SHARON, Pa. — Jo Anne Carrick, the former campus director at Penn State Shenango, believes that collegiate athletics are a foundational aspect of a student's college experience and the backbone for campus pride, and that they can be a catalyst for change for a population of students who may not otherwise choose to attend college.

It was with these principles in mind that in 2018, under Carrick's tenure as campus director, the Penn State Shenango campus reintroduced an athletics program for the first time since the mid-90s. Since then, Penn State Shenango Athletics has expanded to six sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, cross country, golf and women's volleyball.

Carrick, who retired with emeritus status from Penn State in June after a career spanning more than 30 years and three different Penn State Commonwealth Campuses, sees the reinstatement of athletics at Shenango as one of her proudest moments. It is for this reason that Carrick, along with her husband, John, have pledged a $50,000 gift to the campus, establishing the Carrick Family Endowment for Penn State Shenango Athletics.

"I have always said that I wanted to leave Penn State Shenango in a better place than when I started as campus director in 2014," Carrick said. "The endowment will ensure that Shenango Athletics has the support that it needs long into the future."

"This is further illustration of the extensive, generous, and longstanding dedication Jo Anne and John Carrick have to Penn State's success in western Pennsylvania," said Carey McDougall, who took over the role of chancellor and leadership of the campus following Carrick's retirement.

Available funds from the Carrick Family Endowment for Penn State Shenango Athletics will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for the various sports that Shenango offers, as well as team travel expenses, pay for staff support and help to fund future facility enhancements.

"Dr. Carrick and John were such strong supporters of our student-athletes during her tenure as campus director," said Director of Athletics Brandon Padgett. "This endowment goes a long way in ensuring that we can provide a high-quality athletic experience for our students in perpetuity."

The cost to add new athletic programs and expand upon existing programs requires significant resources that pull away from the existing budget for athletics at the campus, according to Padgett, who has made fundraising a priority since joining Penn State Shenango in the spring of 2023. Following multiple years of participation growth in athletics leading to increased expenses, and the addition of baseball in 2023 and cross country in 2024, Padgett credits the community support for playing a major part in the success of athletics at Shenango.

"It's a good problem to have," Padgett said. "Our rosters across all sports have expanded in recent years, plus the influx of student-athletes in our newest programs have increased the cost associated with competing."

Carrick recognized the importance of athletic programming as a way to attract new students to the campus, and she said it was a factor in the decision to reinstate athletics in 2018. However, the subsequent demographic shift of the campus' student population was not something that Carrick foresaw.

"Very quickly we found that the influx of student-athletes, and the change in campus culture that came along with them, was incredibly exciting, and I think the surrounding community could sense our excitement as well," Carrick said.

Prior to the reintroduction of athletics, 70% of students at the Shenango campus were adult learners. That population has flipped to roughly 75% traditional-aged students today.

"The students are excited to be here and are proud to compete wearing Penn State blue and white," said Carrick. "Now I know we will be able to provide them with best support that we can."

Additional contributions to the Carrick Family Endowment for Penn State Shenango Athletics may be made by any interested individual or organization.

Donors to Penn State Shenango advance the University's historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University's impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.