Najla King, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, nxk5136@psu.edu

With the new semester in full swing, Penn State Brandywine has many things in the coming months to celebrate. Along with a new residence hall, a student union building, and new staff members, Brandywine also celebrates their 50th anniversary as campus in the Penn State community.

To celebrate this accomplishment, the Penn State Anniversary Committee, comprised of faculty, staff and students, have been planning events since spring semester of last year.

Co-chair of the committee, and Brandywine’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Bill Tyson said, “for the 50th anniversary we tried to highlight some of our campus’ achievements while also tying in some of our history as well.”

The events started with a roller skating party in the gym for students and staff. About 300 students filled the rink and, under the lights of a disco ball, they skated to the groove of 60s, 70s, and 80s music.Some events are for students and staff, while others are open to the public and alumni.

Tyson explained, “We chose to have a roller skating party because our school started off in a building underneath a roller skating rink. In February, Black History Month, we have some alumni coming in to speak with students about what campus was like for them in the 60s and starting the Black Student League on campus.”

Merging history and current student life at Brandywine, the 50th anniversary events continue well into the fall semester until the actual fifty-year mark on September 25, 2017.Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are encouraged to come out to various events on campus each month to learn about Brandywine’s history and commemorate 50 years.

For more information on when the events are scheduled, visit Penn State Brandywine’s official Facebook page, @pennstatebrandywine, check emails from student affairs, pick up a spring 2017 calendar in the advising suite, or be on the lookout for postings around campus.

“We want our students to come out and have fun during these events but we also want them to learn a little about their campus history,” said Tyson.

Food, prizes and surprises are only a small portion of what students, staff and alumni can look forward to in the coming months leading up to Brandywine’s 50th Anniversary.