Good morning, State College.

Penn State invites students to join Fresh START Day of Service on Aug.

29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in State College, where volunteers will work on projects across campus to build civic engagement and strengthen community ties.

Penn State alumna Jennifer Mapes will open the fall 2026 Coffee Hour series with a talk on community geography at noon on Friday, Aug.

28 at 401 Steidle Building (Penn State University Park); the session will also be available via Zoom.

John Robinson, known as the Penn State Pop-Pop for his viral moment, celebrated as his grandson Wes moved into Beaver Hall on campus + he expressed his pride for Penn State and shared a bond that unites generations.

Eleven Penn State faculty and staff received 2026-27 Fulbright awards, with ten earning Fulbright Scholar Awards and one receiving the International Education Administrator Award to support teaching or research abroad.

Applications for the next cycle remain open until Sept. 15.

Penn State Global is hosting fall events for students to learn about spring 2027 study abroad programs.

Open house Aug. 24–28 at 420 Boucke Building, Taste of Study Abroad on Aug. 26 at Millennium Science Complex Lawn, and a webinar on Aug. 31 lead up to applications closing Sept. 10.

Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology has launched AI Creative Labs (located in the Dreamery) to give instructors hands-on ways to help students explore AI through making music, games, and soon original stories.

More than 900 students joined over 40 sessions since spring 2025, and faculty can request new sessions to meet their class needs.

University Libraries’ Research Data Stewardship will host 20 online workshops on data topics starting Sept.

16 for all Penn State students, faculty, and staff. Participants must register in advance (with their PSU email) to access sessions covering topics like data management and statistical analysis.

Penn State alumna Lisa Marzka, formerly director of major gifts for the College of Arts and Architecture, will begin her role as director of development and alumni relations at the Bellisario College on Aug.

26 (she also co-leads the Happy Valley Changemakers Collective).

Researchers at Penn State reported that water samples from Washington and Greene Counties show that nearby drilling may increase salt levels and release radium into groundwater.

Radium levels remain within EPA legal limits, and the team said more research will show how other factors may add salt to water.

Penn State researchers found that guinea fowl raised with extra weight on one leg used the same energy when moving as adults, suggesting that early exercise may help individuals move more efficiently later in life.

The study was conducted at University Park.

Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the Manning Award watch list and will start against Marshall on Sept.

5. He is also on the Maxwell, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Davey O’Brien watch lists (key markers for top play).

Former Penn State running back Journey Brown will join Virginia Tech’s coaching staff alongside his former head coach James Franklin.

Brown retired in November 2020 due to a heart condition and later worked in a NASCAR pit crew.

Penn State is expected to name its new starting specialists for the season.

Redshirt junior Ryan Barker is set to serve as kicker, redshirt senior Blaise Sokach-Minnick will start as long snapper, and the punter role may go to either transfer Nathan Tiyce or freshman Lucas Tenbrock.

Former Nittany Lions made their mark in NFL preseason action (local stars continue to shine); receiver Trebor Peña scored his first touchdown for the Jaguars and quarterback Sean Clifford led the Bengals to a 27-9 win over the Bears this past weekend.