Ralph Papa Named Renaissance Man Of The Year

Sept. 11, 2000
University Park, Pa. –The Renaissance Fund will honor Ralph J. Papa of State College, senior vice president and head of community banks for Mellon Bank N.A., at its annual dinner this fall. The dinner, which aims to raise scholarship funds for academically talented Penn State students who have great financial need, will be held Nov. 16 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, starting with a 6 p.m. reception.

Renaissance Fund scholarship dinners, honoring prominent community leaders, have been held since 1977. Last year, 431 Penn State students received Renaissance scholarships.

"Ralph Papa is a wonderful example of a person who makes things happen in his community," said Renaissance Fund President Jack Infield of State College. "He’s genuinely interested in helping people, and he’s an inspirational leader. Since he came to State College 12 years ago, he has shared his time and talents on behalf of numerous worthy causes, and we are all the better for it. We’re delighted to honor him."

Papa has served on the boards of 26 different non-profit community organizations, such as Centre County United Way, Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Downtown State College Partnership, and the Second Mile. He also has been active in groups ranging from the Boy Scouts of America to Pennsylvania Special Olympics.

A Pittsburgh native, he joined Mellon Bank after completing his undergraduate education at Penn State Harrisburg in 1969. He held various positions in retail banking, credit policy and sales, and became a vice president and branch manager of the Washington (Pa.) offices in 1983. He came to State College in 1988. He is also chairman, president and CEO of Mellon Bank’s Central Region, based in State College, and he is chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Region, based in Harrisburg.

Papa is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, and was named alumni fellow for Penn State in 1990.

As a Penn State volunteer, he is a member of the committee that is leading the University’s Grand Destiny capital campaign in central Pennsylvania. He also helped to lead the committee that raised more than $20 million in private funds to build the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.

Ralph Papa has described his wife, Ruth Anne Papa, and daughter, Jami Papa, as "my partners in support of community efforts." They will be among the speakers at the dinner. Other speakers will include Penn State President Graham Spanier and family, friends and colleagues of Ralph Papa. Penn State Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Peter Weiler will serve as master of ceremonies.

For more information about the dinner, contact Penn State Associate Director of Annual Giving Robin Wray at (814) 863-2052 or .