The recent kingmakers of the Penn State Board of Trustees announced its three endorsements this morning, with little surprise. Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship will support Alice Pope, Bob Jubelirer, and Al Lord after a closed primary process between six candidates.

“The 2014 PS4RS Top Six was certainly a formidable field,” PS4RS wrote. “If we’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that there are far too many alumni with courage, initiative and very impressive talents who should be replacing more than just three old guard trustees each year in an effort to give back to Penn State all that it has given us.”

PS4RS members have voted over the last week (those vote totals are not public) for their top three candidates, leaving out Rudy Glocker, Gavin Keirans, and V.J. Tedesco III. I say little surprise because Pope, Jubelirer, and Lord were supported throughout the process by a group of the alumni-elected trustees led by Anthony Lubrano, and the outcome seemed like mostly a formality by the end.

The endorsement has proven crucial in recent history. Last year, PS4RS-endorsed Barbara Doran, Ted Brown, and Bill Oldsey ran away with the election in a crowded 39-candidate field.

Jubelirer was the Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor from 2001 to 2003 and served as the leader of the PA Senate from 1985 to 1992. Lord is the former CEO of student loan giant Sallie Mae. Pope is a professor at St. John’s university and frequent op-ed columnist.

Alumni voting begins on April 10 (alumni need to request a ballot), and the three winners will be announced at the May 9 meeting. There are currently 32 candidates on the ballot.