ALLE-KISKI SOCIETY GIFT
FUNDED BY ALUMNI BOWL-A-THON
With the proceeds from its record-breaking Alumni Bowl-a-thon, the Alle-Kiski Society of the Penn State Alumni Association fulfilled its $10,000 pledge to the Penn State New Kensington Athletic Department, three years ahead of schedule.
The society, based at the New Kensington campus, made the second and final installment of $6,000 in April to convert space on the lower level of the Athletics Center into a cardiovascular room with light equipment. The society's pledge was completed early because the annual bowl-a-thon in March raised $5,500, the most in the nine-year history of the event.
"Our gift to the Athletic department is yet another example of Alle-Kiski Society's support and commitment to the New Kensington campus and our student athletes," said Lorri Wildi, president of the society.
The pledge for athletics comes on the heels of a pledge in 2010 to contribute $25,000 over the next four years to the society's scholarship endowment. The principal of the "Alle-Kiski Society Endowed Scholarship" will increase from its current total of $51,000 to $76,000. The philanthropic action is the society's response to the University's fundraising effort, "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students." Proceeds from the annual Alumni Golf Scramble will fund the scholarship commitment. The golf outing is set for Friday, Aug. 12, at the Links at Spring Church.
The society's scholarship was established in 1992 with an initial principal of $15,000. Six years later, it was fully endowed at $25,000. The first recipient, Pat Neil, received a $500 scholarship. In September, the society awarded $4,000 in scholarships to three New Kensington students. Since 1998, the Alle-Kiski Society has awarded $30,000 to 38 students.
The Alle-Kiski Society engages in various projects throughout the year, interacting with other Penn State campuses and current students by social and fundraising events and other networking activities. Social events include a reception for the recipients of the Academic and Student Achievement awards, a bus trip to a Penn State football game, an alumni tent at the Fall Festival, and student events, such as the Business Club's Etiquette Dinner. In addition, the alumni group co-sponsors campus events including the biannual Alumni Breakfast/Brunch socials in the spring and fall for local alumni.
Penn State alumni, students, parents, and friends from the Penn State New Kensington service area -- Westmoreland, Allegheny, Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties -- are encouraged to re-connect with the University and campus by attending Alle-Kiski Society monthly meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Dingbats Restaurant/Royal Gatherings in the Pittsburgh Mills mall. The next meeting is Aug. 15.
For more information on the society and its events, call 724-334-6049, or send an e-mail to uxw1@psu.edu.
For more about the society, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Alumni/alumorg.htm?cn613 online.