Group of Distinction awarded to the Lehigh Valley Alumni group

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association has been promoted to the Laurel Level Group of Distinction. Chapters are awarded this upper tier of the Alumni Association’s affiliate groups based on their level of excellence and efforts towards the University and community.

According to the Penn State Alumni Association, the affiliate groups named as a Group of Distinction have served in several different programmatic categories, including career networking, social interaction and fellowship, supporting students, and leading THON-related activities.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter has held numerous events locally to help benefit Penn State as the chapter’s mission is to raise money for scholarships benefiting students at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

“I am thrilled for the Lehigh Valley Chapter to be recognized by the Penn State Alumni Association in this way for all they do for students, alumni and friends of Penn State,” said Diane McAloon, interim director of community and alumni outreach at Penn State Lehigh Valley. “Both of our alumni groups play a pivotal role in providing scholarships for students at the Lehigh Valley campus. The Lehigh Valley Chapter has donated more than $13,000 for student scholarships in just this year alone.”

Throughout football season, the Lehigh Valley Chapter hosts TV Tailgate viewing parties, in conjunction with the Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Society, and organizes bus trips to big games.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter participated in the Sixth Annual Alumni Food Drive Challenge at Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania earlier this year. Chapter president Terry DeGroot packed boxes at Second Harvest Food Bank.

Credit: Penn State

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The Lehigh Valley Chapter participated in the Sixth Annual Alumni Food Drive Challenge at Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. As part of the Alumni Challenge, the Lehigh Valley Chapter hosted the "Lion Up for Hunger" one-day food drive on March 30 at the Lehigh Valley campus, where members of the local community were invited to join students, faculty, staff and alumni as they tried to "Fill the Truck" with food donations benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. The Penn State team was announced the winner with a total of 11,988 pounds of food collected, with the Notre Dame and Purdue Alumni Clubs as a close second and third place.

“We are here for everyone, whether you are an alum or not. We invite all Penn State fans to join us,” said Terry DeGroot, president of the Lehigh Valley Chapter. “We especially would love young alumni and young PSU fans to become part of the Chapter and join us at our events.”

The first-ever WE ARE Lehigh Valley Homecoming Week was hosted in September. The week concluded Sept. 23 at Miller Symphony Hall, where Penn State Lehigh Valley hosted an exclusive VIP reception before “The Music of James Bond,” where proceeds benefited the Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) Scholarship Fund. The reception was sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, among other groups.

The chapter pledged a challenge gift of $2,500 for Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Giving Tuesday campaign on Nov. 28. Once Penn State alumni and friends raised $2,500 for Penn State Lehigh Valley on Giving Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley Chapter contributed $2,500 to increase the amount raised to $5,000. All donations made on Giving Tuesday benefit the PSU-LV Scholarship fund.

Up next for the Lehigh Valley Chapter, is a TV Tailgate party for the Bowl Game. More details about the tailgate party will be determined after the bowl games are announced. To find out more information or to get involved, contact Terry DeGroot at [email protected].