The third annual Paterno Fellows Recognition Ceremony will take place on Monday, January 14, at 6:45 p.m. in the HUB Auditorium.  About 125 new Fellows will be honored:

• freshmen who declared in August;
• sophs who declared last year, or who were admitted in June, or who will be admitted after this semester’s grades are in;
• some juniors (those admitted in June or those Schreyer students in the junior year who recently committed).

BUT those Fellows who were honored last year are also expected to attend, as should all aspiring Fellows. 

Mark your calendars now; this is a required event.

And it should be an enjoyable one.  This has been an amazing semester–all the more reason to come together and celebrate.  Let us begin the new year by honoring students for their fine work and commitment.  Let’s reinforce our sense of what we’re all about and rededicate ourselves to what we stand for.

New Fellows will be recognized by name at the event.  Those new Fellows will also receive a nice Paterno Fellows hooded sweatshirt as an acknowledgment of their status–don’t worry, we’ll have one in your size.  (Incidentally, you can also expect to receive a more permanent symbol of your accomplishments as Paterno Fellows when you graduate.)

Here’s what  you can expect on January 14:

• An event that lasts less than 60 minutes, excluding the dessert reception after (that way you can still attend the John Legend performance at 8);
• Some suitable music by Irreconcilable Differences;
• A few words by a Paterno Fellow who will speak about what the Program is all about;
• A featured presentation by special guest Jamaal May (http://www.jamaalmay.com/).  Mr. May is hard to describe–performance poet?  rapper?  Decide for yourself what to call him after viewing this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYMy5Mp-X6A;
• A short recognition of the Fellows, followed by celebratory food and drink;
• A surprise or two.

Sue Paterno attended the Recognition Event last year, and we expect her to do so again–along with other members of the Paterno family.  In addition, we expect Deans Welch and Long (from Liberal Arts) as well as Deans Brady and Upneja of the Schreyer Honors College all to attend–and other guests.

More information will be forthcoming:  keep your eyes peeled.