I’ve been an avid Penn Stater all my life, so when I became a student, I had a bucket list as long as my arm. It was filled with must-do things to discover, taste and do. I wanted that iconic Penn State experience — Nittanyville, football games and experiencing Happy Valley.

In the last four years, I’ve gotten to check a lot off of my bucket list. But there was still so much more to do. I knew it was crunch time to get in as many memories as I could before I put on my cap and gown.

Activities on the List:

• Running onto the football field
• Nittanyville
• Going into the Law building
• Visit a local winery
• Attend a yoga class at the IM
• Bar adventures
• Attend as many sporting events as possible
• Check out more hiking spots
• Local bar activities
• Go to an away football game
• Carry the Nittany Lion up the crowd at a football game
• Seeing Saquon Barkley at College Gameday

During my time as a student, I participated in the quintessential student fan sleeping-in-a-tent activity of Nittanyville. In the student section, I got to help the Nittany Lion crowd surf to the top of Beaver Stadium. I was lucky enough to have a close view of Saquon Barkley as he made a special entrance from Old Main onto the ESPN College GameDay stage. That was all cool, but I felt that there was more to do here…

As I wrap up my senior year, my bucket list has grown to include any last minute activities that are iconic to Penn Staters. My roommate, Ally, and myself made a pact to enjoy as many things as possible during our final year together as students. Both of us are dedicated PSU sports fans, so attending as many sporting events as possible was at the top of the list. In fact, we decided to go all out with our gameday attire.

Each football Saturday, Ally and I represented our beloved Penn State with pinstripe overalls to complete the outfit. We even took the Gameday Bibs to Ann Arbor when we attended the away Penn State game at the University of Michigan, checking another item off the list: attend an away football game. Sporting the blue and white stripes in Ann Arbor felt like a power move! Although the Nittany Lions fell short in the 2022 PSU vs. Michigan game, it was a blast bringing blue and white to the Big House).

Aside from sporting adventures, my roommate and I also made plans to enjoy special spots in Happy Valley such as local wineries and new outdoor experiences. During our final weeks of class, we plan to stop at the Mount Nittany Winery to enjoy a local taste and see the beautiful Mount Nittany landscape. Combined with activities at local bars, we are eager to experience the uniqueness of the local spots in Centre County.

It is bittersweet walking through campus during the final weeks of my time as a student at University Park. To top off our bucket list, Ally and I plan to visit any campus we have never been to during our student careers. The top building on our list is the Penn State Law Building. The Law Building stands out beautifully next to the Arboretum with its intricate glass design. I frequently drive past the Law Building and I often think, “I want to go in there before I graduate.” Well, now is finally the time. Along with the Law Building, we plan to hit different buildings throughout campus that are outside of our majors. This will be the cherry on top of finding the hidden gems on Penn State campus.

As I wrap up my time as a student, I am filled with gratitude and joy as I reflect on my student experience. I am blessed to have had four amazing years as a student and I cannot wait to experience Penn State as an alumna for the rest of my life.

“I’ve always had visions of what I had hoped my Penn State experience would bring,” Ally Leiby said. “Then I blinked, and I was a senior (with two months left of college) sitting with my roommate listing off all of the things I have yet to do with my little time left in State College. We wanted to make the most of our remaining days as a PSU student.”

“If I could give one piece of advice to any current students out there, it would be to make the most of your experience here,” she added. “Take advantage of every opportunity Penn State has to offer. It truly is one of the most wonderful places. Your four years here will fly by before you know it! I am so thankful for the experiences Penn State and State College have given me. We Are!”

Author Bio:

Shannon Stover is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management with minors in Business and Sports Studies and a certification in Meetings & Events Management.

She will be graduating in May 2023 with aspirations of entering the Event Management industry for full-time employment following her undergraduate degree. Shannon is highly interested in expanding her experience in corporate and social event planning after completing two internship experiences with Hello Productions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Shannon aspires to utilize her skills to plan events to benefit military personnel or a faith based organization for her long term career. Shannon has extensive experience in the tourism industry to complement her event planning experience as well. She is excited to represent Penn State as she enters the professional working world.