One of the great joys of serving as your executive director is meeting many, many Penn Staters at hundreds of events and programs across the country. From pep rallies to networking events, Penn Staters love to connect with one another.
Our City Lights program allows Penn Staters to do just that—connect with each other and the University as these programs typically feature a talk by a Penn State faculty member or alum with special expertise, time for networking and socializing, and plenty of hors d’oeuvres before the evening talks and lunch at the all-day events.
City Lights programs are offered in the five major metro areas where nearly 40 percent of our alumni live and work: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Courtney Young To kick off the sixth season of City Lights, we recently enjoyed a talk by Penn State Beaver Librarian Courtney Young on African American Penn Staters at the August Wilson Museum in Pittsburgh. Coming up next is “Native American Issues and the American Indian Leadership Program” in the spectacular National American Indian Museum in New York City. Read the complete story about this event in this AlumnInsider.
Four additional City Lights events are scheduled:
“Pennsylvania’s Energy Future,” Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 p.m., Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, Pa.
Increasing use of wind energy, the end of electricity rate caps and reducing emissions are some of Pennsylvania’s most pressing energy issues. Join us for this after-work reception featuring a lecture by Seth Blumsack, assistant professor of energy and economics in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Learn about the research, economics and policy that are shaping Pennsylvania’s energy future during this enlightening program.
Jim Pawelczyk ’85g “Space Flight: Still the New Frontier?” Saturday, May 8, 10:00 a.m., Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s hangar-sized Udvar-Hazy Center offers visitors a closer look at everything from the prototype for the first commercial jet to the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Penn State Professor and Space Shuttle Astronaut Jim Pawelczyk ’85g, veteran of a 16-day shuttle mission, will talk about the future in space travel. The day includes lunch, Pawelczyk’s presentation, and plenty of time to tour this incomparable museum.
“Roller Coasters and Music: Two Defining American Pastimes,” noon, Saturday, May 15, Knoebels Amusement Park in Elysburg, Pa.
Step back in time for a day of simple family pleasures at Knoebels Amusement Resort. The historic park features everything from a large swimming pool—once a mainstay at amusement parks—to some of Pennsylvania’s most thrilling roller coasters. Young children will delight in the many kid-friendly rides and relaxed atmosphere of the park. The day includes a picnic lunch, a $10 ride ticket book, musical entertainment by the Penn State Glee Club and Alumni Blue Band members, a presentation by roller coaster expert and author Charlie Jacques ’62 and a special reception marking Penn State Schuylkill’s 75th anniversary.
“Renoir and the Impressionists,” 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 25, Philadelphia Museum of Art
“Renoir in the 20th Century,” an exhibit of the famed impressionist’s later work, will make only two stops in the United States, and one of those is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Guarantee that you will see this special exhibit by attending this City Lights event. In addition to the exhibit, the event also includes a reception and a presentation on Renoir’s work by Patrick McGrady, the Charles V. Hallman Curator for Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art and an assistant professor of art history. (Register quickly as City Lights programs at the Philadelphia Museum typically sell out.)
For more information or to register for these City Lights programs, click here, call 800-548-LION (5466), or e-mail alumnitravel@psu.edu.
I hope you will consider joining us at any or all of this year’s City Lights events.
For the Glory,
Roger L. Williams ’73, ’75g, ’88g
