By Marissa Carney, Penn State
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and journalist Lisa Ling are the speakers for Penn State Altoona’s 2011 Speaker Series. Tickets are $75 for the series.
Bettis will speak at 7 p.m. April 13, at the Blair County Convention Center. As one of the greatest running backs in the history of the National Football League, Bettis serves as an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show. He finished his playing career in 2006 following the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL win. Bettis is an advocate for asthma awareness and established “The Bus Stops Here Foundation” in 1996 to help disadvantaged and underprivileged children.
Ling will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 13, also at the Blair County Convention Center. Ling got her start in journalism as a correspondent for Channel One News. She later went on to co-host ABC’s The View. She also was a correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show and contributor to ABC News’ Nightline. This year, Ling will have her own series on the new channel, OWN; the Oprah Winfrey Network called INSIDE with Lisa Ling.
Proceeds from the Speaker Series benefit the Penn State Altoona Future Fund, which provides funds for programs that enrich academic and cultural life on campus and in the community. This fund also may be used by the administration to offer emergency scholarship assistance to students who are experiencing a financial crisis.
Call 814-949-5091 or stop by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 1419 Twelfth Avenue in downtown Altoona to purchase tickets.