One down. One to go.
That’s one way to describe this football season for the Penn State Alumni Association’s Indiana Chapter, which will co-host a second alumni event in three weeks on Friday night, Nov. 11. The Alumni Association also coordinates and hosts the event, which will take place at a local Bloomington winery.
Just a few weeks ago, Indiana Chapter President Will Gawryk and former president/current secretary Kelly Hampton hosted local alumni and friends in West Lafayette. Gawryk (1990) and Hampton (1989) are Penn State graduates, and both described the event in West Lafayette as successful, with more than 100 people in attendance.
“We totally lucked into the venue as Kelly had done a fantastic job to find a great location for the event,” Gawryk said, referencing an area hotel room that allowed enough room for everyone. “We had wonderful feedback from all who attended saying the atmosphere was great. Everyone loved how powerful the Pep Band sounded, and the silent auction was a wonderful scholarship fundraiser.”
Added Hampton: “I was thrilled with our mixer. We had a very diverse group of alumni and fans that came. The feedback was very positive, and I don't think the evening could have gone any better.”
Alumni and friends met and mingled for a few hours, and also were entertained by the Penn State Pep Band — which features members of the Blue Band — along with Penn State cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion. Visit the Alumni Association’s Facebook page for the archived live stream of the event.
The Alumni Association traditionally co-hosts an alumni mixer the night before away football games, partnering with a local chapter to hold the event. It’s part pep rally, part informal networking, with everyone sharing the common bond of Penn State.
“One of the best parts of these events is meeting alumni from all over the region who have traveled to Indiana,” Gawryk said. “I made some new friends from New York City, the Omaha (Nebraska) Chapter, and with a group from Columbus, Ohio, who were still so excited about the win over Ohio State. As the Omaha Chapter has recently started their scholarship fundraising, we were happy to share best practices and lessons learned with them from our past experiences.”
This week’s event will have a different feel, as it's being held at a local winery. The venue will be decorated for the holidays, Gawryk said, along with plenty of Penn State spirit.
Co-hosting two events in such a short time also presented some considerations for the Indiana Chapter, based in Indianapolis. The event in West Lafayette featured free admission, while this week’s mixer costs $15, though it includes eight wine tastings and light hors d’oeuvres.
Then it was mostly about figuring out who was going to show up at which event, and Hampton said they’ve heard from local alumni who were interested, sometimes in attending both mixers, and also from area alumni whom they haven’t met before.
“Running a successful event is always satisfying,” Hampton said. “To know that I played a small part in Penn Staters having an enjoyable evening before the Penn State-Purdue football game makes me happy. As for this weekend, while I expect the crowd to be smaller, I think those attending will enjoy the venue at Oliver Winery and the fellowship that we will all share.”