The Fountain of Youth Is Hiding in Banana Suits and Smiles

The Surprising Health Secret Flowing Through Happy Valley

By Melissa Hicks

When my son was little, I spent countless hours volunteering at Ferguson Township Elementary. Honestly, I had more fun my second time through grade school than the first. Now, scrolling through Facebook, I notice that half my friends are half my age, and many are from those Ferguson days. It makes me wonder if that’s why I still feel so alive.

Maybe staying young isn’t about chasing youth, but staying close to it.

Happy Valley’s Intergenerational Advantage

Each fall, State College welcomes nearly 50,000 students into town. While some communities see this as a disruption, we’ve discovered something far more valuable. These students bring energy, optimism, and a steady stream of connection. In our own version of a Blue Zone, our Blue-White Zone offers a built-in opportunity to stay young simply by being around young people.

This past weekend, I was tailgating with 100,000 others outside Beaver Stadium, surrounded by laughter, energy, and those unforgettable Penn State traditions. Even just riding the CATA buses back and forth, packed with students swapping stories and playlists, I could feel it—this infectious youth that somehow becomes part of you.

Science Says: Being Around Youth Keeps You Young

Penn State researchers have studied intergenerational connection for over two decades. Their findings confirm what many in State College already know. Spending time with younger people helps lower blood pressure, reduces stress, sharpens the mind, and even extends life.

A long-term German study found that older adults who provided occasional care for grandchildren lived five years longer. And you don’t need to be a grandparent to benefit. Older adults with friends who are more than a decade younger report feeling more youthful, more purposeful, and more satisfied with life.

Penn State’s Commitment to Intergenerational Living

In 2015, Penn State created the Intergenerational Leadership Institute, a certificate program that trains older adults to design and lead programs that connect generations. From tutoring in schools to planting community gardens, these efforts build meaningful relationships and better health.

Penn State has also joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network, which works to include older adults in campus life. That includes courses, wellness programs, community events, and research opportunities that bring students and older residents together in lasting ways.

How to Plug Into the Blue-White Zone

Living in Happy Valley gives you easy access to this health-boosting lifestyle. Here’s how to get started:

• Volunteer in Local Schools – Schools like Ferguson Township Elementary always welcome extra hands and hearts.
• Join ILI or OLLI – Penn State’s Intergenerational Leadership Institute and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offer learning, connection, and purpose for adults 50 and older.
• Mix It Up with Students – Whether you’re helping at a service event, grabbing coffee downtown, or simply striking up a conversation at the Corner Room or Manny’s, it all counts.
• Attend Local Events – This weekend, stop by Discovery Space or The Rivet. These interactive, youth-centered hubs are great places to engage with young minds, volunteer, or just get inspired.
• Show Up for Community Activities – Penn State’s Center for Healthy Aging and Extension host intergenerational fairs, retreats, and workshops all year long.

Embrace the Banana Suit. Your Health Depends on It.

In State College, the fountain of youth doesn’t come from a bottle. It flows from the students laughing across a café table, the classroom where you read with a child, the tailgate crowds, the CATA bus chatter, and the creative buzz at places like The Rivet and Discovery Space.

Whether you’re volunteering, learning, mentoring, or simply soaking up the vibe of this vibrant community, you’re doing more than passing time. You’re adding life to your years.

This is what it means to live in the Blue-White Zone. Stay curious. Stay connected. Stay young.