About Us
Our Mission
The purpose of Lion Ambassadors is to serve The Pennsylvania State University with excellence by:
- communicating its history and personality, strengthening its traditions, and instilling Penn State pride in current and future students, alumni, and friends.
- To instill within students the idea that their involvement with the University can and should be a lifelong commitment.
- To aid, assist, and promote the Penn State Alumni Association.
Lion Ambassador History
The Lion Ambassador story begins in the summer of 1981 when Penn State University saw the need for a Student Alumni Corps. This corps would be comprised of informed students who would provide service to the university while enhancing the relationships between students and alumni.
Larry Atwell Jr., a 1981 graduate from Penn State's Smeal College of Business, was charged with the responsibility of establishing this Student Alumni Corps and to head the development of young alumni programs. He confronted the task by contacting each college and university in the country having a similar program and obtained a complete breakdown of each organization's structure, programs, funding, etc. Sifting through the material, he drafted a constitution and by-laws.
By October 1981, a task-force was formed of eight hand-selected students to work with Larry, the Alumni Association, and the Office of Gifts and Endowments (now known as the Office of University Development) to complete the development of the new group. Through October and November, they worked diligently, refining the constitution, by-laws, purpose, and outline of programs for the first year. They selected the name for the group, Lion Ambassadors: Penn State Student Alumni Corps. And finally, they organized the first membership drive.
In December, applications were accepted. During the first week in January, interviews were held. On January 9, 1982, the 50 Lion Ambassadors first met during a weekend retreat in snow and ice-bound Stone Valley.
Lion Ambassadors continue to expand the tradition of excellence through the support of new members each year. The group currently has more than 125 members and new member classes are inducted every spring semester. Each new Ambassador brings his or her unique perspectives, not only diversifying the group, but also providing new, bolder ideas and challenges. Following the constitution, challenging the group with new ideas, and helping to define the Lion Ambassadors, each Ambassador has a voice. As a group, we strive to achieve excellence through fulfilling the organization's goals and missions with great success.