“Thanks for the memory, of Atherton awards, technology that soars, mathematics education and scholarships galore, how lovely it was.”
“Thanks for the memory, Lion Ambassadors, the golf team's winning scores, and nature trails, recruiting tales, 'We Ares' and so much more, how lovely it was.”
(Apologies to Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, who performed “Thanks for the Memory” in the movie “Big Broadcast of 1938" — song starts at 0:40 of this YouTube clip.)
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. — With accomplishments celebrated, mishaps exaggerated and rebuttals tolerated, the Penn State New Kensington community congregated in the campus Conference Center April 28, and venerated six longtime faculty and staff before they migrated from Penn State. Yeah, go ahead and call it a retirement party.
The newly-minted retirees were: Patricia Brady, director of enrollment management; Nancy Burns, staff assistant VI in the Office of Enrollment Management; William Hamilton, assistant professor of biology; Robert “Doc” Mueller, associate professor of engineering; Kwang-Shang Wang, assistant professor of mathematics; and William Woodard, public relations specialist. They leave the campus June 30 to head off for new sunrises.
“This year we are losing many of the people who have been the heart and soul of Penn State New Kensington,” said Kevin Snider, chancellor of the campus. “Over 170 years of experience and institutional knowledge is walking out the door and into retirement. They will be hard to replace.”
The seasoned employees’ terms at the campus ran the gamut. Brady held service the longest with 38 years, which included 12 years as an adjunct instructor. Woodard had the shortest rally at 17 years. At the net were Hamilton, 34 years; Burns, 27; Wang, 22; and Mueller, 19.
“Losing so many of the personalities that have been such a large part of Penn State New Kensington will also take a lot of getting used to,” Snider said. “These professionals built up a lot of friendships over the years, and it will be strange not to see them around every day. But they all have given this campus a lot, and we wish them the best as they head into the next adventure in their lives.”