Penn State is the world’s leading service -oriented University. It is most evident in THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy. But it is also evident in acts big and small, including community service projects of Penn State alumni chapters around the world.
For decades, Penn State football and Penn State athletics have also championed service to society. With the Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Pink Zone, Lift for Life, Coaches vs. Cancer and other projects, Penn State athletics has a long history of service.
To highlight Penn State alumni student-athletes carrying that example after they’ve graduated, a group of people got together to create tonight’s sold-out Impact Awards. The event celebrates the efforts of some of these individuals, and awards grants to further their charitable efforts.
It started after a Penn State alum, Doc Sweitzer, watched an interview on Nittany Game Week with former Nittany Lion Aaron Maybin. Doc called me and said “You know, it seems like there are a lot of guys who played here doing things like this. You guys should get them back to campus.”
A few days later during a conversation with Guido D’Elia came the idea to create The Impact Awards Show to highlight these ideas. It was time to celebrate that which sets Penn State apart. Penn State has always been bigger than just what happens on our campuses. And for Penn State athletics it has always been about more than what happens on the field, the court, the rink, the track or gym.
It was time to showcase that once again. In just four months it has come together. The show is now a television production hosted by NBC Sports’ Todd Blackledge, airing on three stations this weekend and streaming worldwide on demand. And on PennStatersMakeAnImpact.com we want Penn Staters near and far to submit photos and stories about their own service to others. We want to showcase all Penn Staters impacting their communities.
For the first annual Impact Awards, the theme focused on education. It was rooted in an idea Sue Paterno and her husband, Joe, had for their retirement years. They were going to “adopt” a class or two of children in inner-city schools, taking them to concerts, art museums and science museums, and share with them a world beyond their horizons.
Education became the focus of the first year’s awards.
A five-member committee considered an impressive list of names and arrived at three Penn State football alums to honor. All three have engaged in projects to stress the importance of education as an agent for change. From art curriculum to after-school programs to building schools half a world away, these three men have committed to the welfare of others.
Aaron Maybin was an All-American player at Penn State and a first-round draft pick in 2009. After playing in the NFL, it was time to pursue his passion in art. But he quickly realized as he returned to his roots in Baltimore that the children of his city had been left behind. The schools didn’t have heat, kids didn’t have coats and the resources to help them learn their way to opportunity were lacking.
He raised his voice, used his platform and became a leader in fighting for the change he sought in the world. He lifted his community, and one-by-one he is inspiring these children through Project Mayhem. That’s Impact.
Michael Robinson left Penn State for the NFL after a 2005 season that saw him named the Big Ten’s MVP and finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. While he was at Penn State, I’d given him the book “Days of Grace” by tennis champion and humanitarian Arthur Ashe. Ashe was a champion from Mike’s home city of Richmond and transcended his sport to make change.
Mike always had that same kind of leadership and a desire to change the lives of others. He founded Excel to Excellence. Using football as the hook, he got kids excited about school. He created educational programs, football leagues and other programs to inspire children in his home city. That’s Impact.
Bill Spoor also played at Penn State and graduated in 1992. His professional career took him to Wall Street and included an MBA from Northwestern. Across a decade or so at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs, he and his wife Elke decided that there was more to life. They founded Happy Valley Uganda to help bring education and opportunity to children in remote areas of Uganda. They covered the costs and built something that will lift others one-by-one. That’s Impact.
Next year the committee will solicit nominations for alumni student-athletes from all 31 of Penn State women’s and men’s teams to keep celebrating Penn State’s legacy of service for years to come. And to inspire the next generation of Impact we’ll be recognizing seven current Penn State student-athletes:
Dylan Lugris (Men’s Ice Hockey—Buffalo, New York)
Zoe Weatherington (Women’s Volleyball—Charlotte, North Carolina)
Emily Farrell (Field Hockey—Wyoming, Pennsylvania)
Nick Dawkins (Football—Allentown, Pennsylvania)
Dom DeLuca (Football—West Pittston, Pennsylvania)
D’Von Ellies (Football—Burtonsville, Maryland)
Adisa Isaac (Football—Brooklyn, New York)
So on a special night we take time to celebrate three examples of Penn State’s legacy of service to society. For generations past, Penn State’s commitment to service has rocketed from this valley and around the world. And in celebrating that legacy, we hope to inspire generations to come.
The Impact Awards will be broadcast on the following networks
Saturday, April 15
10 a.m. WATM ABC 23 State College/Altoona/Johnstown
Noon WWCP FOX 8 State College/Altoona/Johnstown
Sunday, April 16
3:30 p.m. WPMT FOX 43 York/Harrisburg/Lancaster
WPVI 6 ABC Philadelphia and WPMT FOX 43 York/Harrisburg/Lancaster will stream the show On Demand.
