Talia Walton ’27 grew up in Maryland—out of state, but not out of touch with the power of the University community. As a first-year student in the fall of 2022, she found all the excitement she’d been looking for along with the challenges of moving to a new state. Today, she credits the Jonah A. Kleinstein Memorial Fund—and the mentorship of Laura Kleinstein Block, who created the fund in her father’s memory—as a reason for her successful first year.

As an out-of-state student, why did you choose Penn State?

Living only a few hours away from University Park, Penn State had always been on my radar. I knew so many people who either attended the University or were Nittany Lion fans—it’s almost like I was being recruited from childhood! Once I looked into all of the amazing educational and extracurricular opportunities that the University provides, I understood the hype. I could tell that my time at Penn State had the potential to be special, and I’m so glad that I took the leap.

Have you had an experience that’s made Penn State feel like home?

When I enrolled last fall, I was nervous about adjusting to college life and finding people I could be comfortable around. I met with the leaders of both Penn State CHAARG—a health and fitness group for women—and the Nittany Grotto Caving Club, and I immediately found the opportunity I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and get to know people. If you would’ve told me a year ago that I’d love crawling through caves, I wouldn’t have believed it.

How has the Jonah A. Kleinstein Memorial Fund helped to shape your first-year experience?

When I got the news that I’d been selected to receive funding, I felt absolutely amazing. I knew the financial support would take so much stress off my shoulders. But what I didn’t know was that I’d have the opportunity to connect with the alumna who created the scholarship, and I cannot stress enough how much that has meant to me. Laura Kleinstein Block has become both my mentor and my friend, and I am so grateful for the ways in which she’s helping to make my Penn State story a great one so far.

Has scholarship support motivated you to want to give back to Penn State after graduation?

If I can provide a future student with the same type of confidence and joy that I felt when I received my scholarship, then sign me up! I now have firsthand knowledge of how powerful it is to know that someone has invested in your educational experience—and I would love to make that happen for more Penn Staters after I graduate.

With lots of time ahead, do you have a sense of what career path you would like to take as an alumna one day?

As a first-year psychology student, I’m still exploring what I would like to pursue once my undergraduate career is over. But with all of the professional development opportunities, advising options, knowledgeable faculty, and alumni support at my disposal here, I’m confident that I will find my passion and develop the skills that I need to land a meaningful job that makes me proud.