University Creamery visitors will soon be sampling Stuzipan, the new ice cream flavor named after a Penn State professor.
The new flavor was unveiled Aug. 11 during a banquet and weekend symposium held in honor of Stuart Patton, Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Patton was recognized for his contributions to the dairy industry, including his extensive research on milk chemistry and the processes by which milk is produced in mammary glands, said Manfred Kroger, professor emeritus of food science.
"For those associated with ice cream, dairy products or dairy production, there is a tendency to honor them in this way," said Craig Baumrucker, professor of animal nutrition.
Stuzipan joins other honorary Creamery flavors including Cherry Quist, Keeney Beany and Peachy Paterno. The honorary naming tradition began in 1983 with Cherry Quist, said Thomas Palchak, manager of the Creamery.
"We regard those flavors very judiciously," said Palchak.
Each honorary flavor reflects the personal tastes of the person it is named after. Because Stuzipan was kept a secret from Patton, his wife Colleen suggested the flavor and name. Due to his love of almonds she combined his nickname, Stu, with marzipan, a type of almond paste.
Tom Palchak developed the flavor during a period of two weeks.
"It's a chocolate base with a buttered almond flavoring," said Palchak.
The first 50-gallon batch went very quickly and another 300 gallons will be ready for purchase at the beginning of September.
The ice cream won't last forever, but Patton's name will not soon be forgotten.
"He lived a remarkable life and seeded so many ideas into so many people's minds," said Kroger, a former student of Patton.
Dr. Patton joined Penn State's dairy science faculty in 1949 and became the College of Agricultural Sciences' first Evan Pugh Professor in 1966, according to a Penn State news release. An Evan Pugh professorship is the highest honor the university can bestow on a faculty member.
Patton trained 33 graduate students and has published 240 scientific manuscripts during his 50-year career, Baumrucker said.
Room 101 in the Agricultural Science and Industries Building has been renamed to honor Patton's many accomplishments. The Josephson Patton endowment has also been created in his name, Baumrucker said.
"Stuzipan has entered the history of Penn State along with his auditorium, endowment fund, and the memories that linger in all the minds that have been in his presence," said Kroger.
