Kids big and small lined up on December 8th to get their picture taken with Santa as part of the third annual AE Dear Santa Project benefiting local underprivileged families.  Visiting with Santa (below) is Dr. Michael Horman, AE Assistant Professor and his 19-month-old daughter Olivia. 

Santa, alias Jonathan Dougherty, AE Graduate Teaching Assistant, spearheaded the project in cooperation with the Second Mile, a local charitable institution whose activities include identifying and taking care of local families in need during the Christmas holiday season. As a result of Jonathan’s coordination efforts, AE faculty, staff and students generously donated toys, clothing, food and cash totaling over $2,100 for our three “adopted” families this year.  Special thanks are extended to all the AE students, faculty and staff who played a part in making the holidays a little brighter for others.

We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Mr. Bennett Levin, the students of Luther House (part of the Lutheran Campus Ministry) and Mr. Rick Kao of Master Computer Company in State College who provided, at cost, a computer and monitor for one of our adoptive families.