Campus comes together to 'Give Thanks' and 'Paw It Forward'

Student college relations assistants collaborated with fellow student leaders to coordinate campuswide “Give Thanks” engagement efforts to show their gratitude to those who invest in the Penn College experience.



Expressions of “Thanks” could be found in various forms across campus and throughout social media platforms. Thank-you cards were written, videos were recorded, #pctgrateful sidewalk chalk messages were created and special in-person deliveries were made to thank loyal employee donors who have given to Penn College for more than 20 consecutive years.

Then, students collaborated to "Paw It Forward" and unmask hunger by collecting food items for The Cupboard, the on-campus pantry for students in need. Students and department colleagues stocked the shelves, one vintage Wildcat tray at a time, while others filled large blue move-in bins to the brim.

Twenty-five student organizations collected food items, and student-athletes turned the cause into a friendly competition between teams. Their competitive spirit played a key role in helping peers this year as they collected over 3,700 food items. Alumni and employees joined the efforts by making online contributions. The weeklong collaboration resulting in the largest item intake for The Cupboard: 4,200 items collected.

“A big, heartfelt 'thank you' to everyone who helped make this an incredibly successful event," said Noelle B. Bloom, Dining Services' assistant director. "The generosity and outpouring of support from the campus community is greatly appreciated. These items will bring comfort to many students and families during challenging and uncertain times.”

–Photos by Becky J. Shaner, senior manager of donor relations and special events

 

... to say "Thank you" on behalf of 'cats across campus.

Lynn Turney (right), instructor of machine tool technology/automated manufacturing, is among the longtime donors whose thoughtfulness was repaid by visits from grateful "tomorrow makers." At left is welding technology major Zak S. Smith, a student college relations assistant.

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Employees and students "Paw It Forward" by filling vintage cafeteria trays with non-perishables bound for the campus food pantry.

As their mascot can attest, sitting among the yield of a collection for The Cupboard, student-athletes are fast on the playing surfaces and quick to help peers in need.

Miles K. and Malcolm K. Lambkin, student college relations assistants majoring in software development and information management, are surrounded by some of the 3,700 items donated for food-insecure classmates.

Baking and pastry arts alumna Danielle R. Wesneski, a student ambassador working toward an applied management degree, adds a #pctgrateful pawprint of her own to a campus walkway.

Presidential Student Ambassador McKenna N. Myers, enrolled in the college's business administration: marketing concentration, takes chalk in hand ...

Through a series of sidewalk messages, students share their appreciation for such donor-driven improvements as The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College ...

... and UPMC Field, visible through the fence.