Tomorrow has been declared "Penn State Day" by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

More than 160,000 prospective students and their families are invited to participate at any of Penn State's various campus locations.

Penn State Day will recognize the university's many contributions to Pennsylvania.

It is a statewide celebration of the university's active role in the community and will acknowledge the partnerships between each of the undergraduate campuses and their contributions to the Penn State tradition.

"Penn State is unique in its multiple campus system. There is no other university with such a large and diverse structure," said David Kuskowski, director of recruitment for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

In his Penn State Day statement, Rendell said the university operates "the largest outreach effort in American higher education."

The university serves an average of one in every two households in Pennsylvania, he added.

Most of tomorrow's celebratory events will be held at the non-University Park Penn State campuses.

"We want people to get to know the Penn State in their community and acknowledge all the things that Penn State does on a local involvement level," Cindy Hall, director of the Department of University Marketing and Advertising, said.

Tomorrow's events at University Park will be mainly for prospective students.

The day will function as an open house, during which there will be campus tours and presentations for families and Centre County community members to learn more about the university.

The events scheduled differ from campus to campus around the state.

"Some campuses are throwing tailgate parties for the Ohio State versus Penn State game on Penn State Day," Kuskowski said. "One campus is even serving stickies for breakfast."

He added that the celebration is designed to unify all of the Penn State campuses.

"We have always had open houses," Kuskowski said. "What we are trying to do with Penn State Day is create a single day when people all across the commonwealth can see how our vast system of campuses work together to give back to the community. Penn State is there as a resource. We are trying to get that message across."

Tomorrow will be the first official Penn State Day celebration in Penn State history. Judy Maxwell, assistant in the Department of Governmental Affairs, said its timing purposely coincides with the celebration of the Penn State's 150th birthday.

Kuskowski said the decorations and atmosphere of the Halloween holiday should make Penn State Day even more fun for visiting families and friends.