12/18/2015

TheHomecomingGrandmarshalleadsPennStatefortheweekend|Campus|collegian.psu.edu

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa-320c-11e3-be7d-001a4bcf6878.html

The Homecoming Grand marshal leads Penn State for

the weekend
By Gabriella Santoliquito | Collegian Staff Writer Oct 11, 2013

Michelle Bruni

Homecoming grand marshals and Homecoming weekend typically bring a sense of pride
to Penn State, but this years Grand Marshal nomination stirred up more controversy
than usual.
After a 2011 interview regarding the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case, 2013 Homecoming
Grand Marshal John Amaechi received negative comments, tweets and emails from Penn
State alumni, bringing his role into the spotlight.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa320c11e3be7d001a4bcf6878.html

1/7

12/18/2015

TheHomecomingGrandmarshalleadsPennStatefortheweekend|Campus|collegian.psu.edu

With more than 600,000 living alumni, the Penn State Homecoming Executive Committee
digs through past alumnis achievements each year and recognizes one individual who
has given back to both the university and community.

The honored individual is known as the Homecoming Grand Marshal.

What it takes
Beginning in January after students return for the spring semester, the Homecoming
Executive Committee distinguishes the Grand Marshal after taking a great deal of time
and consideration to draft a list of multiple nominees, Alumni Relations Director for
Homecoming Jessica Javage, said via email.
The Grand Marshal not only has to have graduated from Penn State, but he or she must
embrace certain Penn State ideals particularly humility, integrity and leadership, she
said.
Homecoming Executive Director Bobby Walter said these ideals need to be displayed
through the Grand Marshals professional life after leaving Happy Valley.
Former Penn State Grand Marshals include alumni ranging from former Central
Intelligence Agency agent Valerie Plame Wilson to Olympians Allison Baver and Horace
Ashenfelter, professional athletes such as NFL player Franco Harris and the first African
American in space, Guion Guy Bluford.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa320c11e3be7d001a4bcf6878.html

2/7

12/18/2015

TheHomecomingGrandmarshalleadsPennStatefortheweekend|Campus|collegian.psu.edu

Former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was also honored with the title in 2000
after retiring from a now controversial career. Sandusky is serving a minimum sentence
of 30 years for 45 counts of sexual abuse.
Speed skating Olympian Allison Baver said being the 2010 Grand Marshal was a huge
moment for her.
Walking into the stadium with the court and all of the fans was pretty significant,
especially being able to connect with the students and alumni, she said.
Baver said it was a very proud moment for her to represent the United States in the
Olympic games but behind all accomplishments is who you are as a person.
As a graduate from Penn State, I feel that I was able to take Penn State and everything I
learned and take it throughout my [Olympic] experience, she said. The biggest thing I
took away [after graduation] may be clich, but WE ARE.
In fact, Walter (senior-marketing and French) said one of the key aspects they look for in
a Grand Marshal is how they have applied what they learned at Penn State to their postgraduation successes.
The Grand Marshal has to have contributed to the university, but also gone out and
done great things in their career or professional life, he said.
The university embraces the Grand Marshal and is willing to let him or her be an
ambassador of the university for an entire weekend after time, effort and deliberation is
done through the work of the Homecoming committee and alumni, Walter said.
Recognition and appreciation for the Grand Marshals hard work and Penn State
dedication can be illustrated at different events throughout Homecoming week.
The Grand Marshal typically attends the Homecoming Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social,
takes part in the Homecoming Parade and football game as well as the Alumni Zone
Tailgate, Javage (senior-kinesiology) said.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa320c11e3be7d001a4bcf6878.html

3/7

12/18/2015

TheHomecomingGrandmarshalleadsPennStatefortheweekend|Campus|collegian.psu.edu

The purpose of [the grand marshals] attendance is to honor his [or her] efforts over the
years to promote Penn State and to show the universitys gratitude for doing so, she
said.
The 2013 Homecoming Grand Marshal
The Homecoming Executive Committee announced at the beginning of the semester that
the 2013 Homecoming Grand Marshal would be former Nittany Lion and NBA basketball
player John Amaechi.
Amaechi, Class of 1995, said he knows how big of a deal football and the Homecoming
game is at Penn State, and to be featured as the Grand Marshal is an extraordinary
honor especially compared to the [grand marshals] in the past.
John Amaechi is every bit as honorable as our previous Grand Marshals and we are
grateful that he is willing to fly across an ocean to be with us for Homecoming weekend,
Javage said.
Despite the negativity, Amaechi said he is still looking forward to coming back to State
College because the memories and experiences he had at Penn State were definitely
formative.
Walter said Amaechi was having second thoughts in the beginning of the process
whether or not being Grand Marshal would be a good idea.
The committee was willing to do whatever it took to make Amaechi feel as comfortable
as possible, he said.
The executive committee wanted to ensure that every Penn Stater past, present and
future has a strong understanding of how to express his or her opinion in a respectful
way, especially regarding fellow Penn Staters, Javage said.
Amaechi said he sees himself as a polarizing character.
There are simply people who will like you and people who wont, he said.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa320c11e3be7d001a4bcf6878.html

4/7

12/18/2015

TheHomecomingGrandmarshalleadsPennStatefortheweekend|Campus|collegian.psu.edu

Looking back and realizing how he handled negative situations, Amaechi said he is glad
he was still able to put himself out there and act as an ambassador through the values
he learned at Penn State.
I think my deeds are an indication that I was taught the right things through Penn State
and that is how I carry myself now, Amaechi said.
Since he currently lives in the United Kingdom, Amaechi said he thinks that makes him
different than most previous Grand Marshals.
I hope that its an indication that shows Penn State [lessons] go far beyond the borders
of not only Pennsylvania, but America, Amaechi said.
Javage said Amaechi has expressed multiple times to the executive board how honored
and humbled their selection of making him grand marshal has been.
Being a part of an institution that is constantly striving for improvement even with such
a strong legacy already established is something Amaechi told the board he is proud of,
Javage said.
Honorary Grand Marshal
The Grand Marshal is not the only person who is recognized for hard work and
dedication to Penn State and the community.
Alongside the Grand Marshal every year, is an honorary Grand Marshal.
Unlike the Grand Marshal, the honorary grand marshal does not have to necessarily
graduate from Penn State. However, he or she is typically someone who lives locally and
gives back to the community in a substantial kind of way, Walter said.
Centre County Womens Resource Center Executive Director Anne Ard was selected as
the 2013 honorary Grand Marshal because she has done a great amount of service
giving back to the university and community, he said.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa320c11e3be7d001a4bcf6878.html

5/7

12/18/2015

TheHomecomingGrandmarshalleadsPennStatefortheweekend|Campus|collegian.psu.edu

Ard said she believes much of her selection has to do with her organizations work. The
CCWRC works with people who have dealt with sexual and domestic violence, she said.
A lot of the work weve managed to do is really more what my selection was all about,
Ard said.
With a son as a Penn State senior and a daughter as a Penn State alum, Ard said she and
her family are definitely Penn Staters.
She said that being selected as honorary grand marshal and having the opportunity to
stand aside Amaechi is very thrilling.
[Amaechi] is an outstanding example of what we want Penn State alumni and graduates
to be. He has dedicated his life and work on behalf of racial justice and the LGBTA
community, Ard said. He shows what we hope Penn Staters will be.
Because Ard is from State College, Walter said she is able to attend almost all
Homecoming events and is always willing to hang out and talk to students about almost
anything.

Gabrielle Santoliquito can be reached at gqs5171@psu.edu or (814) 865-1828.

Follow her on Twitter at @gmsanto3.

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_66b6a6aa320c11e3be7d001a4bcf6878.html

6/7