Under the baobab: Big wins, student achievements and more in Happy Valley

Congrats to coach Cael Sanderson and the Penn State wrestling team for winning their third straight NCAA Championship — their 11th championship in 13 seasons. Out of the ten divisions, Carter Starocci, Beau Bartlett, Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet advanced to the finals on Saturday night.

Congrats to coach Carolyn Kieger and the Lady Lions, a No. 1 seed in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament. Led by Ali Brigham, Ashley Owusu and Leilani Kapinus, the Lady Lions had an overtime victory over George Mason University in the first round at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Lady Lions will take on Belmont Monday at 6 p.m. The winner moves on to the quarterfinals.

Also around town, Army vet Pamela Robb was honored and presented the keynote address, “A Walk in Her Boots” at Boalsburg’s Military Museum.

Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz and Interim Vice Provost Jeff Adams presented Undergraduate Scholastic Awards to a packed Eisenhower Auditorium last Sunday. Over 800 students received a President Walker Award, for those who have earned a 4.0 cumulative grade point average on at least 12 graded Penn State courses. Almost 200 students received the President Sparks Award for those who earned 4.0 cumulative grade point average on 36 Penn State courses. Over 50 junior students received an Evan Pugh Scholar Award for being in the upper 0.5 percent of their classes. Almost 200 seniors received an Evan Pugh Scholar Award for being in the upper 0.5 percent of their class.

The Frisbey International Student Award was presented to Daniel Garcia Calao. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Award was presented to Ian Rivera. The Goldwater Scholarship Award was presented to Kueyoung Kim and Yuki Yoshida. Vancie Peacock won the Udall Scholarship Award.

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Andrea Dowhower presented student achievement awards to: Samiha Choudhury (Hetzel Memorial); Brandon Bixler (Eric A. Walker); Vanessa Dib, Jacob Levendosky, Luke Vargas (John W. Oswald Award); Makenna Marisa, Olumuyiwa Fashanu (McCoy Memorial); and Grace Mumo (Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award).

And sometimes we all need a good laugh. The School of Theatre opened a production of Moliere’s comic play “Tartuffe” directed by Sam Osheroff. It runs until March 30. The Thespian Society produced the musical comedy, “Something Rotten” directed by Ella Bradner.

Rhiannon Giddens, a MacArthur “genius grant” recipient, Pulitzer Prize winner, composer of opera, folk, ballet, film scores, and whatever other kind music you can think of, brought her unique, extremely enjoyable show to Eisenhower Auditorium to the delight of nearly 2,000 fans. Had there been aisles we would have been dancing in them.

Central PA United sponsored a Holi Bollywood Dance Party and potluck dinner to celebrate the progress toward bringing outdoor recreation to the Centre County Correctional Facility. Borough Council member Gopal Balachandran was honored and celebrated for his work and appointment to Governor Shapiro’s Indigent Defense Advisory Committee. A community outreach effort was launched to bring to public awareness the case of Subu Vedam, a PSU student who was arrested and convicted of murder in a dubious proceeding nearly 40 years ago. Advocates for his innocence have gathered evidence which indicate the need for review and a new trial.

Finally, it has been five years since Osaze Osagie was killed by police coming to execute a mental health warrant at his home. Sabryna Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s mother, will present the inaugural Osaze Osagie Memorial Lecture at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Osagie family, supported by Rich Bundy, Savita Iyer and others, held “Osaze’s Heart” Scholarship Fundraiser dinner at Access Church to celebrate his legacy. All proceeds went toward the 2024 Osaze’s Heart Community Service Scholarship. Elana Laing, last year’s winner said, “Osaze was known as a light. Somebody who volunteered in service to his community, someone who helped build community, someone who loved the Lord.”

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.