Category: Around campus

“Hip-hop violinist” Damien Escobar impresses audience at Behrend

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

The pairing of a violin and hip-hop music may seem unconventional, but not for Damien Escobar. After all, it’s all he knows.

“As a kid, I was married to (Johann Sebastian) Bach and Dr. Dre,” Escobar said with a smile.

Escobar, who is appropriately known as the “hip-hop violinist,” put his talents on display Wednesday, February 19, as he played a lunchtime concert at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, as part of the college’s Rhythms of Life series. The series, which began in September 2002 and is sponsored by the college’s Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, promotes cultural awareness on campus.

“I have always felt that the series is very important for the college, not only in regard to promoting diversity, but it enhances the atmosphere and livens up things,” said Andy Herrera, director of the Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs.

Escobar certainly did his part to help liven up things Wednesday. Spectators quickly took notice of the austere sounds of a bow on strings combined with the booming volume of hip-hop beats.

One female student turned to her friend and said, “I really like this,” and they both then proceeded to take a seat at Bruno’s Café, where the concert was being held. Other students and staff members quickly followed suit.

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According to Escobar, this ability to draw listeners in is not by accident. Escobar, who was the youngest student at The Juilliard School in New York City when he was accepted at age 9, said he’s always been able to create great music.

Even as a young child, the Jamaica Queens, NY, native could seamlessly merge musical styles in a way that was enjoyable to the ears.

“This is just what would come out,” said Escobar. “I just have a deep understanding of how to put the two genres together in a way that makes sense.”

Escobar is not the only one in his family with musical talent. His brother, Tourie, also specializes in combining the sounds of the violin and hip-hop.

The two blended the styles together from 2004 to 2012 as the musical duo Nuttin’ But Strings. Since then, Escobar has decided to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, “I Am Me,” is scheduled to be released sometime in 2014.

Escobar promises to have an album ranked in the Top 40 within the next year. He said he knows his sound is unique compared to everything else that’s currently popular, but he believes that’s what makes it so strong.

His sound is different by design, and that’s also the advice that he gives to anyone else who might be interested in getting into the music industry.

“I can’t give people advice on how I did it, but I can say that they should identify what’s trending and do the exact opposite. It’s going to take a lot longer, but you’ll find your niche,” Escobar said.

He’s confident that he’s found his.

“There are a million rappers out there, but there’s only one Jay-Z,” Escobar said. “There are a million violinists out there, but there’s only one Damien Escobar.”

Behrend Reacts: What would you like to see happen under new Penn State president Dr. Eric Barron?

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

President’s Day is meant to remember and acknowledge past presidents, but why not a new one?

That’s exactly what Penn State did Monday as the university announced Dr. Eric J. Barron as the 18th president in school history. Pretty apropos, don’t you think?

Barron boasts an impressive résumé. He comes to Happy Valley from Florida State University where he served as president for four years. Prior to that, he served as dean of Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences from 2002 to 2006.

Barron is set to take office on or before May 12, 2014. So, with that in mind, we asked Penn State Behrend students what they would like to see happen under Barron’s leadership. Here’s what they had to say:

Jenna Klemm

Jenna Klemm, sophomore, Early Childhood Education: “I’d like another fitness center because ours is always so crowded.”

Derek Durso

Derek Durso, sophomore, Accounting and Finance: “I’d like a better scheduling program. I followed the guidelines, and it didn’t work.”

Madison Barone

Madison Barone, sophomore, Psychology: “I think everything’s pretty good, but it would be nice if he lowered tuition.”

Natasha Todd

Natasha Todd, freshman, Communication: “I’d like more minority networking opportunities. It also would be nice for freshman to have internships in their field, so we can know if we’re in the right major.”

Hunter Olsen

Hunter Olsen, freshman, Nursing: “I’d like to see more parking and some new food options.”

Neil Szoszorek

Neil Szoszorek, freshman, Supply Chain Management: “Another gym or a bigger gym would be nice because the one at Junker is always crowded.”

Sonya Kokus

Sonya Kokus, sophomore, History and Political Science: “I think they should have more funding for the arts programs at Behrend.”

Elizabeth Panko

Elizabeth Panko, senior, English Literature: “I just think we need to put more money into the academics.”

Luigi Damasceno

Luigi Damasceno, junior, Project and Supply Chain Management: “Maybe they could lower the cost of books. Books are pretty expensive, and you can always buy them cheaper online than here.”

Mara Villalongo

Mara Villalongo, freshman, Biology: “I’d like to see more scholarships for minorities at all of the Penn State campuses.”

Behrend Reacts is a regular Thursday feature at the Behrend Blog that tries to get the campus pulse on a current topic, whether it’s serious or trivial. If you have a question to suggest for Behrend Reacts, please email Steve Orbanek at sco10@psu.edu.

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Behrend Reacts: What’s your idea of a perfect romance?

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

It’s that time of year again. As the old saying goes, “Love is in the air.”

Valentine’s Day is this Friday, which means that plenty of flowers will be delivered, chocolates will be purchased, and five-star restaurants will be frequented. All of this is done for one thing: romance.

We asked Behrend students to explain their idea of a perfect romance. Here are the responses that we received:

Erica Nowak (2)

Erica Nowak, sophomore, Communications: “Just spending time with another person you love.”

Patrick Nowak

Patrick Nowak, senior, Accounting: “A nice dinner where you get to spend good, quality time together.”

Kalli Oberlander

Kalli Oberlander, junior, Creative Writing: “Finding a partner who complements you.”

Adam Correll

Adam Correll, sophomore, Electrical Engineering: “Spending an evening with a loved one at home. Just cuddling means the world to me.”

Ronald Cox

Ronald Cox, freshman, Physics: “A faith-based relationship with mutual respect.”

Nicole King

Nicole King, sophomore, Mechanical Engineering: “A perfect romance would be someone who is very kind and considerate of others, funny, athletic, easy on the eyes, and creative.”

Danielle Hardy

Danielle Hardy, freshman, Biology: “The person definitely has to be creative.”

Mike Rahe

Mike Rahe, freshman, Mechanical Engineering: “Getting together with someone you’ve been friends with for a long time.”

Summer Maas

Summer Maas, freshman, Science: “Somebody who can make you laugh.”

Behrend Reacts is a regular Thursday feature at the Behrend Blog that tries to get the campus pulse on a current topic, whether it’s serious or trivial. If you have a question to suggest for Behrend Reacts, please email Steve Orbanek at sco10@psu.edu.

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10 Ways to Make the Most of an Erie Winter

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not everyone hates winter.

By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

To date, Erie has received 108.5 inches of the white stuff this winter and our fair frozen city stands atop the snowfall derby race with a commanding 13 inch lead over Buffalo. (WE are the champions, my friends….)

Suffice to say this is a tough place to live if you hate winter.

Look, I get it. It’s cold. It’s wet. You have to drive slower. You break your credit cards scraping the ice off your windshield (Whaa? Is it just me that can’t hang onto an ice scraper/snow brush?). Blah, blah, blah.

But, here’s how I—a reformed winter-hater— see it:  You can sit around inside your room for months, grumbling, whining about the weather and trading germs with one another while you wait for the Earth to turn, or you can find ways to have fun and learn to love winter.

Trust me, if I could learn to embrace the winter season, you can, too.

Here are eight ways to get started:

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1. Go sled riding. Behrend offers no shortage of hills to choose from. You could try the big hill behind the Otto Behrend science building (Years ago students skied on this hill. There are still remnants of the tow rope pulley system up there). It’s aweseome. If you’re not up for climbing the monster hill, try the shorter and less steep (but no less fun!) hill from Niagara Hall to Kochel Center. No sled? No problem! Stop by the RUB desk and sign one out. Or, you can buy one at Valu Home Center on Buffalo Road for less than $10.

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2. Walk on water. Presque Isle Bay (at the foot of State Street) currently has a layer of 8 to 12 inches of solid ice. Drive down to the bayfront and take this rare chance to hike across the bay. It’s about a two-mile walk (four miles round trip) If you start behind the Bayfront Convention Center (lots of parking, easy access to the water) and walk over to Presque Isle State Park’s Cookhouse area.

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3. Hit the links, er…lake. Love to golf? Gather up your friends and form a team for the Frostbite Open on February 16 and play 9 holes of golf on the frozen bay (now that’s something that none of your golfing buddies have ever done!).

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4. Take a hike. There is nothing more peaceful than walking through Wintergreen gorge after a fresh snowfall. You’ll be surprised at how different things look in winter and the complete silence (no birds singing or insects buzzing) is serene. Dress warmly and wear winter boots – the trails aren’t plowed, of course. Enter the main trail in the lower right hand corner of the parking lot to the right of the Witkowski Building.

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5. Go snow tubing. Hate lugging your sled back uphill after each run? Then, tubing is for you. You just sit your rump on the tube and hitch a ride to the top on the resort’s pulley system. It’s all “weee” and no “ugh.” Both Peek ‘n Peak Ski Resort, in nearby Clymer, N.Y., and Mount Pleasant of Edinboro, offer tubing for about $10 an hour. (Tubing passes are BOGO on Mondays & Thursdays the Peak!)

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6.  Spread winter cheer. Build a snowman. Or build an army of 100 tiny snowmen outside of your residence hall to amuse everyone else on campus. Give those outdoor seating areas outside of Bruno’s and/or Burke some life and build a snow family having a winter picnic.

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7. Pretend you’re Big Foot. Snowshoes will really let you get off-trail and explore in winter. You can rent snowshoes at all of the following place (which also offer trails on which to use them): Asbury Woods Nature Center, Presque Isle Ski Center (Cabin No. 2 near the Waterworks area at Presque Isle State Park) and Wilderness Lodge. If you check their websites, you’ll see that all three of these places offer group classes/lessons, too, but…you don’t really need a lesson to snowshoe…unless you haven’t figured out the walking thing. 😉

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8. Document it. Winter offers dramatic lighting for nature photography. Grab your camera (OK, fine, your phone will do)  and look for the exquisite beauty that this season offers. Post your photos to Instagram with #behrend so we can see and share them, too.

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9. Brag about it. When all your friends in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia or Washington D.C. whine about the three inches of fresh powder they got overnight or the black ice that shut down their campus, send them the photo above of the patio outside the cafe at the Burke Building and tell them to shut it because, clearly, you win this one.

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10. Hit the pool. Had enough of the cold? Take advantage of open swim times at the Junker Center pool and pretend it is late August when we’ll all be complaining about how hot and humid it is.

Behrend students hone interview skills at Business Blitz event

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Jen Powell remembers the stress that goes hand-in-hand with the job interview process. The sweaty palms, the increased heart rate, the inability to concentrate—these symptoms are par for the course when preparing for a job interview.

“You never know what to expect in a job interview. Preparing for an interview can be very challenging,” said Powell, a 2008 Penn State Erie, The Behrend College graduate who now works as a financial analyst at FMC Technologies.

Powell hoped to help students better prepare for job interviews by volunteering her time Feb. 5 at Business Blitz, a speed networking event at Penn State Behrend.

The event, which was co-sponsored by Behrend’s Financial Management Association (FMA) and the Society of Undergraduate Economists (SUE), was held in McGarvey Commons and used a combination of Behrend students and alumni to simulate the job interview process. More than twenty alumni and sixty-five students registered for the event.

A Behrend alumnus sat at every table in the room, and students rotated from table to table every eight minutes. For the first ninety seconds of each session, the student would offer his or her elevator speech to the alumnus. The alumnus then offered feedback during the remaining time.

The event’s goal was to help students become more acclimated to the interview process and professional interaction.

“It’s important for students to know how to talk to professionals,” said FMA treasurer and junior finance major Brooke Landram. “Communication is so important.”

Artur Szastak has had difficulty in his job search, so he decided to participate in the Business Blitz to hone his interviewing skills.

“I feel you either make it or lose it in the first 60 seconds of talking to someone, and this can be good practice for that,” the senior finance major said. “When you come into an interview, it’s almost as if you’re being judged, and it takes you out of your comfort zone. That initial shock starts to wear away with the more experience you get.”

The trial interviews were just one part of the Business Blitz event.

Following the speed networking sessions, students stayed to network with the alumni in attendance. Alumni were also given a book that included the résumés of every student who participated in the event.

“You can make some great connections here in Erie,” said SUE president and senior business, economics, and marketing major Brittany Martinelli. “Hopefully this event continues for a long time.”

For more information on the Business Blitz event, please email Professor of Finance Dr. Greg Filbeck at mgf11@psu.edu.

Bill Nye the Science Guy draws large crowd at Penn State Behrend

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Vee Butler was in search of a draw. She needed to find a speaker capable of filling the house.

“I just saw (Bill Nye’s) name and I thought, ‘What do ’90s kids like more than bonding with other ’90s kids about ’90s things?’ It seemed perfect,” said Butler, a junior arts administration major and executive director of the Lion Entertainment Board at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

A jam-packed, standing-room only crowd of almost 2,000 squeezed into Junker Center at Penn State Behrend Wednesday evening to watch Nye as part of the college’s Speaker Series. Nye hoped to inspire students to change the world, but it’s clear he’s already done his fair share of inspiring.

It’s been 15 years since a new episode of the PBS television show “Bill Nye the Science Guy” has been produced, but the effects of the show are still evident today.

Sophomore chemistry major Joshua Wilkins said Nye’s show actually inspired him to pursue a science degree. He was more than a little excited when he heard that Nye would be visiting Behrend.

“Ever since I found out he was coming, it’s been in the back of my mind,” Wilkins said. “It’s been a highlight of my year.”

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Wilkins said “Bill Nye the Science Guy” is one of his most cherished memories from the sixth grade. He recalled struggling to get through science class, but things always became bearable once the teacher popped a “Bill Nye the Science Guy” tape in the VCR.

“He made science funny. We could all feel his enthusiasm, and he was always the guy we wanted to see because he took us away from the traditional classroom setting,” Wilkins said.

Junior project and supply chain management major Chad Muscarella agreed.

“From his television show to the experiments to the ride at Walt Disney World, I remember it all,” Muscarella said. “He was always making education fun.”

In its five-plus year run on PBS, “Bill Nye the Science Guy” won 18 Emmy Awards and continues to be used in classrooms for educational purposes. An attraction at Walt Disney World’s Future World at Epcot, Universe of Energy, is based on the program. Nye also has written five books under “The Science Guy” moniker.

Zany phrases, wacky experiments and quirky music were par for the course on “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” which is one reason Nye believes it continues to be successful.

“This is an extraordinary claim, and I do not have extraordinary proof of this, but there’s a lot of entertainment there,” Nye said. “The show was information-packed and fun to watch.”

However, even Nye is at a loss for words when he hears of how the show has inspired lives.

“I say all the time that I don’t think I get it,” Nye said. “People come to me and say, ‘You’re the reason I became an engineer. You’re the reason I’m a scientist,’ and I’m like, ‘What?’ It amazes me.”

Behrend student offers disaster relief in Philippines over winter break

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

So how’d you spend your winter break?

Relaxing?

Traveling?

Catching up on some z’s?

Penn State Behrend senior nursing major Andres Morales opted to spend his break in a less conventional way.

Morales, along with his wife Katie, father-in-law, and another member of the Federated Church of East Springfield, made a trip to the Philippines this December to offer disaster relief to victims of Typhoon Haiyan and the earthquake that hit the island of Bohol.

Morales, a native of Costa Rica, had been searching for a way to help the relief efforts for some time, and he found his answer after he searched Google and discovered the nonprofit organization, All Hands Volunteers. Like the name implies, All Hands Volunteers is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization offers hands-on assistance to communities around the world.

Through All Hands Volunteers, Morales and his church group set up a relief trip to the island of Leyte in the Philippines. To make the trip, Morales had to give up part of his winter break, but it was an easy sacrifice.

“If they can’t have a nice holiday, then why should I?” Morales said.

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The group arrived at Leyte on December 10. A total of 65 volunteers from all over the world joined Morales’ group, and they spent the majority of their time doing deconstruction work. They took down unsafe homes and also cleared out rubble and trees with chain saws.

Morales said the experience was humbling, and that was especially true after his group took a ride on top of a jeepney.

The jeepney, which is the most popular form of public transportation in the Philippines, took Morales to the area that had been most affected by the typhoon.

“Entire blocks were just flattened. You couldn’t recognize anything. You would go miles before seeing actual homes,” Morales said. “A lot of us just went speechless. It’s just hard to grasp because you think of the things back home, and then you see these people who lost everything.”

While the natives may have had next to nothing in the way of material possessions, Morales said they never hesitated to express their gratitude toward Morales and the other volunteers.

“Strangers would buy food for us during work time, and they didn’t have much,” Morales said. “All they could afford was a loaf of bread and a Coca-Cola. You didn’t want to accept it, but it meant everything to them.”

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On December 20, Morales and his group then took two ferries to Bohol where they began to focus their relief efforts toward the 7.2 moment magnitude earthquake that had struck the island on October 15.

Once again, the group began to deconstruct homes and salvage materials.

On Christmas Day, Morales and his church group returned to the United States. Morales said the trip had a profound effect on him.

“On Sunday, I didn’t want to go out for an easy run,” said Morales, who is a member of Behrend’s track and field team.  “But if the people from the Philippines can get back up from nothing, then why can’t I go on a three-mile run?”

Most importantly, Morales’ trip to the Philippines may have provided him with a sneak peek at his future. He will graduate in May, and he hopes to use his nursing degree to benefit the less fortunate.

“The only reason I want to get a job in critical care and pediatrics is to utilize that experience in another country where there’s not as much access to healthcare,” Morales said. “Our mission was two-fold. Yes, we went there to help, but it also allowed us to get our feet wet as to what the future may hold. Disasters are going to keep happening, and someone needs to be there.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemoration offers great message

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may no longer be with us, but his dream is alive and well.

Monday marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and organizations across the country are prepared to celebrate Dr. King and his legacy. You can count Penn State Behrend among those organizations.

In honor of Dr. King and his dream, the college will hold the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemoration. Numerous themed events will be held during the week, including an “I Am His Dream” March, a community service project, viewings of the film The Butler, and more.

Andy Herrera, director of the Educational Equity and Diversity Office, chaired Penn State Behrend’s MLK Committee this year and helped plan many of the events.

I talked with Herrera about the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the activities planned at Behrend.

Steve: The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemoration has been a regular tradition at Behrend. Why is this an important week for the college?

Andy: I’ve been at Behrend for the past eleven years, and I’ve chaired the MLK Committee for most of those years. I’m very proud of the fact that Penn State Behrend has always been recognized in the Erie community for its MLK programming. We’ve had speakers ranging from Al Sharpton to Jesse Jackson. I recognized that when I started, and I wanted to continue the tradition of strong MLK programming.

It’s very important for two reasons. The first is the significance of that era in our nation’s history. It’s important for us and our students to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. It was not just about Dr. King, but he was the driving force behind that. The second reason is the message. The message of peace, justice, and equality for all is outstanding. It’s important to commemorate, celebrate, and promote the historic value and message within our campus community, especially to our students.

Steve: This year’s theme is titled “We Are His Dream.” How did you choose that theme?

Andy: Activities and events are planned by the Behrend MLK Committee, which includes faculty, staff, and students. A college-wide invitation is made in September and then different participants come together for discussions about the commemoration. For example, I ask each member of the committee, ‘Why are you on this committee? Why is this important to you?’ Everyone then shares their perspective on why it is important to them, and then we start looking for a theme. We may come up with a theme then and there, or we may look at possible events and performers to provide us with a theme.

When we were looking for performers this year, we ran across Michael Fosberg, who has a play called Incognito. The play details Fosberg’s life experience of being adopted and growing up to find out his father was an African American, which was an incredible realization for him. He then starts to try to figure out his background and identity. The story sounds incredible, so we decided to invite Michael and have our theme revolve around identity. We then started to think about who we are as a college. Of course, we are Penn State. But we also believe we are the type of community where all are respected, where there is equal justice, and where there is harmony. Hey, that sounds like Dr. King’s dream. So, in a way, we are his dream.

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Steve: How has the MLK Commemoration changed since you started at Behrend eleven years ago?

Andy: When I first started, the luncheon used to be a breakfast, and we wanted to do it before everyone went back to work, so it would be at 7:00 a.m. If we were lucky, we would have one student show up. At some point, we decided to turn it into a brunch, and it helped. This year, we made it a lunch to help us fit in the march. The events have remained similar, though. We always try to have events that are meaningful and entertaining. We also try to do at least one community service project. This year, we will be partnering with the Erie City Mission to feed needy families. In the past, we have done Habitat for Humanity, and we did a college fair for Diehl Elementary School.

Steve: I can tell that a lot of planning and preparation goes into all of these events. What’s the ultimate goal in mind?

Andy: I think the ultimate goal is for people to learn about this time period. Students have some level of knowledge now, but it’s always good for them further learn about these moments in our nation’s history. Most importantly, I want them to be inspired to become better people.

Steve: Do you see the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemoration remaining a staple here at Behrend?

Andy: This is something that I think we’ll continue to do for as long as I’m here. This occasion is a good time to pause and ponder about that era and how it impacted our society for the better. Every year, I think this MLK Commemoration lends itself to a moment of reflection. Hopefully we can continue to learn about it, and also find inspiration in knowing that the efforts made during that time period have helped us become a better society and community.

Scheduled events:

Monday, Jan. 20:  Incognito. Acclaimed author and performer Michael Fosberg shares the story of his personal journey to discover himself, his roots, his family, and the difficult history behind the tragic American complexity of “race.”
Campus Family Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., McGarvey Commons
(Presentation begins at noon).

Tuesday, Jan. 21: Students and MLK Commemoration Committee members will visit the Early Learning Center and conduct activities with the children related to MLK.
Early Learning Center, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 22: The Butler. The Lion Entertainment Board presents the story of White House butler Eugene Allen, who witnessed great social change while serving eight different presidents over thirty years.
9:00 p.m., Reed Auditorium
(The film will be shown again at 9:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, and at 10:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25.)

Thursday, Jan. 23: “Who’s Cooking What?” The MLK Committee will partner with the Erie City Mission to help serve lunches to needy families. The committee will fundraise to purchase the ingredients, and students and volunteers will serve the families.
8:30 a.m., Erie City Mission

Penn State Behrend’s Highlights of 2013

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By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

It’s hard to believe, but 2013 will soon be a thing of the past.

The year was a busy one here at Behrend. Most notably, we welcomed the second-largest freshmen class in school history, and our fall athletic teams also achieved unprecedented success.

Of course, those were just two of the more memorable happenings from this past year. I’ve always enjoyed the various “Year in Review” articles and videos that circulate toward the end of each year, and why should Behrend be left out of all the fun?

Take a moment to watch the video above to see a slew of the college’s 2013 highlights.

Happy New Year to all, and here’s to 2014!

Story behind the Hanging of the Greens (the college’s oldest tradition)

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Hanging the Greens

By Robb Frederick
Public Information Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

In December 1948 – just two months after the dedication of what was then called the Behrend Center – T. Reed Ferguson, the administrator of the new campus, placed a wreath on the doors of a small chapel in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.

That was a favor to Mary Behrend, who had donated her family’s Erie farm property to Penn State. She had moved to Connecticut and was unable to visit the chapel, as she had in years past. She asked Ferguson to hang the wreath in honor of her husband and son, who were interred inside.

Every year since, a small group of students, faculty members, staff and alumni has returned to the chapel. Holding candles, they sing Christmas carols and give thanks to the family that made Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, possible.

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This year’s program will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Shuttle service will be offered from the Reed Union Building.

“It’s a very different feeling, when you gather in there,” said Ken Miller, senior director for campus planning and student affairs. “You’re singing Christmas carols. Everybody’s holding a candle. It’s special.”

Singing

The program honors Ernst and Mary Behrend, whose 400-acre farm property is now a four-year college with 4,350 students. It also pays tribute to their son Warren, who died on Dec. 19, 1929, while driving to South Carolina for a family holiday. He had swerved to avoid a school bus, which a 16-year-old student was driving.

No one on the bus was hurt.

Warren’s death devastated the Behrends. “They say Ernst never got over it,” Miller said.

Mary Behrend spent less time at the farm, choosing instead to live at the family’s home in Connecticut. In the spring of 1948, while returning from a cross-country trip, she stopped at the property. From a window, she noticed two men walking. She went out to talk and learned they were scouting land for a new Penn State campus. Within six months, they would have it.

Entering the chapel