Lion's Paw

Through the years since 1946, Lion's Paw has continued to maintain and perpetuate the traditions of Penn State. As Penn State's oldest student leadership honorary dedicated to serving the University, Lion's Paw has accomplished that objective like no other group of Penn Staters. In 1952 the University's first athletic scholarship fund was named for... Levi Lamb LP'15, Penn State's first three-sport letterman who was killed in action in WWI. Levi Lamb Grant-in-aid Fund is the major recipient of contributions from members of the Nittany Lion Club and provides scholarship assistance to student athletes in all men's and women's varsity sports. Prior to 1952, fund raising to support student-athletes had been spearheaded on a volunteer basis by Benjamin C. "Casey" Jones LP'19. In 1965 the Lion's Paw Alumni Association established the Lion's Paw Medal to honor persons for notable service to the University, especially by fostering its worthwhile traditions and/or enhancing student life. Another milestone was reached with the initiation of women into the Lion's Paw class of 1973, when Rhonda K. Egidio, Mary Kay Plantes, and Barbara Farina Speece became members. Women quickly became prominent among the actives and alumni. In 1993, the Lion's Paw Alumni Association became the second Alumni Interest Group officially chartered by the Penn State Alumni Association. Indeed, having already been in existence for nearly a century, it served as a model for many of the other chartered Alumni Interest Groups. In August of 1993, the Lion's Paw Alumni Association and the Lion's Paw Senior Society raised over $30,000 to purchase the pair of magnificent bronze lion's paws to "guard the entrance" to the Palmer Museum of Art on the University Park campus. Lion's Paw alumni have a tradition of being campaigning leaders and major donors in Penn State's fund-raising efforts. Edward R. Hintz, Jr. LP'59 was chair of the University's Grand Destiny campaign when it kicked off in 1999. A vice chair of the 1984-90 Campaign for Penn State and chair ...Read More