University Park

Community and students invited to LION Bash

Block party event slated for Sept. 10

Penn State's Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Woskob Family Gallery, welcomed visitors to LION Bash 2018 to try their hand at some street art. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Members of the Penn State and State College area communities are invited to mingle at a block party-style event Sept. 10 along Allen Street in downtown State College.

Both students and residents are welcome to enjoy food, entertainment and other stations from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s also a place for students to find access to local resources to help students meet their needs while they study at Penn State and learn about great community organizations they can get involved with during their time in the community.

Last November the LION (Living in One Neighborhood) Bash and Dash 5K events won an award for outstanding collaboration from the Association for Orientation and Transition Retention in Higher Education.

Barry Bram, senior director of Penn State Student Affairs, said he hopes students and the community take advantage of the event to engage with each other.

“Building off of the recent success of co-hosting the 2019 International Town and Gown Association conference, Penn State and the borough are excited to continue our collaborative efforts to make our community welcoming, safe, and vibrant,” Bram said. “We hope that both long-term residents and students will attend LION Bash and learn more about what is happening here, engage with one another and have a great time.”

Organizers said this year’s bash will feature more than 150 stations for music, games, engagement and education. The onstage entertainment will be a little different this year, with acoustic performers dispersed throughout the bash instead of on a central stage.

Planning for LION Bash was a cooperative effort by Penn State Student Orientation and Transition Programs, Student Affairs, University Police and Public Safety and Off-Campus Student Support; along with State College Borough Police, Public Works and the Community Engagement Office; as well as Downtown State College Improvement District.

“This event will offer a fun venue to foster a greater sense of community among all residents, both temporary student residents and permanent residents,” wrote Douglas Shontz, communications specialist with the borough. “This would not be able to be accomplished without the partnership and collaboration with Penn State University. We hope everyone that attends LION Bash has the opportunity to win some prizes, eat some great food, and learn how to build a stronger community.”

Organizers said that while last year’s LION Dash 5K event was successful and generated plenty of interest, there were scheduling difficulties this year and they hope to continue the event in 2020.

The Office of Student Orientation and Transition Programs is part of Penn State Student Affairs and Penn State Undergraduate Education. Penn State Undergraduate Education is the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.
 

Last Updated September 4, 2019