Welcome back, Penn Staters.

With classes for the fall semester officially kicking off on Monday, State College is packed again. Whether you stayed in Happy Valley for the summer or went away for a coveted internship, the Penn State news cycle never stopped. From campus closures to big stars in athletics, plenty happened here in Central Pennsylvania over the summer.

Here’s what you missed from the end of finals week to the first day of classes.

News:

• Penn State’s Acacia fraternity was suspended for at least four years, following reports of hazing and misconduct.
• The Penn State Board of Trustees elected three alumni trustees: Kelley Lynch, Uma Moriarity, and J. Gregory Pilewicz.
• Renata Engel was named the interim vice president for the Commonwealth Campuses.
• The Board of Trustees voted to close seven Commonwealth Campuses after the spring 2027 semester: DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York.
• Former Penn State football wide receiver was involved in a serious ATV crash.
• Dr. Michael Kupferman was named the new CEO of Penn State Health, holding a faculty position alongside it.
• A New York-style pizza restaurant, Benny Leone’s has opened downtown.
• Penn State alum Linda Yaccarino has stepped down as CEO of X after two years.
• Penn State fraternity Phi Beta Sigma is facing hazing charges after two brothers were accused in May.
• Nosh Kosher Deli will open in the North Food District this fall.
• Penn State has increased tuition for the 2026-2027 year.
• The Sigma Pi fraternity was placed on indefinite suspension following a misconduct and hazing investigation.
• We dance in 180, folks! THON 2026 is scheduled for February 20 to 22.
• Arts Fest welcomed back students, alumni, and families for a week of art and celebration.
• UPUA reinstated Rasha Elwakil as president after a controversial impeachment in June.
• Quavo will headline this year’s LightsUP. The festival will take place on the HUB lawn on Thursday, August 28.
• A Penn State professor was charged with stalking a family. He admitted to watching the family through their window several times.
• Indian restaurant chain “Tikka Shack Indian Grub” has signed a lease for space in oLiv Hetzel.

Sports:

• Penn State men’s lacrosse goalie Jack Fracyon and midfielder Kyle Aldridge joined the Premier Lacrosse League. Fracyon signed with the California Redwoods while Aldridge went to the Maryland Whipsnakes.
• The Nittany Lions were featured in SportsCenter’s Top 10 with Penn State baseball’s Joe Jaconski’s diving stop coming in at No. 7.
• Penn State baseball lost a slew of players to the transfer portal, including Alec Warden, Zach Mizrahi, Sean Williams, and Tyler Rowling.
• Penn State women’s soccer alum Kerry Abello earned her first national team call-up.
• Three Penn State baseball players earned All-Big Ten honors. Paxton Kling was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Defensive Team, with Jack Porter making the second team, and Cole Wagner earning the sportsmanship award.
• Penn State women’s lacrosse hired Kayla Trearnor as its new head coach. Treanor joins after four years as head coach at Syracuse.
• Penn State women’s hockey picked up forward Taylor Lum from the transfer portal.
• Former Penn State hoops assistant Keith Urgo was named the head coach for Gonzaga College High School.
• Penn State men’s lacrosse earned players on multiple All-American lists, including USILA, USA Lacrosse, and Inside Lacrosse.
• Penn State men’s lacrosse had a strong run in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Cornell 11-9 in the semifinals.
• Penn State baseball made it to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, before falling 6-3 to Nebraska.
• Penn State Baseball and men’s lacrosse both earned players on tournament teams. Lacrosse’s Liam Matthews was named to the All-NCAA Tournament team, while baseball’s Paxton Kling earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.
• The Lady Lions hired Shenise Johnson, Jason Crafton, and Bob Dunn to its coaching staff under Carolyn Kieger.
• Penn State alum Jordan Ott was hired as head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
• Penn State men’s hockey assistant coach Keith Fisher left to take the head coach job at Lindenwood.
• Penn State women’s volleyball freshman Gabrielle Nichols was named to the USA U19 team.
• Hockey star Jackson Smith committed to Penn State. He is predicted to be a first-round draft pick next year.
• Penn State women’s volleyball earned some of its first commitments from the Class of 2027, including Nejari Crooks and Taylor Harrington.
• Tyler Warren and Maddie Gordon earned Penn State’s Big Ten medal of honor.
• The Lady Lions added Jason Crafton as assistant coach and general manager.
• Former Penn State men’s lacrosse player Jack Posey joined High Point’s coaching staff.
• Penn State hoops spent time in the transfer portal, adding Tibor Mirtic but losing Kachi Nzeh.
• Carter Starocci and Jess Mruzik were named Penn State athletes of the year.
• Penn State women’s volleyball’s Maggie Mendelson has become a dual athlete, joining the Lady Lions. She becomes the first two-sport Nittany Lion athlete in seven years.
• Penn State women’s hockey’s Brianna Brooks and Lyndie Lodell were selected in the PWHL Draft. They are the Nittany Lions’ first draft picks.
• Penn State hoops’ Yanic Konan Niederhauser was drafted No. 30 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.
• Penn State men’s hockey had five players drafted in the NHL Draft: Jackson Smith, Charlie Cerrato, Kieren Dervin, Shea Busch, and Kale Dach.
• Katie Schumacher-Cawley won the Jimmy V Award for perseverance.
• Five-star forward and top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna committed to Penn State men’s hockey.
• Penn State baseball saw five players taken in the MLB Draft: Paxton Kling, Ryan Weingartmer, Ryan DeSanto, Chase Renner, and Bryce Molinaro.
• Former Nittany Lion soccer player Olivia Smith signed a record deal with Arsenal. Her four-year deal is the highest transfer fee in women’s soccer history. She also won the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year.
• Penn State women’s volleyball earned the No. 2 spot in the Big Ten and AVCA preseason polls.
• Former Penn State men’s hockey players signed contracts in professional leagues, including Alex Limoges to HC Dynamo Minsk.
• Former Penn State women’s soccer player Rowan Lapi joined Northwestern’s staff after an injury delayed her professional career.
• Penn State Athletics launched ROAR+, a digital media platform focused on student-athletes.
• Kaitlyn MacBean was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy preseason watch list, presented to the national player of the year.
• x Penn State football stars were named to a total of xx preseason watch lists.
• White Out conditions ahead. Penn State football announced it would host the 2025 White Out against Oregon at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27.
• Saquon Barkley was named the Madden 26 cover athlete, the first Nittany Lion to do so.
• Kickoff times for Penn State football’s matchups against Nevada, FIU, and Villanova were released.
• Penn State football announced its 2025 game themes.

About the Author

Ashley Connington

Ashley is a rising senior studying journalism from New Jersey and Onward State's current managing editor. Her life basically revolves around Chelsea and Premier League Football. You can email ashley@onwardstate.com to send her ways to meet Saquon or watch her obsess over Chelsea FC and TJ Malone on twitter @ashconnington.

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