Feb. 5, 2015
By Sean Donnelly, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics has a long-storied tradition of performing on the field and in the classroom. The motto "One Team," doesn't just span the various teams, but also connects generations of Penn Staters. As we all know, once a Penn Stater, always a Penn Stater.
Student athletes from across the athletic department were honored with the bestowment of their Varsity Letter Jackets at the 2014 Letterwinner Jacket Ceremony on Tuesday night. Held in the Nittany Lion Inn Ballroom, it was a night of celebration for Penn State Athletics, as it commemorated the accomplishments of its finest student-athletes. More than 15,000 other student athletes have received the varsity letter since 1875.
"There's a lot of tradition at Penn State, and a lot of people have the honor of being a letterman," said freshman tight end Mike Gesicki. "It just shows the tradition and worthiness of what we have done in our sports, not just football but everyone at the banquet. My teammates and I, and all these others getting their letter jackets is a very cool experience."
This year's letterwinners are now members of Penn State's Varsity `S' Club, which exists to create and enhance the relationship between former student-athletes and Penn State Athletics, while supporting current student-athletes. The Varsity `S' Club, which falls under the umbrella of the Nittany Lion Club, aims to continue the tradition of Penn Staters helping other Penn Staters. Through hard work and dedication, whether it be on the field, classroom, or community, everyone's goal is to contribute to the success of one of the most prestigious athletic programs in the country.
"I've put in a good year and contributed to athletics as a whole, whether it's on the golf course or academically," said sophomore women's golfer Meaghan Coleman. "I got the highest GPA award last year, so I'm contributing to something bigger than myself as part of the Penn State Athletic family."
Receiving the letter jacket has a different meaning to Tim Scholly, a redshirt sophomore currently on the baseball team. Scholly was born and raised in State College, and grew up rooting for Penn State.
"It definitely means a lot to be able to put on this Letter Jacket," Scholly said. "Just being able to get it and represent the university that I love really shows our success on the field, and what we did in the classroom. It just puts it all together."
The "One Team" motto was present during the Letterwinner Jacket Ceremony, as student-athletes from different teams socialized and chatted about their experiences this past fall. As letterwinner jacket recipients coming from a variety of sports, the student-athletes all share the same Penn State spirit that has made them so successful.
"It's been fantastic, and the support staff here is fantastic," said Coleman. "My teammates and coaches are great and it feels great just being able to support all the different athletes, whether it be the football games, the basketball games and a variety of other different sports."
Haleigh Washington had a fantastic first season on the 2014 NCAA champion women's volleyball squad, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Washington realizes how important the "One Team" motto is to Penn State Athletics.
"It really brings up the dynamic of `One Team,'" said Washington. "It's awesome we get to have these jackets, because it's a representation that we are all one school, representing the same thing."
Kirk Diehl, Director of Varsity `S' Club and a Penn State alum, kicked off the ceremony by giving a brief background on the historical significance of the varsity letter and the Varsity `S' Club. Founded in 1960, the club has seen significant growth in the past eight years.
"The University has begun to understand the connections that you student-athletes benefit from, and the relationship that you have had with other teammates, athletes, and this great university," said Diehl. "Each one of you should be extremely proud of earning the varsity letter, as you are now part of a prestigious group of student-athletes that stand for over a century."
Even after student-athletes are no longer enrolled at Penn State University, they will always be part of something special. The Varsity `S' Club keeps letter winners connected with Penn State, teammates and alumni, for the rest of their lives.
"Whether your collegiate athletic career ended last season, or 70 years ago, you are forever a Nittany Lion and connected to the Penn State Athletics family," said Diehl. "Together, We Are...Penn State!"
It was a highly successful fall season for Penn State Athletics. Between football, women's volleyball, field hockey, and men and women's soccer, Penn State combined for a 92-25-1 record. Men's soccer advanced to the NCAA Championships, women's soccer won its 16th Big Ten Championship, and field hockey earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Women's volleyball continued its dominance by winning its seventh NCAA title, and Penn State football was victorious in its trip to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Penn State Athletics has always maintained its stance in putting academics before anything else. This fall, 72 student-athletes earned Fall Academic All-Big Ten honors, performing just as well in the classroom as they did on the field.
Sandy Barbour, Director of Athletics, also took the time at the podium to congratulate the letterwinners who will continue Penn State's tradition of success.
"I want to thank you all as a subset of the larger student-athlete population at Penn State for how you conduct yourselves, and how you go about your business every day," said Barbour. "Not only on the sports fields, pools, tracks, or horses, but what you do in the classroom."
Barbour has spent the past six months as the face of Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, learning more about Penn State each day. One facet of Penn State Athletics that she wants to focus specific attention on is the work they do for the community.
"I knew very well about Penn State Athletics reputation from a competitive standpoint, and as an academics standpoint. Both are very important to the community," said Barbour. "What I did not know, and that the rest of the world should know about, is the phenomenal work you all do in the community. Not only this community, but your communities in your hometown, and the causes you pick that have an impact not only nationwide, but worldwide. Absolutely incredible."
Wrapping up the end of the ceremony, Barbour delivered one final sentiment to this year's letterwinners.
"You mean so much to this community. Thank you for all the hard work that goes into that, and thank you for believing in this university, believing in the coaches, and believing in us."