UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With the start of a new academic year, students in the Lion’s Paw Senior Society are welcoming President Neeli Bendapudi to Penn State with a new student-created endowment in her name.
Established and organized by student leaders in the Lion’s Paw Senior Society — with support from Development and Alumni Relations, Office of Physical Plant and Student Affairs — the Dr. Neeli Bendapudi Student Leadership Project Endowment will help to advance student-facing efforts across Penn State for years to come.
In a letter written by Lion’s Paw Class of 2023 about its new initiative, the group shared that they created the endowment as a “seed of change” to help drive continued progress across the commonwealth. Along with the endowment, the group will be displaying banners around the University Park campus during the first week of the fall semester to welcome Bendapudi to Penn State.
“I am deeply touched with this honor and so appreciative of these students and their efforts to support current and future Penn State students in innovative and creative ways,” Bendapudi said. “This endowment will be an important tool for our community to continue to build on progress in areas that are vital to the success of students across the University.”
The endowment, which is now seeking fundraising contributions from Penn State community members and supporters, will be housed in the Office of the President and will exist in perpetuity for use by future Penn State presidents. Each year, funds will be directed toward student initiatives, University programming, scholarships, and more that address critical topics, according to the organization.
“We look forward to the continued collaborative efforts of administration, students, and the entire Penn State community to continue seeking and supporting new solutions,” the letter states.
Building on existing work of students, faculty, and staff across the University, the endowment may be used to help support continued progress in a variety of areas such as, for example, addressing equity, justice, and belonging for historically underrepresented communities and combating sexual violence, among other topics.
“With your generosity and hope, this endowment will encourage and accelerate student-generated initiatives that are essential to the growth and strengthening of Dear Old State,” according to the letter.
Established in 1908, Lion’s Paw is focused on connecting student leaders across Penn State to build relationships and to serve the University community. In its history, the group has led efforts such as forming the Mount Nittany Conservancy and raising funds to purchase the bronze lion paw statues at the entrance of the Palmer Museum of Art at University Park.
Contributions to the “Dr. Neeli Bendapudi Student Leadership Project Endowment” can now be made at raise.psu.edu/studentleadership.