UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mentoring, attending career fairs and recruitment events, and fundraising for scholarships: these are only three ways that Penn Staters volunteer, give back, and otherwise make a difference in their local communities and the global Nittany Lion network.  

Of the more than 750,000 living Penn State alumni, more than 172,000 are members of the Penn State Alumni Association. These numbers rank at the top of their respective lists in the world.  

Alumni can find ways to volunteer and browse the nearly 300 affiliate groups that unite Penn Staters, on the Alumni Association’s website. In addition to geographic alumni chapters, there are alumni societies connected to academic colleges and Penn State campuses, and interest groups and affiliate program groups that cater to individuals’ Penn State passions.  

Each year, the Alumni Association hosts the Volunteer Awards to celebrate outstanding groups and individuals who contribute year-round to the Alumni Association’s mission — to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. 

All Penn Staters are invited to RSVP for the 2023 Volunteer Awards livestream, set for 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, July 21. The archived video also will be available on the Alumni Association’s Facebook page. Honorees will be recognized in nine group categories and five individual categories. The latter awards are made possible through the generosity of Penn State graduates who have endowed each individual award.  

The acceptance speech videos from the 2022 Volunteer Awards are available here. Additionally, Penn Staters can learn more about the power of membership and exclusive member benefits on the Alumni Association’s website.