The Annual Student Send-off for Orange County/Inland Empire students took place in a new venue with new faces on Sunday, July 21, and was another huge success! Nittany Lions gathered to wish Freshmen and returning upperclassmen bon voyage before they head-off to their campuses for the Fall semester.

Over a dozen students plus their families joined us in Irvine at the clubhouse of newly-elected Chapter Board Member Matt Lorimer ’12 and is wife Julia who hosted the event. Students mingled, created bonds, ate hamburgers, cake, and consumed cold drinks. Prizes, giveaways, and advice were given out generously.

Michele Trasport, Chapter President, kicked off the event with welcoming words and introduced the Board, while David Wolfe reminded students and parents there’s still time to apply for the chapter scholarship.

We were fortunate to have current students, recent alumni, and parents share their experiences on being successful while away from home and managing academic and social lives. Alex Troy, heading into his Senior year, and Fernando Munoz, a Junior, both expressed a sense of pride feeling a part of an “extended family” of Penn Staters and being supported by the local alumni chapter.

Summer vacations, Summer Session at PSU, and local events prevented some students and families from attending, but those who did join expressed their gratitude and those who couldn’t join shared regret.

The event reminded us all, older and younger alike, of the bonds and enthusiasm our beloved university creates for those of us 2,500 miles away from University Park.