"I'm doing something I really love for a living. You can't say that about a lot of people -- I never wanted to be a clock-watcher. Now it's allowed me access to the media and a forum to be heard. My books are bringing attention to issues in Afghanistan and their success translates to helping raise money for projects in Afghanistan."
-- Khaled Hosseini, author of international best-seller "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns," on his writing career. Hosseini spoke in Eisenhower Auditorium last night (Thursday, Sept. 30) and was the first lecturer of the 2010-11 Distinguished Speaker Series held by the Student Programming Association. (more)
The 2010-11 Penn State Altoona Distinguished Speaker Series kicks off with conservationist, author, and television host, Jeff Corwin. He will present "Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin" at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30 in the campus' Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. Free tickets are available at the Penn State Altoona Bookstore, the box office in the Misciagna Family Center, or at the door on the evening of the program while they last. (more)
"I always look at tough times as temporary. I've had the support and confidence throughout my life to help me succeed. When seasons were hard, it was the young players that I was coaching that inspired me to keep going, keep trying, to use adversity as a positive and to remain optimistic." (more)
Dick Vermeil, NFL head coach and football broadcaster, is the next speaker in Penn State's 2009-10 Student Programming Association Distinguished Speaker Series. Vermeil will speak at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, in Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State's University Park campus.
The event is free and open to the public but tickets are required for admittance. Tickets are available now for students -- two issued per I.D. -- and will be available to faculty, staff and the general public on Tuesday, April 13, based on availability. (more)
"I was a writer who thought I could teach, but I'm really a teacher who could write. And I'm delighted to come back (to Penn State). It's always a wonderful experience being here. ... I know you didn't expect me to preach, and I didn't bring a Bible, but I am here to say a few things and I mean to say them."
-- Maya Angelou, author of the award-winning autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," speaking in Eisenhower Auditorium on Tuesday, March 23. Angelou was the latest orator of the Distinguished Speaker Series held throughout the year by the Student Programming Association. (more)
"John Hughes said 'You have just the right note in your voice for a teacher.' It got a very nice response on the set set and I prayed it would stay in. When the movie came out it turned out to be a very successful scene... It was pure luck, but if there's a lesson from that, it's that you have to be at the table in the first place."
-- Actor, economist, educator and former presidential speechwriter Ben Stein, speaking Wednesday (Feb. 3) at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus, on his now iconic scene in the 1986 comedy "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." (more)
Ben Stein, author, economist and pop culture icon, is the third speaker in Penn State's 2009-10 Student Programming Association Distinguished Speaker Series. Stein will speak at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, in Eisenhower Auditorium at Penn State's University Park campus. (more)
"I don't worry how the electorate characterizes themselves. What really matters is how they feel about the president. Polls are just snapshots and the president has only been in office for 10 months. The one that counts is the midterm poll. I think Obama is in great shape."
-- Howard Dean, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, answering a question about recent polls taken that claim more Americans are becoming conservative.
"The increase of conservatism in the United States is the reaction to Obama's policies. Better than two-to-one, people are against public health care. We have the best health care system in the world."
-- Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, rebutting Dean's remarks. (more)
Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, will give a joint lecture on health care reform at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus as part of the 2009-10 Distinguished Speaker Series. (more)
"When someone tells you you can't, you gotta know that they're saying they can't do that. You gotta dream, you gotta want something. So get it. Period."
-- Christopher Gardner, author of the best-selling autobiography "The Pursuit of Happyness" and associate producer of the subsequent major motion picture of the same name, speaking on Sept. 21 in Penn State's Schwab Auditorium to an audience of several hundred students and community members. Gardner was the first speaker in this year's Distinguished Speaker Series. (more)
