UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three new Alumni Association affiliate groups have been chartered: Laurel Highlands (Pennsylvania) Chapter, Nebraska Chapter and the Marines Alumni Interest Group (AIG).
Each organization has enjoyed early success after galvanizing, particularly the Marines AIG. The group became official within six months of the initial planning phase, with Vice President Erik Orient saying the group has a very simple two-pronged mission: to honor fallen Marines while simultaneously staying connected to one another.
“This was a way for us to preserve their names and their memories, and you won't find a cause that resonates with Marines more than that,” said Orient, who retired two years ago from the Marine Corps after a 22-year career.
“People say, ‘I’m a Penn Stater,’ just like people say, ‘I’m a Marine,’ even after they've left the service. It’s the intersection of two groups that have a really strong emotional and fraternal appeal to people.”
Orient, who was hired by Penn State in July 2013 as the student services director for the Smeal College of Business MBA Program, said he misses the feeling of brotherhood since retiring and wanted to maintain the connection some way; he added that many other Marines feel the same way upon leaving the service, and that’s where the AIG makes an impact. The organization already includes approximately 450 members, and Orient said they have a simple pitch: He emphasizes their mission, and when he adds that the group doesn’t collect membership dues and mainly wants to give Marines an opportunity to come together, “that’s an easy mission to get behind,” he said.
Orient added: “Penn State and the Marine Corps are similar: They have very strong followings, and they are two organizations that really have had a tremendous impact on people’s lives, and people identify with that. Orient said they recruited board members who lived locally so they could plan meetings, and added that the strong veteran community in State College, Pa., also contributed to the group’s fast start. In addition to a membership event and a fall event held last year, there are plans for potential fundraisers in the future, Orient added.
For more information and to join the Penn State Marines AIG, email chapter President Michael Hendrickson at mxh181@arl.psu.edu.
Laurel Highlands ChapterIf you’re a Penn State graduate or fan walking around the Laurel Highlands area and you run into Anthony Marguccio, expect him to notice your blue-and-white ties.
“If I see you’re wearing a Penn State shirt, I’ll hand you a business card,” Marguccio said. “I’m a huge Penn Stater, always have been. Out of all my friends, I’m probably the biggest fanatic, and I thought it was pretty important that we had representation in this area.”
Marguccio is the president of the Laurel Highlands Chapter and searched online a few years ago to learn if a chapter existed in his area. At the same time, Amy Picklo looked as well.
They both learned that none existed, so Picklo sent out surveys to gauge interest and the group had its first organizational meeting in late 2013; Picklo worked with the Alumni Association to schedule the meeting. Marguccio’s wife, Dicia, is the group’s communications and social events director, while Picklo serves as secretary.
Marguccio figured the group would do well since there’s such a strong Penn State fan base there, and the chapter has accrued a little more than 100 members. They’ve been active, as the group’s already organized a variety of events.
There are the football watching parties, Marguccio said, but there are also other opportunities to make Penn State connections. Penn State broadcaster Steve Jones visited last month for a trivia night, and the chapter also has explored its creative side, participating in oil painting and pottery classes, with possible plans for scholarship fundraising remaining possible.
“We’re trying to do a little bit of everything to get people involved and keep them involved,” said Marguccio, who pointed out the new alumni chapter requires a lot of work but there are moments when it really pays off.
Marguccio volunteered at last month’s Coaches Caravan event in Altoona. And there, he received a shout-out from Alumni Association Executive Director Roger Williams, who recognized Marguccio and the Laurel Highlands Chapter during his remarks.
Meeting Williams and creating that connection helps, Marguccio said, as he balances his chapter responsibilities with his career and family.
Nebraska Chapter
Joe Duden realized that the state in which he lived — one that’s home to a school in Penn State’s conference — was one of the few that didn’t include an alumni chapter and figured it was time for a change.
“Being a Big Ten state, we needed to correct that,” said Duden, originally from Pennsylvania.
After somebody else had been trying to start the group moved out-of-state, Duden volunteered to take the leadership role and started creating momentum in early 2014.
The group’s events have combined community service with philanthropy, Duden said, as they held a food drive during one of their football watching parties.
A little more than 50 members comprise the group, with Duden saying they mainly communicate through social media. They’re hoping for a website in the near future, with Duden adding they’re still in the early stages of trying to add members.
Most events take place in either Lincoln or Omaha — the state’s two major cities that are about an hour apart — with the group’s kickoff meeting coinciding with the beginning of last year’s football season.
Duden joked that not many people want to attend a football watching party in Lincoln, the home to Nebraska University, but he sounded optimistic about the group expanding in size.
Based on information he received from the Alumni Association, approximately 700 alums live in Nebraska and western Iowa, and Duden hinted that he’s beginning to see more blue-and-white fans in Nebraska, where he’s lived for more than two decades.
“The city of Omaha has grown, and it has lot to offer; we see some more people come in from out of town,” Duden said. “Penn State graduates have moved there, and it’s opened up opportunities.”
For more information on how to start an affiliate group, contact the Volunteer Services team at 800-548-LION (5466), option 3, or email alumni-relations@psu.edu.