PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW’S CARLISLE AND UNIVERSITY PARK PILF AUCTIONS RAISE MONEY FOR SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS
April 2025 — The Carlisle and University Park chapters of Penn State Dickinson Law’s Public Interest Law Fund (PILF) recently held successful auction nights to raise funds for their annual summer fellowships. The evenings have become a favorite among students, who enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and perusing the items up for bid. This year, those ranged from fun experiences sponsored by faculty and staff members to bar prep courses to customized LEGO building kits.
The University Park auction brought in $11,589, while the Carlisle auction made $6,659. Both locations’ auction chairs were thrilled with the turnout, the support offered by students, staff, and faculty, and the efforts of volunteers assisting with the event.
“We are so grateful for all the volunteers who helped put on the event and decorate, who helped solicit donations, who helped with challenges that arose the day of the auction, and who cleaned up afterward,” said Carlisle PILF Auction Chair Steffanie Craig ’25. “I wrote a thank you email to everyone afterward, and I said, ‘public interest is for and by the public.’ There is no way this event happens without support.”
What is PILF?
A student organization established at the Law School in 1990, PILF raises money to fund its Summer Fellowship Program. Students receiving the roughly $5,000 awards must work in the public interest field, such as for a district attorney or public defender, in an immigration law office, or for legal aid.
Many PILF executive board members received fellowships. Craig worked a summer in Colorado on the Korey Wise Innocence Project, while Carlisle PILF President Leonard Sandler ’26 worked for Mid-Penn Legal Services in Gettysburg. University Park PILF President Sydney M. Newby ’26 used her fellowship for a summer at Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, and Brandan Parks ’25, University Park PILF Auction co-chair, clerked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Philadelphia District Office. Erika N. Uebelhor ’25, University Park PILF Auction co-chair, worked for the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Many public interest summer opportunities earn low pay. The PILF fellowships help offset rent and transportation costs that might otherwise disqualify students from accepting the positions. “Working for the EPA was my goal coming into law school,” said Uebelhor. “PILF made that happen for me.”
Those who receive the $5,000 fellowships are asked to get involved with PILF to support future awards, hence the large number of past recipients in leadership positions at both Penn State Dickinson Law locations. “We like to give back because we realize how fortunate we were to receive the funding, and we want to make sure that keeps going for future years and future law students,” said Parks.
Both PILF chapters sponsor other fundraisers throughout the year, such as Carlisle’s Halloween pet costume contest, but the auction is by far their biggest. “We start working on the auction in October. It is a large event to plan. We have to find a venue. We need to pick a theme and buy food. We need to get donors for the auction items,” said Uebelhor.
She said more than 100 potential donors were contacted. “It is really heartwarming every time we get a donation from a business, staff member, or faculty member because public interest is not always the main focus in law school. It is rewarding and exciting to see people who are happy to support our mission,” said Uebelhor.
“We received donations from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals, as well as smaller local businesses here in State College such as Doggie’s Pub, which is a favorite among the law students,” said Newby.
New venues and larger crowds
This year, both PILF Auctions were held in different locations than the previous year. The University Park auction usually takes place at Toftrees Golf Resort, but last year the venue was closed due to construction. Instead, PILF held the event at The Graduate Hotel, a smaller venue. “Because of that, we were a little constrained with our numbers last year,” said Parks. Returning to Toftrees in 2025 proved a success as PILF sold 176 tickets. The night’s theme was dark academia, a nod to the gothic genre popularized in literature and film that focuses on higher education. Students dressed to match the theme.
Entertainment at the University Park event included an original song composed and performed by Penn State Dickinson Law Director of Financial Aid Susan Bogart, who has a background in music. Professor of Law Mae C. Quinn challenged students in her “Criminal Procedure” and “Evidence” classes to perform at the event in exchange for a monetary donation to the auction fund, sparking several to write and read original poems.
Other members of the University Park auction committee included Elias Robinson ’26, Holly McGillivray ’26, and Chris Morton ’25. Andrea Gilardi ’27 helped organize the silent auction, which included artwork and crafts made by students. PILF Vice President Chloe Saine ’25 served as auctioneer.
Some of the most popular items up for bid included a bowling outing with Penn State Dickinson Law Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway and a game night with Penn State Dickinson Law Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jud Matthews.
The Carlisle PILF auction also made a venue change, which resulted in lower expenses. Instead of paying to hold the auction at a local restaurant or brewery as it did in past years, PILF used the Ridge Commons at the Law School, a change designed to control costs and draw more students. When netting for expenses, this year’s auction was almost as profitable as last year’s. “I would say that is a win,” said Craig, noting that tickets cost less but sold more.
The theme of the auction was “Treat Yo Self,” a phrase popularized on the sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” Craig described it as a “campy fourth-grade birthday party,” with feather boas, fake pearls, neon hats and other dress-up attire available for photo ops. Local performer Ben Simcox provided live music, and Taylor Banks ’27 served as auctioneer.
The Carlisle PILF Auction committee members are Payton Hunt ’27, Keegan Foyles ’26, Kayla Clare ’27, Alex Harris ’27, Jessica Lacy ’27, Henry Pryor ’27, Nicole Chew ’26, Jake Maguire ’26, Casey Grohowski ’25, Payton Pittman ’25, Jake Toth ’25, Jack Reader ’27, Alaina Kuzmitsky ’25, Josh Hanson ’25, Mackenzie DeVita ’25, and Aiyanna Gutema ’27.
One of this year’s most popular donations came from Associate Professor of Law Sarah J. Williams, who offered an Oscar-style after-party. The description explained that three students could join Williams to “dress to impress, pose on the red carpet, and then enjoy dinner and conversation at [Carlisle restaurant] One 12 Social about what is hot and what is not in the fashion world.” Other top-dollar items included bar prep packages, which students love because they go for less than retail value.
With the event held at the Law School this year, PILF tried something else new. Craig and her volunteers set up the silent auction items the morning of the event, so students passed by them in the commons throughout their day. “Because they were out all day and people saw them, almost all the items went at appraised value or higher,” said Sandler. Popular items included a basket with cat toys and treats (Sandler and Student Bar Association President Josh Hansen engaged in a bidding war over that one), customized LEGO sets, and movie tickets.
A fun time was had by all the students, staff, and faculty members who attended the PILF Auctions at the Carlisle and University Park locations. Here are some scenes from both nights.
