WEEVOLVING ARE


Bob Avanzato sees long-term potential in our innovative approach to engineering.


Engineers are a different breed – tending to be more studious than social. But when I went to Penn State Abington (then Ogontz), everyone was friendly and provided an atmosphere to work on projects in groups.


My wife – also a Jo – and I dated in high school and married after I earned my associate’s degree. After working for a few years as an engineering technician, I wanted to further my education and went for my BSEE at University Park. Jo worked at the computer- assisted instruction lab while I attended classes. I later took graduate courses at what eventually became the Great Valley campus. Over the years, I became involved with the Abington Advisory Board and started talking with leaders about enhancing the engineering program in the Philadelphia region.


Penn State Abington offered an affordable option for my education and it was the beginning of my engineering career. And we want to provide for a future that the college and the students can count on. Now that PSU Abington will be offering more four-year degree opportunities for students, we’re grateful to know there’s more we can do to assist in their education through our annual giving and estate planning.


– Joe Lurquin, ’71, Engineering


For some of our students who traveled to study robotics at the University of Rome, it was their first international experience ever. That’s the kind of initiative that opens up a whole new world of possibilities.


Now that we’re offering the opportunity to earn a four-year Penn State engineering degree entirely in the Philadelphia region, the nature of our student population is changing. Starting this fall, we’ll have upper-division engineering students mentoring freshmen and sophomores, doing advanced research in the brand new labs at Penn State Great Valley and planning for their senior design project and summer internship.


We’re very excited that several area engineering firms are run by Penn State alumni. And because the Philadelphia region is becoming attractive to New York companies, more students want to complete their engineering degree and internship here and stay for a full-time job.


Initiatives such as national robotics competitions, our cross-disciplinary Innovation Fair and study abroad programs need a lot of funding and outside support. Having a long-term investment in our program’s future from donors like the Lurquins makes a big difference.


– Bob Avanzato,


Associate Professor of Engineering


Engineering the future: Joe and Jo Lurquin have enhanced how students learn.


CONV E R SAT IONS I N C A R I N G


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