Make an Impact Fund Honors Former Penn State Student-Athletes and Alumni

STATE COLLEGE, PA, September 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Make an Impact Fund, a non-profit organization, honored former Penn State student-athletes and a Penn State alumnus for their community service at the 2026 Impact Honors event on October 21 at The State Theatre in State College. The event, which is free and open to the public, celebrated the legacy of service by Penn State alumni student-athletes and recognized their continued commitment to making a positive impact.

Deryck Toles, a former Nittany Lion football player, was honored for his work with Inspiring Minds, a youth after-school and summer program that supports more than 700 youth annually across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and North Carolina. The program encourages kids to dream big and provides resources to help them achieve their goals.

Dr. Michael McShane, a 2009 and 2014 Penn State graduate, received the Land Grant Mission Award for his leadership in developing the LION Mobile Health Clinic. This student-run clinic provides free health care resources to underserved communities in central Pennsylvania, continuing the university’s tradition of serving the public good.

Dylan Lugris, a former Penn State ice hockey player and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, founded the Penn State Sled Hockey Classic, a philanthropy event that has raised over $60,000 for the State College Coyotes, an adaptive athlete ice hockey team.

Samantha Tortorello Ream Haas and Kelsey Ream Napolitan, both members of the Penn State women's volleyball championship teams, were honored for their work with the Team Ream Foundation. The foundation supports financially disadvantaged individuals and families in State College and surrounding communities who have been affected by cancer and other serious medical conditions. Samantha, the executive director, was married to former Penn State football player Brandon Ream, and Kelsey is his sister.

The Impact Awards, established in 2023, initially recognized former Penn State football players who made a significant impact in their communities after graduation. The awards have since expanded to include alumni from all sports. The inaugural class of recipients included Aaron Maybin, Michael Robinson, and Bill Spoor, founders of Project Mayhem, Excel Excellence, and Happy Valley Uganda, respectively.

The event featured current Penn State student-athletes as emcees and honored two current student-athletes for their off-the-field impact. The celebration highlighted the enduring commitment of Penn State alumni to community service and the university’s long-standing tradition of selfless service to others.