On Saturday, July 26, Sue Paterno and Dana Harris welcomed over 100 supporters of Rise Above: Friends of Penn State Adaptive Athletics for a special evening dedicated to the building of a sports legacy.

Emceed by the voice of Penn State Hockey, Brian Tripp, the event began with a keynote address from Guy Gadowsky. Hosts Sue Paterno and Dana Harris then took the stage to highlight the vital role of adaptive athletics at Penn State.

The theme of the night, "Foundations," was vividly illustrated by a panel of Joe Paterno’s former players—the original foundation of his "Grand Experiment." Chuck Burkhart ’70, Moose Koegel ’70, Lydell Mitchell ’71, Mike Reid ’69, and Steve Smear ’70 shared memories of their time at Penn State. Connecting that storied past to the future, the incoming recruiting class for Penn State Adaptive Athletics was introduced as the new foundation for the program's continued growth.

To cap off the memorable night, Grammy Award-winning composer and former player Mike Reid delivered an intimate musical performance.