PSU Altoona enriches community
One of the real jewels of our community, Penn State Altoona, is celebrating its 70th birthday this weekend.
Since its humble beginnings in 1939 when it opened its doors at the Webster Elementary School building at Lexington Avenue and 10th Street in downtown Altoona to the move to the current "Ivyside" grounds in 1947, the growth of what many of us have known as "the campus" has been remarkable.
What started with 119 freshmen and nine faculty members has swelled to 4,100 students, including 900 who live in four campus residence halls, and about 300 full- and part-time faculty and 300 full- and part-time staff.
Its ideal location at the foot of Wopsononock Mountain contributes to a serene setting that is among the most beautiful in Blair County, and its proximity, 45 minutes, to Penn State's main campus at University Park makes it a desirable option for local, state, national and international students.
Penn State Altoona always was positioned for success - even more so now with the completion of Interstate 99 to State College - and it's fully exploiting its opportunities.
Once just a two-year school, Penn State Altoona now offers 20 four-year bachelor's degree programs and eight associate degrees and the first two years of more than 180 Penn State majors that can be completed at University Park.
But as much as Penn State Altoona has benefited from its close relationship to University Park - the closest of any of the 19 branch campuses - it's benefited equally from outstanding community support.
A majority of Penn State graduates who hail from this area or still live here started at Penn State Altoona.
A number of local businesses, going way back to those responsible for gifts leading to the E. Raymond Smith Building, Harry E. Slep Center, Robert E. Eiche Library, Steven A. Adler Athletic Complex and Edith Davis Eve Chapel, helped lay the school's financial and structural foundation.
That has grown considerably in the form of the Port-Sky Cafe, the Misciagna Family Center for the Performing Arts and the Sheetz Family Health Center along with the recent downtown Altoona additions of the Devorris Downtown Center and the Kazmaier Family Building.
Other major gifts that have led to PSU Altoona expansion include the J.E. Holtzinger Building, the Ralph and Helen Force Advanced Technology Center, the Jack Baker Barbecue Pavilion and the Christodoulos Gazebo.
Penn State Altoona has been blessed with strong leadership, and none better than current chancellor Lori Bechtel-Wherry, under whose watch a $2.5 million gift from Steve and Nancy Sheetz, the biggest in the school's history, was recently secured.
Indeed, the future appears bright.
Penn State Altoona will celebrate with a variety of activities this weekend, culminating with Sunday night's Doobie Brothers concert at the Jaffa Shrine Center.
The school and all those who have supported and believed in it over the past 70 years, should take a moment to, as the Doobies no doubt will sing, "Listen to the Music."
Happy birthday, Penn State Altoona.
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BlairProud
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10-26-09 2:37 PM
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Congratulations to Penn State Altoona! Four of the best years of my life (and believe it or not, I did it alcohol free)!
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