UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State has reached a milestone 165 years in the making, awarding its one millionth degree Saturday, August 15th, during summer commencement ceremonies at the University Park campus.
The university was founded in 1855 as the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania. Its first 11 graduates received bachelor of scientific agriculture degrees in 1861.
Penn State expected to award about 2,700 diplomas during this weekend’s commencement ceremonies, pushing the university past the one-million-degree mark.
“It’s an exciting time for Penn State. It’s obviously a major milestone,” said Joe Huxta, president of the Penn State Alumni Association’s Lehigh Valley Chapter.
Huxta graduated from Penn State in 1971 with a degree in accounting. He has watched the university expand significantly since his time as a student. When he recently returned to campus, he said he could not find his former dormitory.
On Saturday, Penn State is a Top 25 U.S. research institution, according to the university. It offers more than 275 majors and 11,000 course offerings and has more than 800,000 living alumni around the world.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a statewide proclamation recognizing the university’s contributions to the commonwealth. Those contributions extend beyond Penn State’s campuses, with alumni involved in communities throughout the state and beyond.
Huxta said the Lehigh Valley alumni chapter works with organizations including Toys for Tots and the American Cancer Society. The chapter also raises scholarship money for students, donating about $5,000 each year to students at Penn State’s Lehigh Valley campus.
Additional events celebrating the million-degree milestone are planned throughout the fall, including a commemorative ice cream flavor from the Berkey Creamery and a fundraising campaign to support future students.