UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's class of 2016 on Oct. 14 announced its gift to the University, an endowment to support the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services — more familiarly known as CAPS — and the latest in a long line of gifts made by graduating seniors to their alma mater.
The class gift tradition goes all the way back to the class of 1861, which gave to the University a framed portrait of Evan Pugh at its class reunion in 1890. Pugh was Penn State's visionary first president and leader of the fledgling institution from 1859 until his untimely death in 1864 at the age of 36.
Pugh's likeness, painted in oil on canvas by noted American portrait artist William A. Greaves (1847-1900), still hangs today in the lobby of Old Main. Visit http://www.classgift.psu.edu to learn more about the class gift program at Penn State.