Lifelong friendships began with Penn State memories for Mifflin Hall alumni

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — There’s something about lifelong friendships formed at Penn State. Maybe it’s the time spent together in close quarters, the memories that still make people laugh years later, or the shared experiences that keep them connected.

Consider the “Alumni of Fourth Floor Mifflin Hall,” as a brick in the Mifflin Hall alumni courtyard refers to the group of 12 Penn State class of 1975 alumni, who first met on the fourth floor of Mifflin in 1972. The group recently got together on the University Park campus to celebrate a half-century of friendship. 

“We never had a better time than our years at Penn State,” says Mike Huber. “So many shared memories are the reason why, after 50 years, our connection is still strong.”

Those memories, say the group, run deep: braving Beaver Stadium in every kind of weather, navigating the uncertainty of the Vietnam War draft, turning 21 and finding their go-to downtown bars, soundtracking their college days to the music of the 1970s, pulling off legendary dorm shenanigans, and even campaigning for one of their own to become senior class president — an effort that ended with both victory and a celebratory party. Each shared story is another link in their ongoing friendship.

After graduation, the friends dispersed across the country and pursued different careers. In the early days of alumni life, they stayed in touch through letters and attending each other’s weddings, and later, reconnecting more easily via social media.

“We lost touch with each other as we focused on career and family, but our strong connection brought us back together for a 35-year reunion in 2010 and again this year to celebrate 50 years,” Huber said.

When they gathered at University Park this summer, it felt as though no time had passed, group members said. Huber sketched a walking tour, leading the group to historic markers, familiar buildings and a few new ones.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” Huber said. “There are so many new and architecturally significant buildings, like the Millennium Science Complex and the Westgate Building — yet Mifflin Hall and its sister McElwain Hall look just the same as they did in 1971. 

“Most of all, it was amazing how quickly we all renewed our acquaintances and relived our shared memories," Huber added. "We may be much older and have experienced many different things over our lives since college days, but we are amazingly the same in many ways.”

Now, as the class of 2029 begins its Penn State journey, many things on campus may have changed, but, like Mifflin and McElwain Halls, the potential for lasting friendships is still the same as it was in 1972. Huber offered advice for the new class.

“Get to know your roommates and neighbors and their friends and participate in shared experiences. Take every opportunity to hang out, have conversations with each other, help one another, and do anything that builds genuine connections," Huber said. "Above all, have fun together. The college experience is so much more than the courses you take. The friendships you gain and the experiences you gain from them can be just as rewarding and last a lifetime.”

Is your Penn State friend group still in touch? We at the Penn State Alumni Association would love to hear about it! Email your story and photos to Katie Farnan, kaf5574@psu.edu, for a chance to be featured in a follow-up story.