $21,677.11 (98.5% of our efforts and commitment goal)!!! to the long term invest- Let’s keep up the hard ment in the University work so that we can not and its students, espe- only meet but far exceed cially those from MN. our goal! Through generous per- Feed My Starving Children Recap On Saturday, April 30th, 2011 several Penn Staters delicious and nutritious meals to those in need. participated in the packing of nutritious meals from 9 Feed My Starving Children relies solely on the gen- -11am at the Feed My Starving Children facility in erous donations of those who volunteer to cover the Chanhassen. After watching a short video and listen- costs of the food packed at their facilities. If you were ing to a talk explaining how the charity was under not able to attend the event, but wish to make a dona- increased strain due to skyrocketing rice prices due to tion, please visit www.fmsc.org to find out how you global shortages, everyone donned stylish hairnets can help. and packed as many meals as we could while talking and meeting new people from around the area. At the end of the session, we successfully packed 5,400 bags (enough to feed 15 children for an entire year!) that would be shipped around the globe to provide

Page 2 Annual Summer BBQ / Freshman Send-Off

On August 15th, 2010 Penn State gratulations on representing Minnesota Alumni and Students gathered at the students at Penn State. home of Mike & Sarah Houle in Golden We will once again be hosting a Fresh- Valley for the Annual BBQ and Freshman man Send-Off and Summer BBQ on Au- Send-off for everyone to enjoy good food, gust 7th at Dan Gordon’s home in Ply- good friends, and lawn games. mouth, MN. Watch your email and The Daniel S. Johnson scholarship www.psumn.com for more in- winner was announced that day as formation! well—congratulations to Kelly Gordon of Plymouth, MN, who was an upcoming senior at Penn State. Unfortunately Kelly had spent her summer in PA, so she was not able to receive her recognition in person, but everyone in the Alumni Association wishes her well & con-

Penn State Update Page 3 Penn State vs. Minnesota—October 23, 2010 Excitement was all around when our beloved Nit- awaited meeting between the Nittany Lions and the tany Lions returned to MN after a 4 year drought. As Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Seeing that the “host” chapter for the away game, it was our re- this was the Gophers’ second season in their new sta- sponsibility to plan the Friday Night pep-rally. Along dium, this was many people’s first opportunity to go with nearly 200 strong, Penn State fans joined in the inside the facility and witness first hand all that it of- festivities at Kokomo’s Island Café located at the Mall fered. Fear not, Penn State fans were not over of America. Fans came from across the country, in- whelmed by all of the new glitz and glam by forget- cluding alumni from Kansas City, Columbus, Tampa, ting our loyalties to the BEST home a team could ask Charlotte, San Diego and Anchorage, AK. The eve- for…. Beaver Stadium, of course! ning was a success with plenty of cheers from the Pep Ironically, a few of us on our walk to the stadium Band, cheerleaders, and the Nittany Lion himself. ran into Channel 5’s chief meteorologist dressed in his Talk about taking MOA by storm with all of our Penn Maroon and Gold. Thankfully, the forecast was State pride! wrong, as the day turned out to be a beautiful fall day With the possibility of inclement weather looming, it with high’s in the 60’s. With the away team fans se- may have presented some challenges as to what to questered to the upper deck corner, we enjoyed views wear; however, there was no doubt about it, we all of the Minneapolis skyline and of course cheering on wanted to see our team onto victory rain or shine! our Nittany Lions as we dominated the Golden Go- Many fans started their morning by gathering under phers. the big white tent on the ’s After the Big Ten realignment, we now need to wait campus for a PSU sponsored tailgate. The event came another 3 years before our teams reunite here in the complete with free Penn State paraphernalia, refresh- land of 10,000 lakes. Regardless, this weekend stands ments, the Pep Band, cheerleaders, and the Nittany to be remembered, that is for sure! Lion. Following the hour long program, Penn State faithful headed for the long

Page 4 JoePa’s 400th Victory—November 6, 2010 Early last fall, I was informed that the company I work typical fall day in State for was nominated as Penn State’s Corporate Partner of College but a great day for the Year. I was honored when I was asked to return to football. We made our campus to be one of the representatives at the award way to the stadium after banquet. Little did I know that same weekend would strolling down College Avenue. Excitement was in the turn out to mean so much more to all Penn State fans. air as we joined 100,000+ fans in the Alma Mater and As the 2010 PSU football season began, every fan held cheering the team on as they took the field. high hopes that this could be the season that Fear began to set in as Dan Persa, Northwestern’s QB, could capture his 400th win. However, being ranked led his team to score 21 unanswered points by the mid- anywhere from 14th to 21st in the various polls and hav- dle of the second quarter. It seemed as if the Nittany ing a rather difficult schedule meant the team was faced Lions would go the entire first half without scoring any with quite a challenge. With only one loss during the points. However, in the few remaining minutes of the pre-conference games, JoePa and the team were off to a second quarter, Matt McGloin found Brett Brackett in great start at 397 wins. With a loss to Illinois and Iowa the back of the end zone to reduce the lead to 21-7. Fi- to begin the Big Ten games, the hope of capturing num- nally, the momentum had swung our way. ber 400 seemed to be fading away. Needless to say, that momentum stayed with the team A victory over the Golden Gophers proved to be the as both the offense and defense seemed unstoppable in jump start the team needed to regain momentum going the second half. McGloin connected with Nate Cadogan into games against Michigan and Northwestern at for a 3-yard score before throwing a perfect pass to home. We, members of the PSAA-MN chapter, should Derek Moye down the right sideline to tie the game at take great pride knowing we had a part in motivating 21. In the third quarter, Silas Redd allowed the Nittany the team to beating Minnesota and capturing number Lions to take the lead for the first time by completing a 4 398. At this point in time, excitement began to build be- -yard run , taking the score 28-21. The Wildcats made a cause along with an invitation to the award banquet final push late in the fourth quarter but came up empty came tickets to the Northwestern game the following handed when Persa threw an incomplete pass into the day. It killed me not to be able to watch the PSU- end zone on fourth down. Evan Royster sealed the vic- Michigan game but it was more important to be a good tory with a 13-yard catch for a touchdown, bringing the husband and score to 35-21. get dragged As the Nittany Lions crept closer to victory, the fans along to the began to come alive. Nearly everyone was on their feet Ohio State- and cheering their hearts out as number 400 was within Minnesota our grasp. Cameras throughout the stadium began to game when flash and cheers of “Joe Paterno” echoed louder and my wife’s louder. All the while, JoePa stood on the sideline in his friends from typical style—hands in his pocket and focused on the Ohio were in game. The crowd exploded as the game clock struck town! Text 00:00 and JoePa was hoisted onto the player’s shoulders. messages and After the cheering subsided, JoePa was joined by Sue scoreboard Paterno, Tim Curley, and in the end- updates zone for the post game celebration. A special video helped to keep me informed about the game. Before I played on the scoreboard video screen highlighting knew it, the Nittany Lions had pulled ahead 41-31 and JoePa’s career with Penn State and some of his most win number 399 was in our grasp. How great was memorable wins. One of my favorite memories from this—Julie and I would have a chance to be a part of the game was JoePa’s comment “People ask why I’ve Penn State history if JoePa and the team could take out stayed here so long and you know what? Look around, Northwestern next week. look around! Now that the celebration’s over, let’s go The award ceremony at the proved to beat Ohio State!” be a great time but those of us Penn Staters could not This was an experience that neither Julie nor I will stop thinking about what tomorrow meant. Saturday’s soon forget and a game that all Penn State fans will weather turned out to be slightly cool and overcast—a remember for years to come.

Penn State Update Page 5 Penn State Word Search

Kelly Gordon’s Scholarship Recipient Reflection

I am honored to be awarded the 2010-2011 PSU bor and Employment Relations. With this degree, I Minnesota Alumni Scholarship. Thanks to your hope to find a career in the field of Human Re- generous support, I have been able to afford the source Management by this time next year as well large out-of-state tuition bill for my senior year. As as attend graduate school in the future. Once an out-of-state student from Minnesota with a PSU again, I offer my sincerest thanks for your generos- alumnus as a father, graduating from Penn State ity and I hope you continue to offer this scholar- has always been my dream. This scholarship will ship. We may be from Minnesota, but WE ARE greatly help in my pursuit to graduate from The PENN STATE at heart! Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a minor in La-

Page 6 Candidates for Chapter Board Positions:

CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER: CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL MEMBER:

Dan Gordon Dean Creighton Dan graduated in 1975 with a B.S. in Chemical Engi- Dean is originally from Honesdale, PA and gradu- neering. He obtained an MBA at the University of St. ated from PSU in 1980 with a B.S. in Food Science. Thomas in 1988. Dan has two children, Kelly and Ty- Dean and his wife Barbara live in Brooklyn Park and ler. Kelly graduated this year from Penn State major- have a grown daughter and a son in college (Iowa ing in Business and a minor in Labor Relations. Tyler State). He has worked for General Mills, Inc. for 22 will be a sophomore this fall at Penn State majoring in years and is currently in R&D in the Big G cereal divi- Engineering. He was our chapter’s head cheerleader sion. Dean has been an active participant in the chap- for a number of years leading the “We are Penn State” ter, attending football game parties, the Feed My cheers and providing the accompanying musical Starving Children event, the summer picnic, and the scores at the football gatherings at Medina and Ma- Annual Dinner. He has also held leadership positions jors. Dan is a life time member of the Penn State in his national professional organization, in his Alumni Association and has participated in many of church, and as an adult volunteer in Boy Scouts. our chapter events including the annual dinner, foot- ball parties, football road trips, freshmen sendoff, and Brian Varner community service. He continues to be actively in- Brian graduated in 1999 with a B.S. in Marketing. A volved with the Chemical Engineering and the Food native of Buffalo, NY, Brian remembers the efforts of Science Departments at PSU through various teach- the out-of-state local chapter before starting school ing, recruiting, and research activities. Dan is cur- and would like to pay it forward here in Minnesota. rently the PSAA MN chapter Treasurer. Professionally, he has developed marketing depart- ments for Arena Football League teams in Buffalo and CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY: Philadelphia, including building the Philadelphia Matt and Julie Fisher Soul for Jon Bon Jovi. Shifting gears, Brian has been Matt and Julie are currently co-secretaries for the living in the Twin Cities for the past four years help- PSAA MN Chapter. Julie graduated in 2005 with a ing over thirty TV stations around the country B.S. in Marketing from the Smeal College of Business. monetize their websites.

Originally, Julie is from Columbus, OH and broke a few hearts along the way when she decided to leave Special Thanks: her “home” team by opting to attend Penn State. Julie graduated in 3 years and after a short stint in Philadelphia, PA, she has worked for The Motorists To Vince Trotta for being the chapter’s infor- Insurance Group (both in Columbus and here in the mal photographer and providing many great Twin Cities) for five years. “shots” for this year’s newsletter. Matt graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He grew up in Erie, PA and dreamed of To Sarah Houle for contributing several arti- going to Penn State since he first visited main campus cles for the newsletter and organizing Feed in 8th grade for a science project (PJAS) competition. My Starving Children and the Annual Dinner. After completing three co-op rotations for The Dow Chemical Company, Matt accepted a full-time offer To Brian Binkley for his fearless leadership with Dow Water and Process Solutions in Edina. and dedication to our chapter and the Univer- They have enjoyed their time here in Minnesota and sity. have been extremely fortunate to have found the local PSU chapter. It has helped them build a foundation WE ARE...PENN STATE! upon which they are happy to call Minnesota home.

Penn State Update Page 7 Notable Upcoming 2011 Events August 7th—Summer BBQ/Freshman Send-Off August 27th—Big 10 Softball Tournament September—2011 PSU Football!

Check us out on the Web! www.PSUMN.com

Minnesota Chapter Penn State Alumni Association c/o Brian Binkley 13537 89th Circle North Maple Grove, MN 55369