MONACA, Pa. — The Gray family — siblings MaryEllen, Mike and Tim — have been recognized as Penn State Beaver’s 2026 Outstanding Alumni.
The family will be honored at an Oct. 3 event on campus.
MaryEllen Gray, who graduated from Penn State in March 1972 with a degree in education, said the recognition is very meaningful to the family.
“This recognition was completely unexpected,” she said. “Our family remains incredibly humbled by the gesture, and we are deeply grateful to those who thought so highly of us.”
The family’s ties to Penn State Beaver span the family and include alumni, employees, student-athletes and supporters.
A family legacy
Gray’s brother Mike attended Penn State Beaver from 1980 to 1982 before transferring to Robert Morris University, where he earned a degree in business. He now serves as director of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. He and his wife, Kim, live in Steubenville, Ohio, and have five children.
Their late brother, Jim, attended Penn State Beaver and played varsity basketball under Coach Eldon Price. He later transferred to Lock Haven to continue his basketball career but returned during the summers to work for the Continuing Education summer sports camps with Price.
Their late sister, Julie Ann Roberts, worked in Housing and Food Services at Penn State Beaver. Her three children attended the Beaver campus before transferring to University Park.
Another brother, Tim, did not attend college but remained, in the family’s words, “proudly Penn State adjacent.” After graduating from high school, he began working in the yard at the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant and eventually became a control room operator before retiring after a 40-year career. He lives in Brighton Township and has three children.
Four of the family’s cousins also attended Penn State Beaver.
And MaryEllen, who lives in Murrysville, said she retired after a 25-year career as a college administrator followed by a 20-year career as a consultant.
Continuing connections
Her connection to Penn State continued after graduation. She became a lifetime member of the Alumni Association more than 50 years ago, became involved with the Beaver Campus Alumni Society Board around 2004 and served on the university-wide Penn State Alumni Council from 2006 to 2010.
To honor her parents, James and Agnes Gray, she funded a scholarship at Penn State Beaver. Gray said her parents strongly supported higher education and were thrilled that students in their community could pursue a Penn State degree close to home.
When Gray traveled for consulting work, she said Tim and Mike often accompanied their mother to annual scholarship dinners and lunches. Gray said her mother enjoyed meeting student award recipients and understood the impact of scholarships through her work with civic organizations in Monaca.
Gray continues to involve the family in Penn State Beaver events, citing the campus’ strong sense of community.
“Today, I make it a point to involve our entire family in Penn State Beaver events because of the beautiful, strong sense of community. We love using the phrase ‘Penn State Adjacent’ to describe family members who didn't graduate from the university but show up as its fiercest champions,” she said. “We are profoundly grateful for the early opportunities Penn State Beaver provided us—experiences that leave a lifelong, generational impact.”
The family accepts the award with gratitude and humility, Gray said, viewing it as a reminder of its responsibility to support future generations.
“More than anything, this honor serves as a beautiful reminder to our family that we have a lasting, joyful responsibility to support the generations coming behind us,” she said.