Chosen by students for their passion and dedication to Penn State, many Homecoming 2012 University Court members are honored to participate in this year’s events.
The 2012 University Court is comprised of seven university faculty members: Donna King, Ashley Martin, Donna Meyer, Brady Rourke, Robert Schneider, John Waters and Alexander Yin.
“First, they were nominated by students, faculty and coworkers,” Homecoming Royalty Director Malik Richardson (senior-crime, law and justice) said. “After nominations, we read the messages students left, and we had a student panel that met for two hours and discussed.”
For Ashley Martin, the associate director of student involvement for the Penn State Alumni Association, the news that she had been chosen to be a part of University Court was both humbling and exciting.
“It’s nice to know that the students appreciate you enough to think of you when they were nominating, and I am very excited,” Martin said.
Alexander Yin, senior planning and research associate in the Office of Planning and Institutional Assessment, said he was shocked when he received the news.
“I am honored, privileged and speechless that students have found me and nominated me,” Yin said. “I was like, ‘really? How did they find the data geek?’”
Although he is not certain as to why students nominated him for the court, John Waters, lecturer in the Eberly College of Science, said he hopes his nomination had something to do with the help he provides to his students through lecture.
“I hope it was because my students feel like I do more than lecture information,” Waters said. “I try to tie things in lecture to real life and I hope it is because my students feel I am helping them to develop skills.”
Many of the members, like Schreyer College Coordinator of Student Programs Donna Meyer, are looking forward to being in the parade because it is an event they have always watched but never participated in.
“The parade is an event that no one should miss,” Meyer said. “It is an opportunity for alumni and everyone to come back to reconnect.”
Brady Rourke, academic coordinator within the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes, will not be able to participate in the parade because of other personal commitments, but said he is honored to be recognized.
“It’s an unbelievable honor to be given the opportunity to be recognized,” Rourke said. “I met a few members at a homecoming event on the Old Main Lawn. It’s esteemed company so I’m very honored.”
Along with participating in Homecoming events, Donna King, lecturer and local activist, hopes to gain a different sense of her pride for the university.
“I hope to gain a different essence of my Penn State pride,” King said. “I am a student activist advisor, so I work extensively with student activists. I admire that Penn State lets students have a voice.”
Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Robert Schneider said Homecoming is a great way for the Penn State community to come together.
“My dad is coming out to the game,” Schneider said. “This is my last year at Penn State, and I am excited that it is my last thing to go out on. After everything that happened last year, it’s an opportunity for us to come together and really come home.”
Collegian staff writer Kelly Gibson contributed to this report.
