Alumni Plaza paver program showcases sorority sisterhood

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Once Brooke Reynolds learned about the Alumni Plaza paver program, she knew it would be the ideal way to celebrate her Penn State story. Reynolds, a second-generation college student and first-generation Penn Stater, flourished as an undergraduate, thanks in large part to joining the Epsilon Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. 

The sorority provided her a sense of home and belonging, just as it has for generations of students before and after Reynolds. Now that lifelong connection is commemorated forever in the Alumni Plaza, which is engraved with the names and phrases of dedicated Penn Staters, reflecting the pride and tradition that so many have toward Dear Old State. 

“The paver installation was an opportunity for us to really celebrate the 65 years that Epsilon Gamma has been here on campus,” said Reynolds, a 2003 Penn State graduate.  

Once Reynolds ordered her paver, she shared the opportunity with her classmates, and their enthusiasm resulted in the sorority chapter choosing to have nearly 70 pavers installed. Reynolds and her sorority sisters returned to the University Park campus for a reunion in early October, and they started the weekend with a dedication ceremony at the Hintz Family Alumni Center, commemorating the recent installation of their pavers.  

Reynolds’ story is the latest example of how the Alumni Plaza reinforces the power of the Penn State network, featuring more than 172,000 Alumni Association members and over 800,000 living alumni.  

Individuals, families, groups, and all alumni and friends who purchase a paver by Feb. 1 will be included in the spring 2026 installation. Pavers also can honor a milestone such as graduation, remember a cherished time, or show Penn State pride, and are available in 6x12", 6x6" and 4x8" sizes.  

Alumni Plaza helps fund critical student programs at Penn State  

Proceeds from the Alumni Plaza are placed in a permanently endowed fund that supports the Alumni Association’s two student groups — the Blue & White Society and the Lion Ambassadors — as well as other student programs like the FastStart program for first-year students. These programs help students get to know the Alumni Association, strengthen their connection to the Penn State alumni network, and learn about community, philanthropy, leadership, teamwork and Penn State traditions. All contributions to the Alumni Plaza are fully tax-deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt from Penn State.  

For more than 150 years, the Penn State Alumni Association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The association keeps alumni connected to the University and to each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming and many other services. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit alumni.psu.edu.