We live in upstate New York, and our first trip to Penn State was for "Spend a Summer Day" in 2007 - when our daughter was in between her junior and senior years in high school. It was about the 12th college we had looked at, and absolutely love at first sight.... from that point on, there were no other colleges.

Fast forward to 2017: Ten years and three Penn State acceptances later (why didn't we just move to PA.... out of state tuition for 3....OUCH!!) - and in less than a week, our youngest will graduate with his degree in Engineering. A lot has happened in those 10 years - for both our family and the Penn State family - and we wouldn't have chosen any other place for our kids. The good times were amazing and gave us memories and connections that will last a life time. And the adversity that the Penn State family endured taught our kids some real life lessons, while building strength and character.

I am tearing up as I type this - so many wonderful memories for our kids and for us. Our son who is a senior, asks us to please not mention the "G" word; as with his older brother and sister, it is breaking his heart to leave! The bond that I feel for Penn State is stronger than I could have ever imagined, so I can only guess at the depth of my kids' emotions. One of the best parts as a parent has been getting to know their friends at our annual tailgates. I remember saying to my husband a couple of years ago, as we partied on the IM fields with a huge group, "I know we will always come back for games, and it will always be great, but it will NEVER be the same as it is now when our kids are students here." Hosting all of their friends and smiling as we witness how they are flourishing.

Even better than our experiences at football games though, has been our experiences at THON. All 3 kids have been PASSIONATE about THON. Both of our sons danced, our daughter was on committees every year (2 years as a Moraler, now known as Dancer Relations), and all of them were involved in the same Special Interest Org, Pillar. As a family, we've hosted canning trips and fund raising dinners in our hometown; giving us yet another opportunity to peek into their world and get to know their friends. THON has molded our kids in a way that would make any parent proud – the kindness, the empathy, the strength of the human spirit, and the list goes on. These are things that cannot be quantified, but have been one of the most important facets of our children’s education. But more than that, THON has molded us as parents. It is the most moving thing I have ever been a part of, and we all feel honored and blessed that we could share in something so wonderful. In February, we all went to THON as a family to support our youngest as he stood for 46 hours. Though it was the fifth THON that I've attended, it took on such a special meaning; knowing it was the culmination of so many years of love and devotion was bittersweet for sure!!

I know that moving forward, Penn State will forever be a part of our lives and have a place in our hearts. I know that saying good bye to the student years at Penn State will be hard for all of us, even while knowing that the future holds bright promise as my youngest son makes this huge transition. It is truly the end of an era for our entire family - but with the promise of great new adventures ahead. We have cherished all that Penn state has brought to our lives, and will be forever proud to say WE ARE...