Penn State Brandywine raised more than $15,000 for student scholarships and honored outstanding alumni Sylvia Schaffer and Pennsylvania State Representative Thomas Killion at its third annual Alumni Recognition Event on May 22 at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park.
The event also launched the campus' official kick-off for the University-wide capital campaign: For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, which aims to secure $2 billion by 2010 to provide an outstanding education to students from every economic background.
Susan Barnett, of CBS-3 TV, served as the emcee for the evening.
The black-tie optional event featured hors d'oeuvres in the Museum's Carousel House, followed by dinner and dancing in the historic Hamilton Hall with live music provided by the Philly Horn Band. More than 75 items were sold during the event's live and silent auctions, which included vacation homes in Jamaica, Key Largo, Singapore and the mountains of Pennsylvania, a Flyers' shirt signed by the entire 2010 team, a football signed by Joe Paterno and an array of signed artwork by local artists.
Sponsors of the event included Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schaeffer, Franklin Mint Credit Union, Verizon, Aqua Pennsylvania, Crozer Keystone Health Systems, Delaware Valley Healthcare Council and Mercy Health System.
A 1979 Penn State graduate, Killion, of Middletown, has served as State Representative for the 168th Legislative District in Delaware and Chester Counties since 2003. Before assuming this position, he founded InR Advisors Inc., a pension advisories firm. Killion is former chairman of the Delaware County Council, and previously served on the boards of Penn State Brandywine, Rocky Run YMCA, Elwyn School, SEPTA and the Delaware County Domestic Abuse Project.
Thomas Killion, Sophia Wisniewska, Sylvia Schaffer
A 1989 Penn State graduate, Schaffer, of Glen Mills, was a mother, homemaker and volunteer when she decided to return to college to earn a degree. She became a full-time student at the campus and graduated in four years with a degree in liberal arts. Several months after graduation, she joined the campus as the financial aid coordinator and assisted hundreds of students in finding a way to pay for their college education. Schaffer helped many students get scholarships and other financial support, but went the extra mile by providing them with mentoring, a shoulder to lean on, even food and housing, when necessary. Her devotion to the students and the Brandywine campus is unsurpassed. Moreover, she and her husband, Richard, created a scholarship fund that has enabled many students in need to attend Penn State Brandywine. Since her retirement in 2008, Schaffer has resumed her many volunteer activities and devotes hours to her church and other community organizations.
To order photos from the event go to http://www.digiproofs.com/thirdeyepro/ and enter 052210 in the password field.