Benson Lichtig ‘73 HHD grew up in Philadelphia and when it came time to select which college to attend, he had two options: stay local and go to Temple University or move away and attend Penn State. While many of his high school classmates were going to Temple, he wanted to meet new people and get out of his comfort zone, ultimately deciding to go to Penn State. He shared, “My first trip to University Park was quite the experience. Prior to my freshman orientation, I had never seen the campus. Growing up, I lived in a small row home, and my neighborhood block only had one tree. So, I was in awe when I saw the mountains and all the trees on Route 322.”
During his time as a student, he had many unique experiences that shaped who he is today. He shared an anecdote about seeing a chipmunk for the first time. “During my second week of classes, I was walking with a friend, and something ran past me. Startled, I said, ‘what was that?!’ My friend said, ‘a chipmunk.’ I had never seen one before in Philadelphia!” Not only did his own personal experiences shape him, but the friends he made, and their life stories, did as well. “A roommate of mine was from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and would talk about his favorite food, squirrel stew, which I had never heard of. Later, while hanging out in our dorm, another friend shared that he had never seen the ocean and hoped that he would someday. I grew up going to Atlantic City, New Jersey and had even visited California, and it never occurred to me that someone could have never seen the ocean before. It’s important to get to know other people and learn about their experiences in the world. Those were the moments that made being at a place like Penn State so valuable.” Benson’s belief in the importance of these experiences is what fuels his volunteerism and philanthropy.
Benson’s first venture into volunteerism at Penn State was during his junior year. “I was elected the Undergraduate Student Government President, and in representing the student body, I was able to get involved in various University activities. In 1972, I was appointed by the then Governor Milton Shapp as the first student on the Board of Trustees.” He shared that this opportunity had the greatest impact on him as a student. “I was able to interact and connect with many ‘titans of business’ who were on the board and saw firsthand how they operated and handled certain situations. I learned a great deal from the board members and have applied that knowledge to my business strategies in the fifty years since.” In his senior year, Benson was inducted to the Lion’s Paw Senior Society, an organization dedicated to perpetuating the traditions of Penn State. He went on to serve on their Alumni Board of Directors through the early 1980s.
Benson and his wife, Christine ‘73 HHD ’75g, met at Penn State and decided to settle down in State College after graduation. “From the mid-80s to mid-90s, we paused volunteering for the University to focus on raising our family and managing our businesses. During those years, our volunteer endeavors focused on our children’s activities and service in the community. It was Christine who made the initial move back into active volunteerism at Penn State when she joined the Palmer Museum of Art’s advisory board. We are both excited about the newly built museum, where my wife is now serving as a Palmer Ambassador!” The most rewarding moments for Benson and Christine have been to see the impact that the arts have had on others, both in the museum and outside of it. When attending student plays and theatre performances, they feel amazed and inspired by the talent on stage. “It’s truly incredible. The students go through a rigorous audition process to be accepted into the programs, so we really get to see the cream of the crop.”
The Lichtigs’ commitment to Penn State and the State College community did not end with the museum. They both served on the Centre for Performing Arts Advisory Board and spent time serving on the College of Health and Human Development’s Alumni Council and the Reunion Committee. Today, Benson serves as a Renaissance Scholarship Board Member. “Part of my responsibilities have been to make phone calls and tell my story to people, to try to encourage them to support the University. I also spend time inviting people to attend different events, such as the Renaissance dinner. I think that being a fundraising volunteer is taking on the role of being an influencer, and I am always advocating for and promoting Penn State.”
The importance of giving others the opportunity to experience new and different things has always been what motivates Benson the most. “It’s important to keep the University strong so that students are able to have unique opportunities and have the chance to grow from experiencing new things. College is a life-changing time, and students often create lifelong friendships. I’m still friends with my roommate from my senior year, and it’s been over fifty years!” Benson is still learning today. “I would say my wife has done more with the arts than I and I’ve ridden on her coattails, but I’ve learned a lot along the way.” Although it has been many years since he graduated, Benson is still gaining meaningful and unique experiences from Penn State that he cherishes.
Inspired by Benson’s service to Penn State?
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