Penn State’s 2022 Class Gift will help support the UHS-UPUA Wellness Fund, as chosen by seniors who voted on three options this month. The gift was announced at a small ceremony in the HUB.

“With the gift you have chosen, the Class of 2022 will provide critical resources to the next generations of Penn Staters to get them the medical help they need,” said Rich Bundy, vice president for development and alumni relations. “If the past year and a half has taught us anything, it’s how important proper medical treatment is to sustaining a healthy, safe life…Your class has used its dedication, creativity, and love for the Blue and White to inspire us as a community.”

The UHS-UPUA Wellness Fund helps students cover medical bills they can’t otherwise afford. All students are eligible for the fund, but there is no guarantee that any given student will receive any money from it. Support for the fund will help expand the program and provide more resources to assist more students.

This year’s gift continues an ongoing and recent tradition of providing support for student-centered funds. Last year’s gift created Penn State’s first-ever Student Access and Equity Fund, while 2020’s benefited Penn State’s Counseling and Psychological Services — the same gift funded by the Class of 2016.

“Since 1861, the senior class gift has been the oldest tradition at Penn State,” gift coordinator Connor Cook said. “If you look around campus, you can see all the legacies previous senior classes have left behind, including the Allen Street Gates, the Old Main frescoes, and the Lion Shrine.”

Now that gift’s been selected, it must be funded. If you’re so inclined to help, head to the Student Philanthropy Network’s website to learn more about donating.