HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania House of Representative members Peter Schweyer and Jesse Topper have been awarded the 2024 Penn State Alumni Association’s Friend of Penn State Legislative Award for their continued support of Penn State and the advancement of higher education in Pennsylvania.
The award, first given in 2006, is a continuing effort sponsored by the Alumni Association that recognizes Pennsylvania legislators who play a significant role in the further improvement of Penn State.
“Penn State’s continued success directly impacts the value of the degrees held by 775,000 alumni worldwide,” said Paul Clifford, Penn State Alumni Association CEO. “Alumni have a vested interest in making sure that Penn State is funded at the level to maintain our world-class reputation. The Friend of Penn State award recognizes those legislators who consistently stand up for State.”
Schweyer, who serves the 134th Legislative District representing parts of Lehigh County, and Topper, who serves the 78th Legislative District in Bedford and Fulton counties, were recognized and received their awards during a press conference as part of Advocate Penn State’s Capital Day in Harrisburg on March 18. The award was last presented in 2022.
“The work of Reps. Schweyer and Topper in the General Assembly and their unwavering support for Penn State and our mission makes them very deserving of this recognition,” said Mike Stefan, vice president for Government and Community Relations. “I’m thankful for their leadership and collaboration as we strive to make access to higher education more achievable for all Pennsylvania residents who seek it.”
Schweyer is a Penn State alumnus and Schreyer Honors College Scholar who received a bachelor's degree in political science in 2000. He is currently in his fifth term representing parts of Lehigh County and is the majority chairman of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, where he plays a significant role in shaping policy and funding that impacts Penn State.
“Coming from a working-class family where no one went to college, I had no clue what to expect when I enrolled at Penn State,” said Schweyer. “What I have come to realize is that my experience at Penn State did so much more than prepare me for my career, it changed me as a person. I graduated with a sense of purpose, optimism and self-confidence that I carry with me to this day. I am fully committed to ensuring genuine access to higher education, as there are countless young people like me who simply need a chance. And as an alumnus and Schreyer Scholar, I am most grateful for this recognition. We Are!”
As a first-generation college student, Schweyer is passionate about postsecondary educational pathways, affordability and accessibility. He demonstrates this commitment through his consistent advocacy surrounding funding and support for the state-related institutions and the importance of adequately funding higher education within Pennsylvania.
Topper is in his fifth term and currently serves as the Republican chair of the House Education Committee, where he leads in shaping higher education policy for the state.
“It is an honor to receive the Alumni Association’s 2024 Friend of Penn State award. As an advocate for higher education, I recognize the impact that our institutions have on the commonwealth’s economy and future workforce,” said Topper. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly and partners like Penn State to drive positive change in higher education in the months and years to come.”
In the General Assembly he supports performance-based funding and has legislation that would create a performance-based funding incentive for Pennsylvania's state-related universities that would award funding using metrics adopted by the state.
Last November, on election night, Topper joined students from the University Park Undergraduate Association and Lion Caucus for a Progress Over Partisanship event with Jared Solomon, a Democrat from Philadelphia, to discuss how to approach disagreement with others while working toward compromise.