Alumni Association names Honorary Alumni

University Park, Pa. — Six longtime champions and benefactors of Penn State were named Honorary Alumni by the Penn State Alumni Association at a ceremony Friday at The Nittany Lion Inn.
 
Cheston M. Berlin of Hummelstown, Pa.; Paul D. Chadderton of West Middlesex, Pa., and Jensen Beach, Fla.; Fran Fisher of State College, Pa.; Shirley A. Pechter of Altoona, Pa., and New York City; and Diane Krall Ryan and James Ryan, both of Eagles Mere, Pa., were officially recognized by the Penn State Alumni Association for their significant contributions to Penn State's welfare, reputation and prestige. These six new Penn State alumni also were inducted into the Penn State Alumni Association at Friday's ceremony, which also featured the presentation of the 2008 Distinguished Alumni and Philanthropist of the Year Awards.
 
"Like true alumni, these six University friends have demonstrated a deep loyalty to Penn State while making significant contributions to the University," said Alumni Association President David Han '88, '05g. "It's a privilege for the Penn State Alumni Association to add 'Penn State alumna' or 'Penn State alumnus' to the accolades of these champions of Penn State."
 
The Penn State Alumni Association has given the Honorary Alumni Award since 1973 to recognize individuals who, while not graduates of Penn State, have significantly worked toward bettering the University. Since the award was established, 91 individuals have been given Honorary Alumni status, including this year's honorees:

Cheston M. Berlin
As a founding member of the pediatrics department at Penn State's College of Medicine and also a professor of pharmacology, Berlin has taught and counseled thousands of medical students, cared for countless young patients and conducted research in areas from phenylketonuria (PKU) to Tourette Syndrome since 1971. He's also served in numerous administrative positions from director of the pediatric ICU to assistant dean for students. Throughout his nearly four decades at Penn State, Berlin has been known for providing children with the most compassionate and effective health care possible, including establishing the PKU Clinic in 1983, and his students with the best possible education.
 
Paul D. Chadderton
Retired trucking executive Paul Chadderton is a tireless advocate for Penn State Shenango. As chair of The Grand Destiny Campaign for Shenango, he led the way to surpassing the goal of $4.3 million. More recently, he quietly made a generous challenge grant to jump-start the $9 million remodeling project at a campus building. His gifts have also provided for the Paul and Eleanor Chadderton Study Room, the Chadderton Laboratory (named in honor of his late brother Edward W. Chadderton) and scholarships for students pursuing degrees in business. He's also served on the Penn State Shenango Advisory Board for the past 11 years and co-chairs the advancement and development committee.  
 
Fran Fisher
Before ESPN and satellite television broadcast sports 24 hours a day, Penn State fans who couldn’t make it to Beaver Stadium listened to games on the radio. Starting in 1966, the voice fans heard on the Penn State Radio Network was Fisher's. Fisher provided many memorable broadcasts, including the Nittany Lions' national championship victory in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Fisher came out of retirement in 1994 for another five seasons of announcing with George Paterno. Fisher also served as co-host of the television program "TV Quarterbacks," play-by-play announcer for Nittany Lion basketball (1976-83), host of radio call-in show "Nittany Lion Hotline" and executive director of the Nittany Lion Club.
 
Shirley A. Pechter
A lifelong resident of the Altoona area, Shirley Pechter has given generously of her time, money and creativity to Penn State Altoona. Pechter co-chaired Penn State Altoona's 65th anniversary celebration in 2004 and has supported the campus as an advisory board member and Development Council member. She served on two steering committees for The Grand Destiny Campaign, hosting events in both Altoona and New York City. In honor of her late husband, Fred Pechter ’33, she established a scholarship at Penn State Altoona. Her support also provided for The Pechter Family Music Room in the Hawthorn Classroom Building.
 
Diane and Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan and Diane Krall Ryan started their Penn State careers at Penn State Wilkes-Barre: Diane as assistant to the dean of student affairs in 1980, and Jim as campus executive officer in 1981. In 1990, they moved to State College when Jim was appointed vice president for continuing education, where he would oversee the development of The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, raise more than $25 million for his division during The Grand Destiny Campaign and create the World Campus. He also coordinated the reorganization that brought continuing education, distance education, public radio and television and cooperative extension together in one division -- Outreach and Cooperative Extension. At the same time, Diane was working with the Penn State Alumni Association, first as regional director and, starting in 1997, as the executive director. During her tenure, the Alumni Association built the nation's largest life member endowment, increased membership, implemented several innovative programs and built the Hintz Family Alumni Center.
 
Honorary Alumni receive a life membership in the Penn State Alumni Association, as well as a commemorative award. More information about the Honorary Alumni Award, including the names of all 91 recipients, can be accessed at http://www.alumni.psu.edu/awards/individual. The Honorary Alumni Award is part of the recognition program of the Penn State Alumni Association, which acknowledges outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves through volunteer service to the University or through success in their personal and professional lives.
 
With more than 159,000 members, the Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world. Established in 1870, the Alumni Association strives to connect alumni to the University and to each other, provide valuable benefits to members and support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The Penn State Alumni Association organizes hundreds of annual events and programs designed to inform, involve and inspire Penn State alumni. For more information on the Alumni Association, go to www.alumni.psu.edu.