From a quiet gathering of alumni in a vacant Old Main classroom in 1870 to a powerful network of more than 161,000 members worldwide, the Penn State Alumni Association has been keeping alumni connected to the University and to each other for more than a century.

While the Alumni Association’s roots lie in Happy Valley, its branches extend across the globe. Alumni Association members live in every county in Pennsylvania, every state in the United States, and in numerous countries around the world. For the past 10 years, proud Penn State alumni have made their association the largest dues-paying organization of its kind in the world.

The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service.

Today, that mission is brought to life through events and programs such as City Lights educational and cultural programs in five major East Coast cities, pep rallies at all away football games, Huddle with the Faculty lecture series before all home games, reunion weekend, Homecoming events, and so much more.

The mission is also embodied in the Alumni Association’s commitment to recognize outstanding alumni and alumni volunteers through its award programs: Alumni Fellows, Alumni Achievement Award, affiliate group and volunteer awards, and Honorary Alumni Award.

After 140 years, the Penn State Alumni Association continues to make Penn State an even better place for current and future generations.