History
The Central Florida Chapter was reorganized around 1995 by a small group of approximately 12 devoted and dedicated alumni in the Central Florida area. The Chapter works to establish a close network of fellowship, cooperation and friendship among members of the Penn State family (including alumni, parents of students, friends and fans) residing in the Central Florida area.
The Chapter provides various fundraising opportunities to support its annual scholarship awarded to a local student attending Penn State University. The Chapter also provides networking opportunities including football viewing parties, dinners, sporting events and other activities. We look forward to expanding our presence in the community in the future and hope that you will decide to join.
Mission
To connect alumni of the University (“Alumni”) to the University and to each other, to provide valued service to members of the Association (each, an “Association member”), and to support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service.
Furthermore, as a Chapter, our purpose, as stated in Article XI of the bylaws, is:
- To assist the University in promoting its programs under the direction of the Association;
- To promote the fellowship and welfare of Alumni, students, parents of students, and other friends of the University residing in the chapter area by providing information and services to them;
- To recruit volunteer assistance for the various programs of the Association and the University;
The Central Florida Chapter will work to carry out the mission and purpose as a Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association.
Officers
The Central Florida Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association is currently seeking for new, enthusiastic individuals to take leadership roles in an effort to continue the Chapter’s mission. If you are unsure if becoming an officer or chairperson is right for you, feel free to contact us. Still unsure? Join a committee or volunteer at one of our activities. It is a great way to give back while showing what it means to be a Penn Stater!
Andrew Bean ’20
Andrew has been an active member of this chapter since moving to Orlando after graduating in 2020 and has recently been involved with planning and running the Nittany Golf Classic. His leadership experience includes, but is not limited to, being president of the professional architecture fraternity, Alpha Rho Chi, director for several large scale theater productions, and earning his Eagle Scout Award in 2013. Andrew is a passionate and dedicated leader who knows the importance of this chapter to both the local Central Florida community, but to the Penn State community as a whole. He hopes you put your faith in him over the next two years as he continues the great work that the current president has done.
Andrew Bean is currently a Show Systems Integrator for AOA. He is actively working towards his Professional Engineer certification and currently has his “Engineer in Training” certification. He graduated from Penn State with a degree in Architectural Engineering focusing in Electrical Engineering and Lighting Design with a minor in Theater Tech. At Penn State, he was involved with his fraternity, Alpha Rho Chi, serving in many positions including President. Also, he was involved in his major’s student society, SSAE, as well as his focus’ student society, IES. Additionally, he was involved in two theater clubs, the Penn State Thespians and No Refund Theatre. His favorite memory of Penn State was football Saturdays each Fall semester.
Originally from south central Pennsylvania just outside of Gettysburg, she moved to Orlando in 2004 during one of the most active hurricane season in the decade. She jokes that she traded the extreme winters for extreme summers.
Jodi, an alumnus of Penn State University, earned her Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice in 1997. She expanded her post-graduate education as she attended Shippensburg University for her Masters in Administration of Justice and also received an Associates degree in Legal Studies – Paralegal from Florida Gulf Coast University. Jodi has worked in Juvenile Corrections in a maximum secure facility, a Security Specialist at Walt Disney World and currently a Florida State Certified Emergency Telecommunicator for Reedy Creek Emergency Services. With a playful smirk, she offers that her “work number is still 911”.
Jodi loves being a part of the Penn State community. There’s a sense of being a family around other Penn Staters. #WeAre
Sasha Scherlinsky ’16
Sasha has been an active member since she moved to Orlando in August of 2024. She was previously involved with the Wisconsin Chapter (Milwaukee Area), where she served as President (2020-2023) and Vice President (2017-2020). She graduated from the College of Arts & Architecture with her BFA in Theatre Design & Technology in 2016. She also served as the Director of Events for Penn State’s Movin’ On Music Festival, President of USITT@PSU, and served as the Be A Part From The Start Chair during her time in the Alumni Association’s Lion Ambassador program (2k15 Fraser). After graduation she headed to Milwaukee to work in live entertainment, and was onsite for numerous large music festivals and sporting events, including SxSW, Boston Calling, NCAA Final Four, and multiple Super Bowls. She currently works locally in the themed entertainment sector, working in audiovisual installations and equipment sales at Solotech.
Sasha’s heart has always been with PSU, as she was born in the shadow of Beaver Stadium at Mount Nittany Medical Center. She is our resident “townie”, and is filled with State College history and lore. Penn State runs strong in her family – you may have known her father who owned SAS International on Allen Street in the 1970s and 1980s, and was a former Assistant Coach for Penn State Men’s Soccer. Her favorite Creamery flavor is Apple Cobbler Crunch.
Helen Adler ’78
Helen Adler graduated from Penn State in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in LEC. Originally from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, Helen moved to the Washington DC area after college where she was involved in the DC chapter’s social committee and was President of the chapter for two years. She became involved in Alumni Recruiting at that time and continues to be involved today.
Helen has served as the Charter’s scholarship chair, membership co-chair and has been involved in organizing events including the Citrus Bowl tailgate. She currently serves as the Chapter Treasurer and is responsible for all financial aspects of the Chapter, including maintaining its bank accounts, distribution of scholarship funds, and the filing of any necessary tax-related documents. Helen lives in Ocoee, Florida with her daughter, Allison, who is attending UCF.
Marcia Wheatley is one our chapter’s Trustees. She served as President of Penn State York Campus, and as President of the American Legion Auxiliary for the state of VA. Marcia also served as auditor for the Woodbridge unit of the American Legion Auxiliary. Her career positions for the past 20+ years have involved handling finances for the organization.
Jeff “Doc” Ecker ’97
Jeff “Doc” Ecker is one of the chapter’s Trustees. Jeff graduated from Penn State in 1997 in Journalism, Policital Science and Natural Science. He is the owner and CEO of Hedoncast, a media and marketing company, which as been in operation since 2001. “Doc”, as he is frequently called, has been a staple with several radio stations in both State College (the Lion 90.7FM) and here in Orlando as the executive producer and co-host of a sports-talk radio show. Many from our chapter know Doc, not just as one of our chapter’s Trustees, but also as the voice of the Central Florida Chapter’s Penn State football watch parties. Whether it be helping our chapter on the back-end or belting out “WE ARE” after a Penn State touchdown, his love and passion for Penn State has resonated in our chapter and provided added spirit for Penn Staters here in central Florida for many years now and into the future.
Frank Raike ’82
Lieutenant Frank Raike is a retired firefighter/ paramedic that served in the Central Florida Communities for 31 years. Besides having been a supervisor for an Engine and Rescue Company, he also was assigned roles and tasks as a fire instructor, fire inspector, fire investigator, Public Information Officer, and Life Safety Educator. His performance and accomplishments as a Fire Inspector earned me the accolade from the State of Florida as the Fire Inspector of the Year in 2005. His activities in the fire service found me on a multitude of committees both locally, state, and nationwide, including the co-writing of Florida Administrative Code 69A-58: Fire Safety in Public Schools. He participated in a variety of professional organizations, including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Florida Fire Marshal & Inspector Association, International Fire Marshal Association, Florida Fire Chief’s Association, International Firefighter Association, and the Florida Life Safety Educators Association.
Frank has been married to his wife, Susie, for the past 30 years and has two adult grown children. His daughter, Sarah, earned her Master’s in Homeland Security from Penn State. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from the Penn State, he has an associate’s degree in Fire Science from Valencia College. We have lived in the Sweetwater Oaks subdivision in Longwood for the past 18 years.
In Frank’s personal life, he is a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Longwood and volunteer at church as the environmental, health, facility, and safety coordinator. Every fourth Monday of each month, you can find Frank at the Coalition of the Homeless in downtown Orlando, serving dinner. He was a founding member for Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County some 30 years ago and he continues to build houses with them. He has expanded my participation of building houses with Habitat for Humanity by joining the Fuller Center and traveling to Thailand in 2023 for home construction. He also participate in Seminole Education, Restoration, and Volunteer (SERV) with waterway clean-ups and invasive plant removal.Frank’s life has been dedicated to service to others in any way that he can contribute with his times, talents, and treasures.
Dawson C. Wright IV ’02
Dawson graduated from Penn State University in 2002 with a Bachelors of Science in Earth Sciences. Originally from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, he moved to Orlando in 2007. In 2013, Dawson graduated from the web design and development program at Winter Park Tech and established DCW4 Web Solutions, a DCW4 Enterprises, Inc. company, so that he can work from home while caring for his son. Dawson also spends much of his time volunteering with several non-profit organizations in central Florida.
He is a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association and became the webmaster of the Central Florida Chapter in late 2015.
Committee Chairs
Sasha Scherlinsky ’16
Sasha has been an active member since she moved to Orlando in August of 2024. She was previously involved with the Wisconsin Chapter (Milwaukee Area), where she served as President (2020-2023) and Vice President (2017-2020). She graduated from the College of Arts & Architecture with her BFA in Theatre Design & Technology in 2016. She also served as the Director of Events for Penn State’s Movin’ On Music Festival, President of USITT@PSU, and served as the Be A Part From The Start Chair during her time in the Alumni Association’s Lion Ambassador program (2k15 Fraser). After graduation she headed to Milwaukee to work in live entertainment, and was onsite for numerous large music festivals and sporting events, including SxSW, Boston Calling, NCAA Final Four, and multiple Super Bowls. She currently works locally in the themed entertainment sector, working in audiovisual installations and equipment sales at Solotech.
Sasha’s heart has always been with PSU, as she was born in the shadow of Beaver Stadium at Mount Nittany Medical Center. She is our resident “townie”, and is filled with State College history and lore. Penn State runs strong in her family – you may have known her father who owned SAS International on Allen Street in the 1970s and 1980s, and was a former Assistant Coach for Penn State Men’s Soccer. Her favorite Creamery flavor is Apple Cobbler Crunch.
This position is currently vacant. Let us know if you would like to be a part of our chapter’s leadership board of directors.
This position is currently vacant. Let us know if you would like to be a part of our chapter’s leadership board of directors.
Become a Member
Membership in the Central Florida Chapter is open to alumni, friends or fans of the Pennsylvania State University. To become a member, simply join the Penn State Alumni Association by visiting alumni.psu.edu. To learn more about our chapter membership, click the button below.
