UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Earning a degree from Penn State is a tremendous accomplishment and a major event in the lives of every new class of graduates. 

The situation facing members of the Class of 2020 as they graduate is unique in many ways, but they will take part in a longstanding tradition intended to help them maximize the ongoing value of their Penn State education, even as they take their next steps in life. 

Each member of the Class of 2020, like the members of previous graduating classes since the late 1960s, will receive a complimentary year of membership in the Penn State Alumni Association, which has worked to keep the University’s alumni network strong, powerful and connected for more than 150 years.

“Graduation is not the end, it is a milestone achievement on your lifelong journey as a Penn Stater,” said Paul Clifford, CEO of the Alumni Association. “We are excited to welcome the Class of 2020 to our alumni family and show them all what there is to look forward to as their journey continues.”

Clifford, a Penn State Class of 2020 graduate himself with a master’s degree in higher education, notes that the Alumni Association helps the enormous community of Penn State graduates stay connected with each other and with the University, while also providing valuable services to members and supporting the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. 

Clifford encourages all members of the Class of 2020 to take advantage of everything the Alumni Association has to offer, including:

• Access to Alumni Career Services programs, including special webinars and events, career coaching and interview prep, resume reviews, and more.  

• Job Search Tune Up, an exclusive class for Alumni Association members that can help participants find a new job or brush up on networking skills. 

• Members-only communications, including the Penn Stater magazine, to keep recipients engaged and up to date with the Penn State community.

• The ability to find old friends or make new connections through the association’s searchable worldwide directory of more than 700,000 Penn Staters. 

• Exclusive access to Penn State Libraries Digitized Collections and University library databases, including premium business and research resources.

• A personal Penn State alumni email account, which includes unlimited storage on Google Drive.

• Discounts on insurance, electricity bills in select states, Kaplan Test Prep, and more.

Membership materials for the Class of 2020 will begin shipping in June. In the meantime, new grads should update their information on the alumni association’s website at alumni.psu.edu. “Student email accounts expire within a few months after graduation,” Clifford explained. “The alumni association maintains the database of record for all Penn State graduates, so keeping your email and other contact information up to date is important.”

While all new graduates receive a free year of membership, they also can extend their memberships by taking advantage of steep discounts available to them through June 30, 2020. New grads can get a life membership in the alumni association for $350, a full 50% off the regular price. Alternatively, they could purchase an additional four years of membership at $15 per year — a last chance for new graduates to get the student discount on membership.  

New grads can learn more about their membership benefits, update their contact information, and find information about their local Penn State chapter at alumni.psu.edu/WelcomeClassof2020. 

Grads also can stay connected to the alumni association and alumni around the world on Twitter and Instagram, @PennStateAlums, and on Facebook, @PennStateAlumniAssociation.

The Penn State Alumni Association connects alumni to the University and to each other; provides valuable benefits to members; and supports the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. More information about the alumni association is available at alumni.psu.edu.