Alumni News

In recognition of his early career achievements in teaching, research and service, Andrew Smye, assistant professor of geosciences in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, has been named the Rudy L. Slingerland Early Career Professor of Geosciences.

Jim Steenburgh, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah and Penn State alumnus, will give the 2017 Lattman Visiting Scholar of Science and Society Lecture. His talk, titled “Communicating Science in the 21st Century: Personal and Political Challenges and Opportunities,” will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum on the ground floor of Deike Building. The event is free and open to the public.

The 2017 GEMS Industry Forum, “Balancing our Energy Future,” will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 in 114 Steidle Building on the University Park campus. There will be a reception held before the forum at 6 p.m. in the Steidle Building lobby.

The Penn State Alumni Association will recognize 14 graduates on Oct. 4 with the lifelong title of Alumni Fellow, the highest award given by the Alumni Association.

Allison Beese, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, recently earned the International Outstanding Young Researcher in Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Award for research accomplishments related to additive manufacturing of metallic materials.

Robert J. Farnsworth, a retired U.S. Army reconnaissance engineer and Penn State alumnus, was selected to receive the 2017 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence. He was honored during the 2017 United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) Symposium in San Antonio on June 5.

As Penn State’s Renaissance Fund celebrates its 41st year of honoring outstanding community members and helping students in need, its board of directors has selected as its 2017 honoree Joel N. Myers, a three-time Penn State alumnus; State College resident; and the founder, president and chairman of AccuWeather Inc.

The year is 1957. The average cost of a gallon of gas is 24 cents. American Bandstand began airing on ABC in August. Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union in October. June 1957 is also when Penn State produced its first TV weather broadcast, and this month marks the 60th anniversary of televised weather broadcasts by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science.

Ten alumni leaders have been voted onto Alumni Council — the Alumni Association’s governing board — and will begin their terms July 1.

When it comes to global challenges, there are none more pressing to Penn State alumni Frank and Janet Glasgow Dudek than food safety and clean energy. They are passionate about finding solutions to those challenges, and that's why they are providing $50,000 to Penn State to lead the way.