Alumni, Students Enjoy PSUGA 75th Celebration

By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim
The Tube City Almanac
September 19, 2023
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Penn State University Greater Allegheny celebrated its 75th anniversary on Saturday with a “Blue & White Watch Party.”

Visitors went to the campus in McKeesport to eat free food and watch the Penn State Nittany Lions play the Illinois Fighting Illini on television.

Only 30 feet from the cafeteria where the watch party was held, the PSUGA men’s soccer team faced off against the Christendom College Crusaders from Front Royal, Va.

“We really wanted to celebrate the campus’ 75th anniversary in a way that honored our connection to the community,” said Megan Nagel, interim chancellor and chief academic officer. “Our alumni, our current faculty, staff, employees — We just wanted to make sure we had an event where anybody knew they were welcome to attend for free, eat for free, bring their kids. And I think we've achieved that today.”

Nagel said that when deciding on a date for the event, PSUGA was looking for a day where Penn State had an away football game. “We just got really fortunate that our men’s soccer team had a game at the same time, so we really got to celebrate Penn State from a football perspective, but also our own local team who plays right here on campus.”

Sporting events were not the only entertainment available at the watch party, as inflatable games were set up near the Nittany Lion statue. The college invited the local elementary schools to the event, so among the students, alumni, and staff were children and their families.

The chancellor has spent 12 years at PSUGA. When asked about her fondest memories at the university, she said many came to mind, but the common thread that bound them all was the growth she saw in her students.

“Seeing a student go from a visit with their parents when they're interested in the school to graduating,” Nagel said. “Really seeing students kind of grow into who they become while they're here.”

Logan Caller, a freshman and mechanical engineering major, said his favorite memories at the university so far have mostly to do with his work in the kitchen. He takes pride in making the cheesesteaks, but he is also passionate about making the salads. “It's like a Lego.” He said of salad creation, “You just build it and then see the final product and it's really nice.”

According to Caller, the soups are perhaps the most popular dishes on campus, with the wedding soup being particularly popular. After graduating, he plans on pursuing his Ph. D.

Jeremiah Miller, a multidisciplinary studies major who is currently in his junior year, said that his favorite memory during his time at PSUGA was the girl’s volleyball team’s home playoff game from the previous year. “It was a really good outing. They won and we had a really good time.”

Miller also predicted a 31-14 Penn State victory over Illinois, which was close to the actual result of 30-13. Kicker Alex Felkins brought in an admirable 12 points for the Nittany Lions that day.

The men’s soccer game ended in an intense 2-2 draw, with PSUGA midfielders Dylan Fyock and Cameron Downey scoring a goal each.

Yousuf Ibrahim is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh and a recent Penn State University graduate. He won a Golden Quill award for his work at the Penn State Greater Allegheny Gazette. This is his first story for Tube City Almanac.

Originally published September 19, 2023.

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