Memorial Scholarship Established For Melanie Spalla
9-24-96University Park, Pa. -- In remarks during last night's (Sept. 23) memorial service for Melanie Spalla, Penn State President Graham B. Spanier that he had received numerous suggestions of ways the University might remember Melanie, and announced the formation of a scholarship to honor her.
"All of Penn State is greatly saddened and hurt by Melanie's murder," he said. "We are also angry that this happened at our University and deeply anxious about the feelings of vulnerability surrounding this tragic event. I cannot explain why this happened, but I know we must honor Melanie by remembering her and by gathering strength in our lives from the joy for life she displayed in hers."
Spalla was killed and a second student, Nicholas Mensah, wounded by shots fired on campus on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Jillian Robbins, who is not a Penn State student, was taken into custody for the shooting immediately after it happened.
"While we experienced darkness last week, there was, thankfully, one light so bright I must mention it. I saw a level of caring and compassion I have never seen in my lifetime. I witnessed scores of students, faculty, staff, and citizens beyond the University reaching out to each other in support," continued Dr. Spanier.
"For Melanie, we must give a little extra to life to compensate in some small way for her loss. For Nicholas Mensah, we must be supportive and encourage his healing. And we must pray also for those everywhere, who by virtue of psychological impairment or inadequacy of values, have devalued human life. For everyone in our University family, we must help one another through this tragedy and ultimately carry on."
The scholarship will be designated for an undergraduate student at the University Park campus. Contributions can be sent to the Office of University Development, 116 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802.
Contact: Christy Rambeau (814) 865-7517 (office) (814) 237-9046 (home)
cmr7@psu.edu