UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 14th annual Military Appreciation Week at Penn State recognized Medal of Honor recipients, including 1998 alumnus U.S. Navy SEAL LT. Michael P. Murphy, during a series of events held Nov. 7-16.
About Medal of Honor recipient LT. Michael P. Murphy
Penn State’s 2025 Military Appreciation Week recognized all service members and specifically highlighted the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of those who earned the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.
The University recognized 1998 alumnus Navy SEAL LT. Michael P. Murphy, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2007. Murphy studied political science and psychology at Penn State and would later sacrifice his life for his team during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan during the War of Terror. He was the first member of the Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.
A three-part series sharing Murphy’s legacy is available on Penn State News.
- Penn State honors Medal of Honor recipient for Military Appreciation Week
- Medal of Honor recipient LT. Michael P. Murphy’s last actions dedicated to team
- Medal of Honor recipient LT. Michael P. Murphy’s legacy endures
Support from the community
The Centre County and Penn State communities came together to support service members during the 2025 Military Appreciation Week.
State College Borough officials recognized Nov. 7 through Nov. 14 as Military Appreciation Week, while the Centre County Commissioners recognized November as Military Appreciation Month during their public meeting on Oct. 28. The Centre County Area Transportation Authority (CATA) joined in recognizing the military community by providing free shuttles for service members on Nov. 8 during Penn State’s Military Appreciation game.
Through a partnership with the Downtown State College Improvement District, community members honored their loved ones with personalized lamp post banners along College and Beaver Avenues and in the borough.
New this year, the Penn State Military Appreciation Committee and the Penn State Alumni Association partnered to display lamp post banners on campus honoring alumni service members. Twenty banners recognizing Penn State veterans and active-duty service members lined College Avenue at Penn State University Park. Funds raised from the sale of the banners directly benefit military-connected students at all Penn State campuses, including World Campus. All banners are displayed throughout the month of November.
Military Appreciation football game and other athletic events
This year’s Military Appreciation Week featured special theme nights at multiple Penn State athletic competitions.
Service members received complimentary tickets to men’s and women’s basketball games, as well as the annual Military Appreciation football game. Military community members also could purchase discounted tickets to one of the reigning NCAA champion volleyball team’s matches.
On Nov. 8, the Penn State Nittany Lions played a close game against Indiana University where they welcomed the military community. Before kickoff, service members and their loved ones enjoyed a tailgate inside the Bryce Jordan Center. The tailgate included free food and a resource fair with community organizations focused on the military community.
Since 2013, Walmart has sponsored Penn State’s Military Appreciation Tailgate, offering complimentary meals to thousands of attendees and rallying hundreds of employee volunteers. In 2025’s event, Walmart and Sam’s Club associates and their families helped serve our military guests at the largest military appreciation gathering in the Big Ten.
During the tailgate, Walmart and Sam’s Club reaffirmed their partnership with Penn State by contributing $45,000 in scholarship funding this year. The generous gift underscores the companies’ deep commitment to supporting the University’s military-connected community.
Attendees received the 2025 Penn State Military Appreciation challenge coin from Penn State World Campus, a gameday tradition which started in 2015. The 2025 coin’s design features gameday opponent information and a field of blue with white stars, the same design as the Medal of Honor.
Honoring service members on campus
Penn State celebrated active-duty service members and veterans through its annual Penn State Employee and Student Military Service Recognition Breakfast on Nov. 11. The event created a space for military-connected community members to talk and share experiences.
The Veterans Day ceremony, held each year at 11:11 a.m., featured an honor guard and address by retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Sebora, who currently teaches in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. Sebora encouraged his fellow veterans to connect with one another, share their experiences, and be a support system. Watch a recording of the event here.
Other events throughout the week included the downtown banner unveiling ceremony, Marine Corps birthday celebration, a paint night, and trivia night.
About Penn State's Military Appreciation Week Committee
The Penn State Military Appreciation Week Committee is composed of Penn State and community volunteers dedicated to honoring the military community and celebrating Penn State’s military history and support for service members, veterans and military families. For more than a decade, the committee has organized Penn State Military Appreciation Week in collaboration with the community, student organizations, Penn State Athletics and local veteran organizations. To support events organized by the committee, visit the Giving to Penn State website.
For the latest Military Appreciation Week event information, visit the Penn State Military Appreciation website.