State College
Today
Friday, December 5th, 2025
Good morning, State College. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 5th of December.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Winter’s Glow at the Arboretum at Penn State offers free and paid activities including live music, local food, and wreath-making workshops on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. The event also features a 22-foot Blue Spruce fountain tree and winter displays with free public parking. Penn State
- ➤ Chabad of Penn State will light a 12-foot menorah at 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Old Main campus to mark Hanukkah & host a community celebration with traditional foods, hot drinks and entertainment for all ages. The event is open to everyone. Penn State
- ➤ The MLK Jr. Commemoration Student Committee and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity hosted the 50 Days of Hope event at HUB-Robeson Center on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to introduce the teams' plans for Martin Luther King Jr. week from Jan. 15-24, including an essay contest themed undaunted hope. Daily Collegian
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ With finals approaching, students can choose from a list of top study spots including campus libraries, coffee shops, and downtown locations — each venue offering a unique atmosphere to boost focus and provide free snacks. Onward State
- ➤ The first Penn State Outreach Experiential Learning Symposium showcased hands-on programs, including the Wildlife Career Development Program at Shaver’s Creek and Keystone Community Scholars. Over 300 students, faculty and staff gathered in mid-November at University Park to see how classroom lessons translated into real-world impact & career growth. Penn State
- ➤ Students at Penn State can pick up the Food and Housing Edition on campus newsstands today through Dec. 11 (it offers budget-friendly tips for eating well and finding affordable off-campus rentals) to help manage rising living costs. Daily Collegian
- ➤ Researchers at Penn State are developing a robotic system to help apple growers manage weeds with less chemical waste using an AI side-view camera model. The team collected images at the Fruit Research and Extension Center (and orchards) to train a model that tracks hidden weeds. Penn State
- ➤ The Digital Media Trends and Analytics minor has become Penn State's largest academic minor by integrating AI-era media strategy and practical platform training. Launched in 2016, the program now enrolls 548 students (1,400 have graduated) and equips them for evolving digital roles, according to associate professor Lee Ahern. Penn State
- ➤ Levon T. Esters (vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Fox Graduate School) received the 2025 Debra W. Stewart Award at the Council of Graduate Schools Annual Awards Ceremony on Dec. 4 in Washington, D.C. He was honored for his dedicated work enhancing graduate student success. Penn State
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Penn State's head coaching search faltered after nearly closing a deal with BYU's Kalani Sitake, leaving AD Pat Kraft scrambling amid a weak recruiting day with one 2026 signee. Max Ralph and Johnny McGonigal will discuss the issues live on the Blue-White Breakdown podcast Thursday at noon. PennLive
- ➤ College football expert Todd McShay said Penn State's head coaching search remains delayed because agent Jimmy Sexton—who represents top coaches—is reportedly upset about the firing of James Franklin nearly two months ago, complicating hiring decisions. PennLive
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48th Annual Juried Winter Craft Market
9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Nittany Valley Sports Centre — $5 admission (cash only), children 12 and under free — Explore unique, handcrafted treasures from over 60 talented Pennsylvania artists.
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Michigan State Spartans at Penn State Nittany Lions Basketball
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. — Bryce Jordan Center — Cost info unavailable — A new era of Penn State Hoops begins with a young and talented roster ready to make their mark.
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Nittany Lions vs. Eagles Basketball Game
1-2:30 p.m. — Bryce Jordan Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience a new era of Penn State basketball with a fresh, talented roster.
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First Night State College
3 PM – 12 AM — Downtown State College Improvement District — Button required for some activities — Celebrate the New Year with family-friendly fun including ice sculptures and performances.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.
~ Carl Sagan
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