UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the second consecutive year, Penn State Athletics’ corporate partner Dietz & Watson paid tribute to seven college students for their outstanding commitment of succeeding in the classroom and serving their community. Dietz & Watson backed this initiative to boost awareness for charitable contributions and promote overall student excellence.

During the Nittany Lions’ football game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, Nov. 23, the seven Dietz & Watson Campus Spirit Scholar award winners were announced. All Penn State students attending the more than 20 campuses throughout Pennsylvania were eligible to win the $500 scholarship and another $500 to donate to a Penn State non-profit campus charity of their choice. A student was selected each week during seven weeks of the 2013-14 football season for their dedication to not only their collegiate studies but community service.

Dietz & Watson Spirit Scholar Award winners 2013“We’re proud to be aligned with Penn State University and help promote good among the students who attend its 20+ campuses,” said Corey Olson, marketing manager for Dietz & Watson, a Philadelphia-based family owned business recognized as one of the largest preparers of premium deli meats and artisan cheeses for more than 70 years. “There are many charitable organizations being impacted through this program, and we’re pleased to be able to be involved, give back, and help today’s young people keep reaching for their goals.”

Following are the seven Dietz & Watson Campus Spirit Scholar award winners who were honored during halftime of the game against Nebraska, along with their selected charity that will receive $500 on behalf of Dietz & Watson:
Jeffery Holzer, Landscape Architecture major from Hollidaysburg, Pa. Jeffrey supports JDRF.
Meghin Kerila, Communications major from Latrobe, Pa. Meghin supports Altoona Benefitting THON.
Yvonne Stephenson, Marketing major from Elizabethtown, Pa. Yvonne supports Alpha Kappa Psi Benefitting THON.
Diana Kordek, Nursing major from Philadelphia. Diana supports Sigma Kappa Benefitting THON.
Harrison Wieder, Psychology & Business major from Monroe Township, N.J. Harrison supports Pillar Benefitting THON.
Parth Patel, Biology major from Syracuse, N.Y. Parth supports Camp Kesem.
Melissa McCleery, Women’s Studies, Political Science & Spanish major from Coopersburg, Pa. Melissa supports Centre County Women’s Resource Center.

“These individuals are worthy of recognition, for what they do on campus performing student excellence in the classroom, and how they willingly devote their time to these deserving non-profit organizations,” said John Tull, manager of business development for Penn State Sports Properties, the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Penn State Athletics which oversees the Dietz & Watson corporate partnership.

Dietz & Watson was founded in 1939 by Gottlieb Dietz, a talented young German sausage maker. His primary goal was to produce the most flavorful, highest-quality deli meats in the marketplace to please even the most discriminating palate. His old-world recipes and commitment to “quality above all else” demanded nothing less than the freshest lean grain-fed Midwest beef, Canadian pork, turkey breast and chicken breast enhanced with fresh, all-natural spices and seasonings. Dietz & Watson never uses artificial flavors, colors, fillers, extenders or MSG.

Penn State Sports Properties is a property of Learfield Sports, which manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions, conferences and associations including seven other members of the Big Ten Conference – Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin. Aside from the campus-level rights relationships Learfield Sports has with these schools, the company also manages the sponsorship rights of the Big Ten Conference and develops its corporate partnerships. The company titles the acclaimed Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup as well. To learn more about its comprehensive collegiate portfolio, and collegiate concessions and ticketing business, visit learfieldsports.com.