What a great time of year! After a crazy busy academic year, things were supposed to slow down so that we could enjoy the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. So much for lazy! This issue of IvyLink is the second for the month, and you can see that we are anything but lazy here at Penn State Altoona. In this issue, you’ll enjoy reading about a gift from PS Solutions Foundation to support Kids’ College, encouraging young women to explore computer science; the importance of organ donation; and an opportunity to share your unique story with us for use in a later publication. Love golf? Sign up for our Penn State Altoona Alumni Society’s Community for Kids Golf Tournament August 12, 2016.

Here are a few factoids about summer that you may be able to use at your next barbeque, wedding reception, or family reunion. Enjoy, and if you have an interesting did you know send it along to me at ivylink@psu.edu. I’d love to hear from you and get a little smarter in the process!

Penn State Altoona is hosting an education conference August 5, 2016, at the Blair County Convention Center. Ashley Schroeder, teacher, entrepreneur and Penn State Altoona alumna, has provided the funds to bring nationally-known educator, Ron Clark, to spend the day with teachers coming from far and wide. To date, teachers and education lovers from fifteen states—and two from Canada—are registered to hear Ron Clark speak about his experiences inside and outside of the classroom. Check out the site for more information: altoona.psu.edu/edconference.

Now, a few more summertime factoids:

• Mosquitoes, summer’s pest, have been around for more than 30 million years.
• Watermelon is summer’s most popular vegetable. It is part of the cucumber, pumpkin, and squash family. The average American eats 15 pounds of watermelon a year and these juicy favorites are 92 percent water.
• Summers spent throwing a Frisbee back and forth owe their game to a pie maker named Mr. Frisbee.
• The first bathing suit for women was created in the 1800s. It was long-sleeved with woolen bloomers.

Enjoy each day of your summer,

Sue

N. Susan Woodring
Director of Development and Alumni Relations