Former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno once said, “Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things.”
This quote inspired Russ Rose’s speech at the Paterno Fellows Recognition Event last night in the HUB Auditorium.
Rose, head coach of the women’s volleyball team, said in his speech that when people ask him how things are at Penn State he responds, “Everything at Penn State is fantastic because the students are fantastic.”
The event last night was a tribute to hard working and dedicated liberal arts students who were recognized as the newest Paterno Fellows to join the program.
Brian Prewitt, a Paterno Fellow, was the student speaker at the event.
His speech addressed the opportunities he has ahead of him because of his admittance to the Paterno Fellows program.
“It was an honor [to speak]. You realize how privileged you are to be speaking to the Paterno family, Russ Rose, faculty and the Paterno Fellows,” said Prewitt (junior-political science and crime, law and justice).
Irreconcilable Differences performed the Alma Mater and poet Jamaal May read his own poems.
The College of the Liberal Arts' Paterno Fellows program allows students to gain admittance in the Schreyer Honors College after they have already been admitted to Penn State through a series of requirements, including taking honors courses each semester.
In addition to the requirements to be accepted into the honors college, students who want to be Paterno Fellows must also complete another set of requirements such as completing a study abroad program or an internship.
But not all the Paterno Fellows there were new. Previously admitted Paterno Fellows were there as well.
“We want the people who have already been admitted to come cheer on the new Paterno Fellows,” said Jack Selzer, Barry Director of the Paterno Fellows program.
The new Paterno Fellows were each given sweatshirts and asked to put them on to symbolize all the work they have done and all the hard work they still have ahead.
“It’s really a great honor [to be admitted] and everyone gave great advice,” said Tara Bendler (sophomore-labor employment relations), a recognized Paterno Fellow.
