Hard work and Commonwealth partnership leads to University award

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — At the Nittany Lion Inn at University Park, Penn State Schuylkill's Patricia Shoener received the 2017 Teamwork and Collaboration Award along with four other Penn State Commonwealth Campus staff. O. Richard Bundy III, the University's vice president for development and alumni relations, presented the award to the winners, who were chosen for their hard work and dedication to organizing programs that involved Penn State alumni, staff, faculty, students and friends throughout 2017. 

Examples of these programs include Penn State Day at Knoebels; a behind-the-scenes tour of University Park athletics; Sipping for State; and a golf tournament at Mountain Valley golf course. Shoener described these events as being incredible fundraisers for the Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Scholarship, and a great time for all.

"About 9,000 alumni have received their two- or four-year degree from Penn State, but we have over 21,000 people who have walked through our halls. So, I would say that we have a very active alumni group," she said.

Shoener was the first staff member from Penn State Schuylkill to win the Teamwork and Collaboration Award. "I am proud to be the first recipient of this award at Schuylkill," she said. "I accepted this award on behalf of the campus and all the people who supported my efforts."

Shoener has worked for Penn State Schuylkill for nearly 16 years. A graduate of Penn State Schuylkill, she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, and then earned an MBA from another institution. She and her husband, Craig, have been married for 23 years, and they have three children who either graduated from or are currently attending Penn State.