An Evening with Adaptive Athletes & Terry Smith
Presented by RISE ABOVE – Friends of Penn State Adaptive Athletics
by Deborah Kevin ’91, Dear JoePa Project | March 25, 2026
Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 25, 2026—an evening that promises to be more than a celebration. It’s a homecoming of spirit, a gathering of purpose, and a powerful reminder of what it truly means to say: We Are.
This year’s Rise Above, supporting Penn State Adaptive Athletics, is built around a theme that needs no explanation for those who’ve lived it: WE ARE Family.
Not the Hallmark version. The Penn State version.
The kind of family that shows up. That stands shoulder to shoulder. That believes success isn’t just about winning—it’s about how you live, how you lead, and how you lift others along the way.
At the heart of that legacy stands Joe Paterno, whose philosophy of “Success with Honor” shaped generations of students and athletes. His vision—often called the Grand Experiment—was never about football alone. It was about building better people.
And if that vision has endured, it’s because of the people who continue to live it—every day, in ways both visible and quiet.
Through their leadership, presence, and quiet strength, Sue Paterno and Dana Harris embody the very foundation of what WE ARE Family means. Not as standard bearers of someone else’s legacy, but as women who have shaped, sustained, and strengthened this community in their own right. Their commitment—to people, to purpose, and to Penn State—creates the kind of belonging that turns a university into a family and ensures that its values live on, generation after generation.
And that future includes the extraordinary student-athletes of Penn State Adaptive Athletics. Athletes who redefine what’s possible. Athletes who compete with grit, heart, and resilience. Athletes who remind us that limitations are often just stories waiting to be rewritten.
Here’s the reality: Penn State Adaptive Athletics receives limited university funding. That means the program relies heavily on private support to provide scholarships, equipment, training, and travel opportunities. In fact, 95% of every donation goes directly to supporting these student-athletes. This gala isn’t just a night out. It’s the moment that makes their season possible.
Join us at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, where this year’s celebration will bring together alumni, families, and supporters in a setting that feels both familiar and meaningful. July is a beautiful time in State College—lush, vibrant, and just a little quieter than football season—making it the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the university you love. Walk the campus. Visit your favorite spots. Make a weekend of it while supporting a cause that embodies the very best of Penn State.
Hosted by Sue Paterno and Dana Harris and featuring keynote speaker Terry Smith—a Penn State graduate, coach, and leader who understands firsthand the power of mentorship, family, and perspective—this evening will celebrate not just athletic achievement, but the human stories behind it. Stories of perseverance. Stories of belonging. Stories that remind us why community matters. Plus, panelists who will join thus far are Char Morrett, Mike McClosky, Steve Smear with two additions to be named.
So yes, this is your official “Save the Date.” But it’s also an invitation to be part of something meaningful. To stand for something bigger than yourself. To lean into a legacy that says we don’t leave people behind—we rise together.
Because at Penn State, family isn’t just who you’re born to. It’s who you show up for.
WE ARE… and on July 25, we gather as one.
Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities
Individual tickets are $100 and will go on sale in April. Rise Above also offers sponsorship opportunities for individuals, families, and companies who want to make a visible, meaningful impact on Penn State Adaptive Athletics.
For sponsorship information, contact Joe Clouse, Director of Fundraising, at joe.clouse@pennstateriseabove.org.
Last year, tickets sold out quickly. Sign up for our newsletter below to receive the announcement and ticket link as soon as they become available.
To learn more, check out https://pennstateriseabove.org/home
