This article appeared in the Fresh Start issue of the Collegian, sent to new Penn State students.
Students generally attend Penn State for its academics, athletics, social life and pride. However, there’s another large incentive for attending school at Penn State that probably was not on your lists — the ice cream, straight from Penn State’s own Berkey Creamery.
Given its name due to donations from Jeanne and Earl Berkey, the creamery has been an integral part of the Penn State and State College community since Penn State’s earliest beginnings.
From its origin in the College Barns behind Old Main in 1865, to its newly renovated store attached to the Food Sciences building in 2006, the Berkey Creamery has had its fair share of changes, only to be continuously followed and supported by its biggest fans — the students.
“Our busiest times are in between classes,”Jim Brown, Assistant Manager of the Berkey Creamery said. “Instead of going back to their dorms, students can come here and study while grabbing a snack or having some ice cream.”
With well over 100 different flavors of ice cream, 10 different flavors of frozen yogurt, and six sherbet flavors, The Berkey Creamery has something sweet for everyone.
“I really love Pralines and Cream, but they seem to rarely have it,” Alicia Dannibale (freshman-kinesiology) said. “I also love the fact that you can use your meal points.”
Perhaps with all of the various options of flavors, the choices can be a bit overwhelming for ice cream-loving students here at Penn State.
“I never know what I want, it takes me so long to decide,” Aryanna Hanson (freshman-psychology) said.
Besides the wide variety of flavors, another advantage of the Berkey Creamery is its location on campus: on the corner of Curtin and Bigler Road.
“After football games, I’m excited to walk to get ice cream at the creamery before going back to my dorm,” Kaitlyn Banfield (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said.
Upon first glance, one would assume the famous Berkey Creamery to only have dairy products, but the store also sells foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even their own beverages such as iced teas and coffee.
“The Creamery is such a great and convenient spot for me to pick up coffee on my way to class, and for me to stop for ice cream on the way back to my dorm,” Samantha Worthing (freshman-psychology) said.
