Penn State Lehigh Valley holds annual Scholarship Dinner

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Dominic Baio felt confident about his college choice when he decided to attend Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV), he said. Now a junior set to graduate in December 2025, he has had a productive college career. While pursuing a dual major in the Business Management Marketing and Project Supply Chain Management programs, Baio balances a role with Ray Price Cars, a local automotive dealership, and active involvement in campus student life. Baio said the financial awards he received from the Denise Spence Collective Impact Scholarship and the Penn State Lehigh Valley McGee Undergraduate Scholarship freed him monetary obligations while attending college.

“The scholarships solidified my decision to be a Penn State student, and they opened doors I never could’ve imagined,” Baio said. “I was able to join extracurriculars without having to worry about working additional hours. I could spend more time on things that could strengthen my resume and focus on my education. That’s been the biggest thing for me.”

Baio was one of two student speakers at PSU-LV’s annual Scholarship Dinner, held March 4 at Homewood Suites in Center Valley. The annual event recognizes and celebrates PSU-LV scholarship recipients and thanks donors for their continued support and investment in the students. Furthermore, the event provides an opportunity for the scholarship recipients to meet the donors who fund their respective awards. The students can write their donors a thank-you letter, but the Scholarship Dinner is often the first time they meet each other in person.

It’s an evening largely focused around storytelling, said Mandi Mowery, administrative assistant for development and organizer of the event. 

“[The purpose of the event] is to give students and scholarship donors the chance to come together, meet, share their stories, and for donors to share the reason why they donate,” Mowery said. “Having that face-to-face interaction is a good networking opportunity and a good way for the donors and students to get to know each other. A lot of good connections are made. It’s a great way to bring alumni, students, and donors together for a low-key event. People look forward to it every year.”

Isabella Watson, a sophomore biology major, said her scholarship eased her parents’ financial burden. Watson is the recipient of the Donald E. Allen Memorial Scholarship and Provost Scholarship. 

“Both of my parents emigrated here. My brother went to college, but we are 12 years apart, so my parents’ financial situation changed. The scholarships have allowed me to continue to work, save up for med school, and put money towards taking the MCATs.”

This was the first time Watson attended the Scholarship Dinner. 

“I didn’t realize there were so many people who received non-federal scholarships, or that there were so many people who fund these scholarships,” she said. “Many of these alumni received aid, so they know it’s important to give back.”

Watson said she plans to attend medical school for sports medicine. 

“I hope to work with Penn State athletes in some caliber,” she said. “Of course, Penn State has its own medical school, so that would be ideal, but it really depends on my MCAT score. I thought the dinner was really well planned out. The speakers were super informative and you could tell they all really care about the students. I think it was a good event to have in the middle of the semester — I think it can help motivate students to push through until the end of the semester.”

Mowery emphasized a high percentage of PSU-LV’s students receive some type of aid. 

“Scholarships really open doors for students who can’t make ends meet," Mowery explained. "Many of our students work at different jobs and support families, so the scholarships really allow these students to get an education.” 

She added that the student stories are really what the night is all about. 

“It really drives home why we try to get scholarships and distribute them to the students," Mowery said, adding that scholarships are a great way for alumni to give back to their alma mater. 

“Instead of donating ‘stuff,’ you’re giving students an opportunity, especially with an endowed scholarship, so it will grow in perpetuity,” she said. “It’s a way to constantly give back to students who need it, and a way to stay connected to campus — that Penn State pride supporting other Penn Staters.” 

At the time of the dinner, 29 different scholarships had been awarded to 200 recipients.

The Scholarship Dinner was organized by the PSU-LV Enrollment Management department and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.