Good morning, State College.

Penn State animal science major Megan Zipprich earned the All-American Livestock Judging Award after competing in Louisville last November, becoming only the second Penn Stater to place in the top 10 for sheep and goats since 2013.

Fall commencement on Dec.

21 at the Bryce Jordan Center will offer free parking courtesy of Penn State Transportation Services, with designated areas (including ADA spots and modified routes for safe drop-offs) directed by University Police to manage traffic and pedestrian flow.

Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management has established the Discover Hospitality in Senior Living Excellence Endowment to boost programming with courses, field trips, guest speakers, and career events (with $25K from each donor) at its University Park campus, building on a 2010 initiative that prepares students for leadership.

Researchers at Penn State compared five bioinformatic programs (tools) used to detect defective virus genomes in next-generation sequencing data.

They found little overlap in results and recommend using multiple programs for a more complete analysis.

Penn State will waive the tuition surcharge for course loads above 19 credits beginning spring 2026 and remove student fees for the academic year 2026 to 27 at seven campuses scheduled to close after spring 2027, saving students $315 per semester.

The move aims to help students during their transition + reduce costs.

Penn State College of Medicine said the Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu is the first center outside North America to join the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium to expand pediatric cancer trials in Europe.

The partnership will offer children innovative treatments & boost global research.

Penn State honored five memorable sports successes from recent seasons (from Terry Smith’s win against Michigan State in 2025 to NCAA titles in wrestling and women’s volleyball), highlighting breakthroughs in men’s basketball and men’s hockey.

These achievements boosted local pride and underscored the program’s strength.

After a 40-7 win over Wyoming, Penn State wrestling will travel to Nashville Saturday for dual meets at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Cael Sanderson discussed lineup adjustments and injury updates (with Nate Desmond emerging in the 141-pound spot).

Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna is added to EA Sports NHL 26 after licensing changes allowed his return — he will play as a member of Team Canada with other World Junior players as the championships approach.

During Penn State's 2025 season, senior running back Kaytron Allen set the school record for rushing yards and earned third-team All-American honors while redshirt junior Vega Ioane was named to the second team on Monday.

Fans in State College celebrate these achievements despite a 6-6 season.

Today, Penn State football coach Matt Campbell announced roster moves ahead of the 2026 season.

Several key players opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl to focus on the NFL draft — while Campbell added 10 new staff members including offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and interim head coach Terry Smith.

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.

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.

Penn State Wrestling vs. Rutgers

4:00 – 5:30 PM — Rec Hall — Ticket prices may vary — Catch the excitement as Penn State takes on Rutgers in a thrilling wrestling match.

UCLA Bruins vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Men's Basketball

8:30-10:30 p.m. — Bryce Jordan Center — Ticket prices vary — Catch the exciting clash of two powerhouse college basketball teams.