UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State All-Sports Museum continues virtual programming for June 2020 via zoom and social media platforms.
On Friday, June 12, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. the Museum will be joined by Rob Smith ('86 Football) and Bob Szwajkos ('69 Men's Gymnastics). Link to participate via zoom: https://bit.ly/2ARZSi2
Rob Smith was an offensive lineman on Penn State's first national championship team, which defeated Georgia in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Smith started as an offensive guard in 1984 and then as a center in 1985, lettering both years. After overcoming the loss of his father at a young age, with one year of eligibility left and declining free agent offers with the NFL, he went on to graduate in 1986 with a degree in speech communications. Soon after graduating, he married his Penn State college sweetheart Mary Pizzella, and they had four children. Smith went on to spend his working career in the solid waste and recycling industry, and most recently founded Capital Waste & Recycling Services in Columbus, Ohio.
Bob Szwajkos was the head manager for the Penn State men's gymnastics team from 1966-1968. During that time Szwajkos functioned as floor manager under Gene Wettstone for NCAA and international meets for three years. Szwajkos graduated from Penn State in 1969 with a degree in pre-law political science and moved on to obtain his law degree from Villanova Law School in 1972. He is currently an attorney with Curtin & Heefner, LLP practicing bankruptcy law around the world. Outside of the courtroom, Szwajkos is an avid marathoner, having run 16 Full and 45 half marathons. He was a silver medalist for the 2010 Federation Games in Koln Germany. He ran Team Philadelphia, the umbrella organization for 11 LGBT sports organizations with more than 1,200 participants. The network of teams walked away with 75 medals, including 50 gold, at the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland/Akron. Szwajkos also serves as the first openly gay elected official of the Newtown Pennsylvania Borough Council.
On Friday, June 19, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. the Museum will be joined by Bonnie (Brenner) Pettigrew ('00 W Volleyball) and Titcus Pettigrew ('00 Men's Basketball, Football). Link to participate via zoom: https://bit.ly/2XMKMnj
After decommitting to UCLA, Bonnie (Brenner) Pettigrew entered her freshman year at Penn State as a walk-on with the Penn State women's volleyball team. During her collegiate career, she was a four-time All-American, two-time Big Ten player of the year and two-time CoSIDA All-American. Petigrew helped lead the 1999 team to their first NCAA National Championship. She graduated in 2000 with a degree in speech communications and English, with a minor in political science. Upon graduation, Pettigrew was set to pursue a law degree, but joined the newly formed United States Professional Volleyball League (USPV) instead. She currently heads Next Level Athletes, Inc.
Titcus Pettigrew played both basketball and football when he first entered Penn State in 1996. After his first season, Pettigrew opted to focus completely on football rather than continue as a dual-sport athlete. During his time with the football team, Pettigrew played in the Fiesta, Outback, Citrus and Alamo bowls. He went on to graduate in 2000 with a degree in recreation park and tourism management with a minor in business. Upon graduation, Pettigrew played for the NFL's San Diego Chargers and later the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush. He is currently an administrator for Fenwick High School.
Bonnie and Titcus met in a class taught by sports psychologist Dr. David Yukelson. The two married in 2002 and went on to have five children. They founded Next Level Athletes, Inc. to elevate and accelerate the development of young athletes in volleyball, basketball and football.
On Friday, June 26, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. the Museum will be joined by Kevin Scott ('81 M Soccer) and John Lange ('98 Wrestling). Link to participate via zoom: https://bit.ly/2AiOtrN
Kevin Scott was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1959. He arrived at Penn State in the fall of 1977 as a walk-on for the Penn State men's soccer team earning varsity letters all four years. Scott was team captain in 1979 and 1980, McCoy Student-Athlete of the Year in 1980-81, and part of the NCAA Senior Bowl. During his time with the team, they made the NCAA playoffs each year, with a Final Four appearance in 1979. Scott graduated in 1981 with a degree in chemical engineering, followed by a Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1985 from Georgia Tech. Upon graduation, Scott worked for DuPont based in Geneva, Switzerland, which led to assignments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He went on to work for a few other companies before retiring as CEO of Electrolux North America in 2011. In his retirement, Scott indulges in his passion for mountain biking and is a tutor for mathematics at a large community college in Southern California.
John Lange was a Penn State wrestling letterman from 1995-98. During his time at Penn State, Lange was the U20 National Champion in 1996, Big Ten Champion in 1998 and a three-time NCAA qualifier, obtaining third place in 1998. Off the mat, he was part of the Skull & Bones Senior Honorary Society, VP of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) and was awarded the NLC True Grit Award. Lange graduated in 1998 with a degree in history. Upon graduation, Lange coached wrestling for Hofstra, North Carolina and then Eastern Michigan before moving to California to start an insurance business. Today, he works as a project manager in the home building industry. Outside of the office, Lange serves on the board of Livermore Little League.
Additions to these events are ongoing and will be updated via the Museum's social media channels all under the handle @PSUSportsMuseum. All events are free and will be virtually streamed via the social media sites and zoom, with recordings available via social media for any who wish to watch them after their air date. For a chance to participate in the zoom chats, registration can be found here: https://bit.ly/3cjBsvC