UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of the launch of the University’s Values, Penn State Today is featuring a special series of videos highlighting those Values and people who live and strive for them every day. We’re also putting out a special call for nominations for “We Are!” recognition awards for people whose efforts embody a particular Penn State Value. 

Those Values — Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence and Community — represent Penn State’s core ethical aspirations for what we do every day as students, faculty, staff and volunteers. The Values were developed over a four-year period that included a survey, town hall meetings and ongoing feedback from across the community.

This week, the focus is on Responsibility. For Penn State, Responsibility means: "We act responsibly, and we are accountable for our decisions, actions and their consequences."

As part of this initiative, we're recognizing Penn Staters who were nominated for a "We Are!" for living up to a Penn State Value. These Penn Staters are recognized for their work on Community:

John Connolly, a student, whose nominator wrote: "John's work in co-founding the Performing Arts Council is an excellent example of the value of Community. By bringing together 82 student-run arts groups at University Park, the group promotes collaboration and cooperation — 'working together for the betterment of our University.'"

Kristin Vitacco, at Penn State Hazleton, whose nominator wrote: "Thank you to Kristin Vitacco for always being there when times get tough and days get long. Your kind heart and quick wit make the days more fun, and I don’t know where I would be without you!"

Do you know a student or member of faculty or staff who embodies Respect? If you do, consider sending a public “thank you” and nominate that person for a “We Are!” recognition award. We’ll include nominees in an upcoming issue of Penn State Today.