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Author: Connect Happy Valley

Another Year of THON, and Winter Isn’t Done Yet

Another THON Weekend is in the books. From Fitz and the Tantrums lighting up the stage Friday night to dancers celebrating their final moments on the floor, it was an energetic and emotional weekend in Happy Valley.  Congratulations to everyone involved in raising a record-breaking $18.8 million for the kids.

Penn State at the Crossroads: The Verification Gap That Changes Everything

Two weeks ago, I attended the second AI informational session at Pine Grove Hall. The discussion was thoughtful—focused on policy, academic integrity, detection tools. But no one addressed the question that keeps me up at night:
What happens when Penn State graduates submit their first AI-assisted analysis to a decision-maker who asks, “How do you know this is correct?”
If the answer is “It looked good,” that graduate—and Penn State’s reputation—just failed a test we never prepared them for.

The Bat Signal Has Been Sent: Welcome to Connect Happy Valley Sports

There are moments when you realize something special is happening right where you live.
Not someday.
Not somewhere else.
Right here. Right now.
That is exactly why Connect Happy Valley Sports exists.
This week marks the launch of our first-ever sports segment, and fittingly, we begin with someone who understands this place as deeply as anyone: Chris Buchignani.

The More Things Change: A Sunday Morning at Bubba’s

Community often starts with something small.
Last Sunday, it started with a text.
“Hey, who wants to meet at Bubba’s Sunday at 11:30? Who’s in?” Mark Griffin wrote.
By late morning, five couples were sliding into vinyl booths at Bubba’s Eggs Steaks & Shakes, curious to see what the new ownership had done with a place that holds decades of Happy Valley memories. Griffin and his wife Karen have a quiet gift for organizing these moments. A text here, a suggestion there, and suddenly people are gathered again, reconnecting in one of the community’s cherished third places.

THON Weekend and a Full Slate Across Happy Valley

February does not exactly tiptoe through Happy Valley. It shows up with teases of sunshine, full parking lots, and lots of opportunities to get out. 
This week, the energy centers around one of the most recognizable weekends of the year. THON returns to the Bryce Jordan Center, and alongside it comes a strong lineup of sports, live music, lectures, and performances. 
Here are some highlights…

Think We not Me Community Food Program

According to Feeding America, Centre County has more than 15,000 individuals who are food insecure, which means they “do not have enough to eat for an active, healthy life.” Think We not Me (TWnM) Community Food Program provides freshproduce at no cost to food-insecure individuals in Centre County. In 2025, it did this through 32 food banks, pantries and prepared meal centers spread throughout the County. Items donated by the TWnM to the food charities include apples, cabbage, corn, potatoes, melons, salad greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, eggplant, zucchini and more. 

Finding Warmth Indoors: Conversation, Music, and Art in Happy Valley

Winter has made itself very clear. Between the Groundhog’s verdict and the weather doing exactly what it wants, February reminds us that we’re still very much in it.
That makes this a good week to lean less toward rushing around and more toward showing up. This week’s Connect Happy Valley Events Calendar is especially rich in opportunities to take part, converse, and gather, including markets, talks, listening sessions, and workshops alongside a strong lineup of music, visual arts, and sports. With Valentine’s Day woven into the middle, many of these events offer something quieter and more meaningful than the usual dinner plans.
Here are some highlights…