Teammates for Life: Love, Leadership, and the Classroom Beyond Class
I walked into the “Teammates for Life” Power Hour knowing there would be energy. When Char Morett-Curtiss is involved, there always is. What I didn’t expect was to be so moved by what unfolded in that single hour. It became a living lesson in leadership, resilience, and the power of love over fear.
What If a Community Could Run With Heart?
We live in the most connected generation in history, yet many of us feel more alone than ever.
Phones buzz. Feeds scroll. Yet somehow, real connection feels rare. We see everyone’s highlight reels but not each other’s eyes. We call it connection, but it often leaves us empty.
Something deeper is missing.
Penn State? Blank Slate.
I’ve got some good news and some bad news as the reeling 3-5 Nittany Lions return home to face – unbelievable as it may be – undefeated and second-ranked Indiana as double-digit underdogs (it’s not a misprint nor is this about basketball).
The Palmer Museum: World-Class Art in Our Own Backyard
The first time I walked into the new Palmer Museum of Art, I was amazed. The attention to detail, and the architectural ingenuity required to protect the art from light while still maintaining a bright, inviting space, was breathtaking.
The Matt Rhule Conundrum
Will Patrick Kraft, Penn State’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics (what we used to simply call the Athletic Director back in simpler, less soullessly corporate days) outthink himself in making the biggest hire of his career? Conventional wisdom in some corners of Nittany Nation suggests his path forward is clear and has been for some time: Matt Rhule, almost from the moment he led his upstart Temple Owls to an upset win over a sanction-hobbled team of Nittany Lions in early 2015, has been fated to one day take the reins at his alma mater.
Falling Back: Navigating the Time Change with Better Sleep
It’s that weekend again in Happy Valley. Clocks “fall back” this Sunday, November 2nd at 2:00 a.m., marking the end of daylight-saving time for 2025. That extra hour of rest might feel like a win, but anyone dealing with the time change knows the disruption can be real. Whether you’re a student at Penn State, a parent juggling busy routines, or a retiree savoring autumn, this transition is a chance to rethink your daily rhythms.
The Strength of a Sticky Community
A few weeks ago, I was watching an interview on the Clarity Compass with community builder Erica Quinn when a simple phrase grabbed me by the heart and wouldn’t let go:
“Sticky community.”
She wasn’t talking about size or status. She was talking about depth. About what it means to belong to a place where people don’t just live near each other. They hold on to one another. Where neighbors become lifelines and kindness becomes muscle memory.
That phrase stuck with me because, in Happy Valley, I see that kind of community every day.
The Little Engine That Does
The State Games of America, coming to Penn State July 24–August 2, 2026, will bring more than 8,000 athletes and thousands of fans to Happy Valley. Tens of thousands of room nights and millions in visitor spending are expected. For the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA), the small nonprofit that helped land the event, it is proof that measurable, visitor-driven growth works.
The Power of Place: How Happy Valley Connects Us All
By Ellen Matis If there’s one thing I’ve learned from living and working in Happy Valley, it’s that connection doesn’t just happen by chance. It’s built through the people, stories, and places that make this region so special. Everywhere you look, there’s a sense of pride in place. It’s in the small business owner sweeping […]
