2 more join the field in Penn State’s alumni trustee election

Two more hats are in the ring for Penn State alumni trustee.

Three seats are up for election by university graduates. All three incumbents — Anthony Lubrano, Ryan McCombie and Robert Tribeck — are seeking to retain their positions. Former Nittany Lion football player Brandon Short and California writer and accountant Robert Bowsher.

One of the new faces is local.

Seth Walizer graduated from State Collage Area High School before he went onto a 2000 Penn State degree in commercial recreation and tourism. Today he owns a State Farm Insurance agency in Berks County.

Walizer said in a statement that he is “well aware of the culture at Penn State and has the dedication to make Penn State affordable for everyone” and “would like to see not only University Park shine again in the national light he would also like to expound upon the growth of both Penn State’s World Campus as well as the Penn States branch campuses.”

Laurie Stanell is a Bucks County dentist whose whole family went to Penn State. She got her biology degree at the university in 1980. She was elected to the Penn State Alumni Council in 2015 and served on the executive board as co-chair of the legislation and advocacy committee.

Stanell is also the creator of an unofficial event at Penn State football games, the “Joe Out,” a celebration of late longtime coach Joe Paterno.

“I am a person who sets serious goals. I do not allow others to squelch my passion or convince me to give up. My passion is Penn State,” Stanell said in a statement on her campaign website.

All seven would-be candidates have to secure at least 250 nominations apiece by Feb. 25.

After a ballot is set with all qualifying candidates, the election will begin April 10 and conclude May 3.

Alumni can request a ballot at http://trustees.psu.edu/2018election/index.html.

This story was originally published January 21, 2018 at 9:35 PM with the headline "2 more join the field in Penn State’s alumni trustee election."