We’re back, folks. The 2023-24 school year has arrived.

If you ditched town for the summer for an awesome internship or some hometown shenanigans, life still went on in Happy Valley.

Here are some fast facts and headlines from Penn State and State College you might’ve missed over the summer:

News:

• Contemporary Christian band MercyMe announced it would stop by the Bryce Jordan Center at 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 7, as part of its “Together Again” tour. Tickets are still on sale, and the Bryce Jordan Center is discounting select tickets with a “Syllabus Week offer.”
• The Penn State Board of Trustees elected three new alumni trustees: Ali Krieger, Jay Paterno, and Anthony Lubrano. Paterno and Lubrano will each return to their seats, while Penn State women’s soccer alumna and former United States Women’s National Team defender Krieger will begin her first term on the board.
• The Pattee and Paterno Library’s east entrance closed for the summer to undergo sidewalk renovations, leakage repair, and additional landscaping efforts. The east entrance is now open following the completion of renovations.
• The College of Engineering appointed Tonya Peeples as its interim dean to oversee the college’s operations and growth.
• The Penn State Office of Student Affairs underwent an organizational change to move the office directly under Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz.
• Penn State alumna Linda Yaccarino was named the CEO of Twitter, now X, and she’ll head business operations for the company. Yaccarino graduated from Penn State in 1985 with a degree in telecommunications.
• We dance in 184, folks! THON 2024 is scheduled for February 16 to 18.

• The Pugh Street Starbucks officially began slinging coffee and more in its new location at the corner of Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue.
• On a glorious summer day, the Berkey Creamery announced it would bring back milkshakes after a pause in production due to COVID-19. It reintroduced vanilla bean, chocolate, Bittersweet Mint, and Peachy Paterno milkshakes into the menu.
• Beaver Stadium hosted a yoga class and a showing of “The Lion King” on the field, further utilizing the stadium over the offseason.
• The College of Medicine named Karen King its dean. She is nationally recognized for her medical advocacy work for underserved communities.
• State College Police investigated the stabbing of a 16-year-old with a machete in the area of Plaza Drive. Nineteen-year-old Emanuel Cespedes was arrested in relation to the crime.
• State College runs on Dunkin’. The coffee and donut chain will open an additional Happy Valley location at 141 S. Garner St., in the former location of Starbucks. Dunkin’ plans for a fall opening, according to a spokesperson.
• Downtown State College hosted its colorful Pride parade for the third time, and thousands of folks flocked to South Allen Street to celebrate.

• A Penn State professor was accused of performing lewd acts with a dog in Rothrock State Forest and has been relieved of his responsibilities at the university.
• LionsDeliver opened its second downtown location at 111 W. Beaver Ave. The smoke shop will serve more as a smoke lounge than its original location at 512 E. College Ave.
• Broadway-style musical Cirque Dreams Holidaze announced it’ll make a stop at the Bryce Jordan Center at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13.
• The South Pugh Street Sheetz closed its doors on July 23. Gone but not forgotten.
• Tussey Mountain hosted its 20th annual WingFest for eight straight weeks over the summer. Juniper Village clinched the WingFest title for the second consecutive year, and nearly 2 million wings were consumed in the process.
• Comedian Bill Burr will perform at the Bryce Jordan Center at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4. This will mark his second performance in Happy Valley.
• Choolaah Indian Barbecue joined the slate of retail restaurants within Redifer Commons. The menu includes several vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
• The Central PA 4th Fest returned to State College in all of its glory after three years of scaled-back celebrations due to COVID-19.
• Arts Fest welcomed students, alumni, and families back to State College for a weekend of art, music, and community.

• A Boogie wit da Hoodie will bring his “Me vs. Myself: The College Tour” to Happy Valley on Thursday, September 21, at the Bryce Jordan Center.
• The Penn State Board of Trustees voted to increase tuition for University Park students for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. In-state students at University Park can expect a 2% tuition increase, while out-of-state students will see a 4% increase.
• “Coffee, Hemp & Tea” opened its doors at 313 W. Foster Ave. and sells high-quality, locally-sourced beverages and CBD and Delta-8 products.
• The State College Borough voted to acquire the Brewery, Canyon Pizza, and Music Mart through eminent domain to construct a parking garage. Following a public outcry, the Borough reversed its decision.
• Williamsport-based brewery New Trail will distribute its Penn State-inspired lager, State Light, in Beaver Stadium.
• ‘8 Mile Pizza’ opened on Pugh Street, specializing in Detroit-style pies.
• Luke Combs added Beaver Stadium to his spring tour, and the country singer will perform just the second concert inside the stadium.
• Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi approved the unification of the university’s two law schools: Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law. The two programs will unite as one accredited law school and be primarily located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
• As students returned to State College for move-in weekend, the Eisenhower Parking Deck was evacuated due to a sinkhole. The parking deck is operational again, but the conditions were “hazardous” for several days.
• Lady Lion alumna Tanisha Wright was named Penn State Homecoming’s 2023 grand marshal.

Sports:

• Following his fifth-round NFL Draft selection by the Green Bay Packers, Sean Clifford was assigned Packers legend Aaron Rodgers’ former locker.
• After anticipating a matchup between Penn State football and West Virginia since 2013, Penn State Athletics announced that the game would kick off at 7:30 p.m. and be televised on NBC.
• Following a mass exodus of Penn State hoops players after Micah Shrewsberry’s departure, center Kebba Njie was one of the last to leave. He’ll join Shrewsberry at Notre Dame.
• Penn State men’s and women’s lacrosse earned bids to the NCAA Tournament after productive, historic seasons at Panzer Stadium.

• Penn State men’s basketball pulled in a slew of transfer portal products and commitments over the summer, including RayQuawndis Mitchell, Bragi Gudmundsson, Favour Aire, D’Marco Dunn, and Jahvin Carter.
• Clarisa Crowell and Penn State softball pulled off an incredible walk-off win over Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Melody Coombs and Lilia Crouthamel combined to secure a 3-2 victory and send the team to the conference tournament quarterfinal.
• Twelve Penn State football stars were named to a total of 29 preseason watch lists. Abdul Carter leads the Nittany Lions with five nominations, while Nick Singleton and Kalen King each have four.
• White Out conditions ahead. Penn State football announced it would host the 2023 White Out against Iowa at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 23.
• On the same day, James Franklin picked up a cornerback from Mississippi State and lost a player to the same program. Audavion Collins will join the Nittany Lions while running back Keyvone Lee will spend the 2023 season in Starkville.
• Rob Cooper announced he would step down from his position as Penn State baseball’s each coach after 10 seasons at the helm. He’s since stepped into a role at Miami as the baseball program’s director of player development.
• Penn State men’s lacrosse took care of business against Army to move on to the NCAA Tournament semifinal, its first since 2019.
• Penn State football relocated its Land-Grant Trophy matchup from East Lansing to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The rivalry game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Black Friday from the Motor City.
• Beaver Stadium will be home to the new “Beaver Stadium Tunnel Club,” an exclusive, members-only group with access to a unique view of the Nittany Lions taking the field on gamedays.
• Jeff Tambroni and Penn State men’s lacrosse were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament Final Four by way of a questionable, overtime decision against Duke. The Nittany Lions finished their season with an 11-5 overall record and a 4-1 conference showing.
• Kickoff times for Penn State football’s matchups against Delaware, Illinois, and UMass were released and feature showings on NBC’s Big Noon Kickoff and Peacock.
• Three Class of 2024 recruits committed to Penn State football in one day after the Nittany Lions’ first official visit weekend of the summer. Deryc Plazz, Xavier Gilliam, and Dejuan Lane each committed to the program within eight hours of each other. Plazz has since decommitted and pledged allegiance to Miami.
• Penn State NIL collectives Lions Legacy Club and Success With Honor merged to create Happy Valley United. The single collective will now serve all 31 of Penn State’s varsity athletic teams.
• James Franklin’s crew learned of its 2024 and 2025 conference opponents, the removal of east and west divisions, and the implementation of protected rivalries. The schedules will likely be slightly adjusted since the addition of Washinton and Oregon to the Big Ten.
• Penn State women’s soccer picked up three transfer portal prizes, including Quinnipiac forward Rebecca Cooke, Boston College center back Michela Agresti, and Northwestern midfielder Rowan Lapi.
• Mark Leon was named Penn State men’s golf’s newest head coach. He’ll succeed Greg Nye after 31 years in the role.
• Jalen Pickett and Seth Lundy became the first Penn State hoops duo to get drafted within the same year. Pickett got called by the Denver Nuggets with the No. 32 overall selection, while Lundy heard his name called at No. 46 overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
• Andrew Funk got in on the NBA action and joined the Denver Nuggets for NBA Summer League. He ended up signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Nuggets at the conclusion of Summer League and agreed to a one-year, minimum-salary deal.

• In a year of turnover for Penn State golf, Kristen Simpson was named the head coach of the women’s program.
• Penn State football tight end Theo Johnson received placement into an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for his involvement in a fraternity assault. He was later named a captain of the football team.
• Penn State women’s volleyball legend Megan Hodge Easy joined the Nittany Lions’ staff as an assistant.
• After Rob Cooper’s exit from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Boston College’s Mike Gambino entered Penn State baseball’s head coaching position. Gambino and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft worked together in Chestnut Hill before landing in Happy Valley.
• It’s just what he does. Penn State wrestling alum Bo Nickal dominated Valentine Woodburn to extend his UFC record to 5-0.

It’s just too easy for Bo Nickal pic.twitter.com/IFq40p0PGq

— Onward State (@OnwardState) July 9, 2023

• Roman Bravo-Young announced his plans to represent Mexico throughout 2024 Olympic qualifications at the 57-kilogram position.
• Mike Gambino wasted no time picking up recruits and transfers for the baseball program. Highlighted by Wake Forest outfielder Adam Cecere, Gambino has a nearly brand-new roster for the 2024 season.
• Beaver Stadium named its two PA announcers for the 2023 season: Joe Putnam and Rodney Martin. Putnam and Martin are familiar voices to Happy Valley as they’ve announced a combined six teams over the years, including the State College Spikes, Lady Lions, Penn State men’s hockey, and more.
• Five Penn State women’s soccer alumnae hit the pitch in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Nittany Lions Alyssa Naeher, Rocky Rodriguez, Olivia Smith, Marissa Sheva, and Laura Friegang each suited up for their respective countries in the international tournament.
• After lots of negotiation, Saquon Barkley inked a one-year, up to $11 million deal with the New York Giants. He’ll need to register 1,300 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 65 receptions to earn additional financial incentives.
• Penn State football posed for and chatted with the media for its annual media and photo days.
• In a 2023 NCAA Tournament rematch, Penn State hoops will challenge Texas A&M in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Florida.
• Penn State football was ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, falling behind Big Ten rivals Michigan and Ohio State.
• For the 21st consecutive year, Penn State women’s soccer was dubbed the conference favorite.

About the Author