UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Looking out at the thousands of Penn Staters who comprised a sea of blue-and-white, Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford (graduate class of 2020) emceed the Penn State Pep Rally at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
The Blue Band played after making an energizing entrance, the Penn State cheerleaders, Lionettes and Nittany Lion performed on stage as Penn State icons thanked and welcomed the alumni and fans who traveled to the Peach Bowl, and Clifford and Alumni Association President Anand Ganjam (class of 2015) spoke to the importance of the Alumni Association’s role in keeping alumni connected to Penn State.
“Coach James Franklin describes each football weekend as a family reunion. Our visit to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta felt exactly like that! Gathering with 5,000 of our closest friends for a Peach Bowl pep rally, that was a celebration of Penn State — all that we are and all we are going to be,” Clifford said. “One of the hallmarks of this community is how our alumni rally around the University and in Georgia, we rallied once again in support of our student-athletes.”
The pep rally was the centerpiece of the Official Penn State Bowl Tour, which also featured a welcome event at the College Football Hall of Fame, a community service project at Covenant House Georgia, and a pregame tailgate within walking distance of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Relive the action from the Pep Rally by watching the archived livestream on the Alumni Association's Facebook page — Part 1 and Part 2. You also can see the alma mater and Ganjam welcoming the crowd.
"Speaking at our Peach Bowl Pep Rally and feeling the energy of over 5,000 Penn Staters donned in blue and white was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life," Ganjam said. "I'm always proud to talk about how we have the largest and greatest alumni network in the world. The moments that we had together as Penn Staters in Atlanta throughout our Peach Bowl activities reinforced the fact that what we have as Penn Staters is so unique and special to us, and we cannot take it for granted."
Several hundred Penn Staters traveled with the Alumni Association on the Official Penn State Bowl Tour, and the welcome event was held at the College Football Hall of Fame. The Penn State cheerleaders welcomed alumni and fans to the impressive building, and Clifford spoke with the bowl sweepstakes winner, Kristin McCall (class of 1989).
“The Penn State Alumni Association has opened doors for me all across the country," said McCall, who was joined by her sister-in-law, Lisa Pindell.
Clifford and Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi thanked Penn Staters for traveling to Atlanta, with Bendapudi's grandson leading a "We Are" cheer. After the welcome, Penn Staters viewed the Hall of Fame exhibits, with the Penn State displays featuring rotating digital photos of Beaver Stadium, Penn State cheerleaders, Nittany Lion and the Blue Band, along with the players and coaches enshrined.
Alumni Association membership includes access to its entire affiliate group network, and many of the Alumni Association's 125-plus local chapters hosted watch parties for the Peach Bowl. See a rundown of some of the watch parties, which includes the Shanghai Chapter.
The day before the game, the Alumni Association partnered with the Ole Miss Alumni Association at Covenant House Georgia to give back to the local community. Ganjam participated in his third bowl service project, and you can watch him and Clifford discuss the importance of Penn State alumni living out the University's land-grant mission. About 50 volunteers organized food kits and helped prep the building for the new year by boxing up holiday decorations.
During the pregame tailgate, Penn Staters saw season highlights on the digital screens, before walking over to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Peach Bowl. You can see a few photos of the alumni and fans who packed the stands and also watch the Blue Band's pregame performance.
This was the first trip the Alumni Association offered since selecting Sports and Entertainment Travel LLC as its official athletic travel provider. Read more about this collaboration on the Alumni Association's website.