Wow I can’t believe I am old enough to be writing an alumni of the week this is weird. I joined foto my freshman year because my friend from summer sessions friend was at Penn state for the summer working in a lab and told me to join this super cool club he was the president of. My friend was Vincent Rizzuto and his friend was Matt Roseman. I quickly fell in love with the club - not just the club itself but with every person in it. I know we all say it and it sounds corny but we only say it because it’s true - Foto truly is family.
I’m now post grad and this week alone I’ve seen over 15 foto alum. The relationships you create here are ones that will stick with you forever - shoutout to my best friend Marley and husband Vincent.
The best advice I was given when I joined foto was to go to everything you possibly can. You don’t realize it until you are at your last foto event senior year, but your time in foto will fly by. You will never regret going to everything, you’ll only regret not going to more. From family visits and family field days to bake sale Fridays and ribbon sales, every event is a chance to get closer with our families - and each other.
I had the privilege of serving as a PR chair my senior year along side the best co chair ever - shoutout Abby Steiner. Being on the board was such an amazing experience, but I had three years as a general member before that that I wouldn’t trade in for the world. My senior year I was lucky enough to be selected to represent foto as a dancer in THON 2026. Those 46 hours were the most life changing 46 hours of my life. Being there reminded me why we so what we do every single day. THON isn’t just a weekend long experience, it’s a year round effort.
It wouldn’t feel right to write this message and not include a shoutout to wrecking crew. From freezing cold games played in the snow to getting custom made shirts for our basketball season #badermachine, wrecking crew seriously is the best place to build relationships in FOTO. I can’t wait to see you all wearing a championship shirt this year.
Love you all so much and I know you are all off to such an amazing start to the FOTO year. So proud of each and every one of you! Please never hesitate to reach out to me whether FOTO related or just about life or work advice (I’m unemployed so I won’t be much help). FTK forever and always!
