Candlelight Vigil honoring the life of Joe Paterno January 31, 2012

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1 April Newsletter 2012 Wednesday July 18th Upcoming Events Team up with us for our second annual Flying Squirrels group outing. Cost includes buffet dinner, reserved Diamond Club seat, and Fireworks after the game! Cost: $28.00 per person Come Join us August 5th for the 9 th Annual Dinner /Student Sendoff Picnic Silent Auction to feature the framed P. Buckley Moss print shown here and a football autographed by Joe Paterno, as well as items donated by our local businesses. There will be book awards for 2 lucky Penn State students who are present at the event. Time and Location to be announced!! Candlelight Vigil honoring the life of Joe Paterno January 31, 2012 Approximately sixty-five club members and friends gathered together at the Columbian Center on the evening of January 31 st to celebrate and honor the life of Coach Joe Paterno. The weather was kind as we gathered outside around the statue of the Virgin Mary and the Station of the Cross, and everyone was invited to contribute their memories or thoughts about how Coach has impacted their lives. We heard stories about good deeds done by Joe for sick strangers, chance meetings on campus, Joe s visit to Richmond for a club activity in 1988, babysitting for the Paterno family, visits from SuePa to the dorm when her daughters were living there, a call-in to Coach s radio show, and numerous others all remembering the ways Joe and Sue Paterno have touched our lives and the greater Penn State community. April Central VA Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Assoc.

2 Central Virginia Penn Staters in the News: THON raises $10,686, For the Kids Our very own JoLynne Harenza was selected to be an Alumni Moraler for the Hope Express, a 135mile run that was created with the intention of bridging the gap between the families on the 7th floor at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA and the Dancers at the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (aka THON). Hope Express was started by Hank and Connie Angus after their son, Gabe, conquered his battle with leukemia thanks to aid from the Four Diamonds Fund. The Angus s wanted to somehow give back and now their mission is to raise awareness about the Four Diamonds Fund. The Hope Express is a way for both alumni and four diamonds families to continue to be a part of THON after graduation or treatment. Two teams of runners carry letters of the children too sick to attend THON from Hershey to the Bryce Jordan Center. Each of the runners has a moraler who supports and motivates along their 24-hour journey, just like the dancers at THON. This year, JoLynne was the TOP moraler fundraiser and she would like to thank all of you who contributed to her goal! Because of JoLynne s efforts towards this cause, she was selected to be one of the very few moralers allowed on the 7th floor of the Hershey Medical Center to spend time with the kids who were too sick to attend THON weekend at PSU. WAY TO GO JOLYNNE!! Altogether, Hope Express 2012 raised $72,000 FOR THE KIDS! For more information on the Hope Express, visit The Lions Roar Board Members: President: Bob Heilman 59 bob_heilman@comcast.net Vice President: John Boito 73 johnboito@aol.com Secretary: Nancy M. Hallman 67 nmhallman440@msn.com Treasurer: Cheryl Koenig 87 cherlou@comcast.net Membership: Jessie Balton 08 jessiebalton@gmail.com Special Events: Jeff Cole 76 colej@mcneary.com Newsletter/Communications: Cindy Spitzner 78 goonmates@msn.com Chris Larry 86 larryjc@teng.com Webmaster: Roberto Ruzzi 97 ruzzir@mcneary.com Directors: David Ambruster 78G dambruster@aol.com Pete Goergen 72 Goergen@mgm-law.com Brett Schneck 09 brett.schneck@gmail.com Suzanne Hess 84 suzannehess8948@hotmail.com Jim Baker 85 budbaker2@verizon.net Weldon Wirick III 72 weldon72@comcast.net April 2012 While at Penn State in the second half of the 1950 s I worked at the new dairy barns. Beaver Stadium was near the Nittany Lion and REC Hall. Some home game Football Saturdays I could get extra hours working milking the three timers in lieu of attending the game. When things were going well on the field for Penn State we could hear plainly the noise from Beaver Stadium. We would say listen to the Lions Roar. At the Joe Paterno Vigil I closed the Vigil with, "WE ARE and in a resounding feedback was PENN STATE. It was the Lions Roar by Central Virginia Penn Staters. The Vigil was an inspiring hour of sharing with each other a montage of interesting stores of the personal inter-relationships with JoePa and Penn State. I had my best cry after the Virginia Lions Roar it was closure. We have 900 PSAA members plus numerous PSU grads who are not PSAA members in the RIC Metro area. Membership fees are reasonable at $25.00 for family or $20.00 for singles. We are going to limit our s and Chapter newsletters to be sent to only current Chapter members. This is the only Newsletter planned for you to receive this year. A membership insert is included for you to be an active member of the Richmond Area Penn State Family. We need YOU to be part of the Lions Roar in Richmond. Select the events that are of interest to you to attend. If you have suggestions for new activities, the Board members want to hear them. Half of the 900 PSAA members mentioned are PSU Grads between 2000 and We are working with a small group to organize some activities exclusively for this generational group. This is my last Lions Roar as President of the Chapter but not my active participation..... Bob THIS JUST IN: The Chapter will be sponsoring a bus trip to the PSU-UVA football game in Charlottesville on September 8th. Stay tuned for more details! 2 Central VA Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Assoc.

3 Celebrate past traditions and new beginnings with other Penn Staters at this breakfast and program that features Coach Bill O Brien and other Penn State head coaches. When: Wednesday May 2, :30 AM Where: Richmond Marriott West 4240 Dominion Boulevard Glen Allen, VA Cost: $25.00 member (or guest) $40.00 non-member (Children ages 6-18 $15.00) You must register in advance Questions? Contact us at LION (5466), option 4, or visit We are currently accepting nominations to serve on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in serving or would like to nominate someone, please contact: Jeff Cole colej_va@yahoo.com April Central VA Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Assoc.

4 Central Virginia Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association 2012 Events Calendar 2012 Football Schedule May 2nd May 3rd June 12th July 18th August 5th September 7th September 8th Fall Season December 7th Coaches Caravan Breakfast Mtg. Marriott Hotel Glen Allen Recent Grads Social Mixer 5:30 Keagan s Short Pump Annual Meeting 6:00 p.m. MGM Law Firm Flying Squirrels Game Annual Dinner/Silent Auction & Student Send-Off Picnic PSU UVA Alumni C-Ville PSU-UVA Football Bus Trip Football Viewing Parties Annual Holiday Open House September 1 September 8 September 15 September 22 September 29 October 6 October 20 October 27 November 3 November 10 November 17 November 24 TBD Ohio University at Virginia Navy Temple at Illinois Northwestern (HC) at Iowa Ohio State at Purdue at Nebraska Indiana Wisconsin Big Ten Championship Also, be sure to visit our chapter website and join our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn! Chapter Website: January Home Games Highlighted National Championship Community Service Opportunities A very big THANK YOU to everyone for showing your support for the Ronald McDonald House of Richmond. The Penn State Alumni Association Central VA Chapter provides a dinner for the Ronald McDonald House the third Sunday of each month. Your generous donations last fall during the Football viewing parties have been used to help support our monthly dinner program. It's one way of supporting the community as well as trying to add some comfort for families staying at the house while their children are in a Richmond hospital or other medical facility in the area. If you would like to provide a meal some month for our Central VA Chapter, please contact Jim Baker at budbaker2@verizon.net The Chapter will reimburse the costs of the meal - you provide the effort and support to help the families. WE ARE Other Community Service Activities supported by the Club: THON Student Book Awards Toys-For-Tots (Holiday Party) Central Virginia Food Bank PINS for PATERNO raised $ for the Special Olympics of Virginia!!! April Central VA Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Assoc.

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6 Returned Postage Guaranteed Mr. Bob Heilman Membership Registration Attn. PSU Central VA Chapter P.O. Box Richmond, VA First Class Postage Please Renew Your Membership for 2012 Central Virginia Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association Newsletter Do You know anyone else interested in joining??? Are you aware of anyone not receiving the newsletter or not attending events? Enclosed is an application for membership. If a fellow classmate, office friend, or neighbor is interested, please pass this on. As you know, we are building the Alumni Chapter and the more members... the more fun and friendships and events. Penn State Central Virginia Web Site: April Central VA Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Assoc.