Commonly Asked Questions
Q: What is the Alumni Walk?
A: The Alumni Walk is a visible tribute on the University Park campus to alumni and those who have supported the University through their membership in the Penn State Alumni Association. The walkway itself will consist of nearly 4,000 bricks inscribed with the names of Alumni Association members throughout the history of Penn State.
Q: Where is the Alumni Walk located?
A: The Alumni Walk is part of the Hintz Family Alumni Center on Penn State's University Park campus. The Alumni Walk is the third and final phase of the construction and beautification plans for the Hintz Family Alumni Center. (The first two were the construction of the Hintz Center and the installation of the Alumni Gardens.) The Alumni Walk, as part of the Hintz Family Alumni Center, is just steps away from the Obelisk on The Mall and is in a high traffic area for students on campus.
Q: What does Alumni Walk look like?
A: There are three sizes of bricks that will be arranged in 20 "fields" of approximately 178 bricks each to make up the Alumni Walk.
Q: Who can have their name on a brick?
A: Any current Penn State Alumni Association member can have their name engraved on one of the bricks. Alumni who are not members of the Penn State Alumni Association may also purchase a brick, but the cost of either an annual ($50) or life membership (varies) will be added to the cost of the brick. Officially recognized alumni groups such as Penn State Alumni Association chapters, societies, and alumni interest groups can also have their name on a brick.
Q: What sizes are the bricks?
A: There are three sizes of bricks, which each have different engraving space:
- a 4-inch-by-8-inch individual brick (up to three lines of copy, 15 spaces each);
- an 8-inch-by-8-inch family bluestone paver that surround the red bricks (up to four lines of copy, 15 spaces each);
- a 12-inch-by-12-inch center diamond granite centerpiece (up to five lines of copy, 15 spaces each).
Q: How much does a brick cost?
A: There are three sizes and costs for the bricks. They are:
- $250 for the four-inch-by-eight-inch individual brick;
- $1,000 for an eight-inch-by-eight-inch family bluestone paver;
- $5,000 for a 12-inch-by-12 inch diamond granite centerpiece.
Q: How much of the brick’s purchase price is tax deductible?
A: The total cost of each brick is deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Consult your tax advisor for specific amounts.
Q: Who can buy a brick?
A: Anyone can purchase a brick, but only current Alumni Association members can have their names engraved on one of the bricks.
Q: What can be inscribed on the bricks?
A: Our hope is to honor the legacy of our alumni by simply listing the members’ names and class years. The individual brick allows for up to three lines of type; the family bluestone paver allows for up to four lines of type; and the diamond granite centerpiece allows for up to five lines of type. Each line is a maximum of 15 characters, with spaces and punctuation marks counting as separate characters. Greek letters and symbols that appear on a keyboard may be used. Inscriptions may not include commercial messages or company names. Discriminatory or inappropriate messages that refer to an individual or group's age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status will not be permitted. The Penn State Alumni Association reserves the right to deny any brick purchase application that is deemed inappropriate.
Q: Can my spouse and/or family share a brick?
A: Yes, given that at least one person within the group is a current Penn State Alumni Association member.
Q: Can my alumni chapter, society, alumni interest group, or alumni program group buy a brick?
A: Yes, in fact, we would encourage all alumni groups to do so and have a physical presence on the University Park campus as a reminder to students that soon they will be alumni and can continue their association with Penn State through alumni groups.
Q: Can my Penn State fraternity or sorority share a brick?
A: Yes, and Greek letters can be used on the inscriptions.
Q: Can my company be named on a brick?
A: No. We want to make sure that Alumni Walk is a special legacy and visual tribute to alumni who have been committed to the University and the Alumni Association.
Q: To what cause does my brick contribution go?
A: The funds raised during the Alumni Walk campaign will be used to build the Penn State Alumni Association’s new Student Endowment Fund. The Alumni Walk proceeds will be placed in an endowed fund that will work to help the two student groups affiliated with the Penn State Alumni Association—the Blue & White Society and the Lion Ambassadors—as well as help other student programs like the FastStart program for underrepresented first-year students and the LionLink mentoring program.