AIER Names State College, Pennsylvania, to Top 20 College Towns

State College, home to the Pennsylvania State University (affectionately known as Penn State), has been named No. 5 among the Top 20 College Towns by the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). 

AIER bases its rankings for State College on the area's abundant educational and professional growth opportunities. The community's economic and social prosperity is mainly due to Pennsylvania State University's presence, making it the largest employer in the State College area. According to figures provided by the World Atlas, the university enrolls more than 46,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 140 countries. Its online World Campus brings a Penn State education to more than 20,000 students across the globe.

The abundance of research and development opportunities here earned State College the nickname "Happy Valley," alluding to its economic resiliency during the Great Depression in the United States. Compared to university towns in the Northeast like Ithaca or Princeton, State College boasts a significantly affordable cost of living. According to a Numbeo analysis, the rental price for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center stands at approximately $1,500 per month, compared to more than $2,000 per month in Princeton.

State College's academic nucleus is surrounded by scenic beauty from its position near the center of the state. The Appalachian Mountains chain and the Nittany Valley provide dynamic recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

For these reasons, the World Atlas has ranked State College as the best college town in Pennsylvania.

Stephen Nedoroscik, the Olympic gymnast who graduated from Penn State, helped the US to win bronze with a stellar pommel horse performance. Then, he went viral.

Stephen Nedoroscik is an artistic gymnast who specializes in the pommel horse. He is the 2021 World Champion and a two-time NCAA National Champion, representing the Penn State Nittany Lions, in the event.

"Steve," as the internet has lovingly nicknamed him, went viral after he represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He helped the men's gymnastics team to win a bronze medal in the team event.

Nedoroscik's pommel horse performance played a crucial part in the United States winning bronze. His skills clinched the medal at a crucial moment in the competition.

In a sport where most athletes typically compete in multiple events, he competes only on pommel horse. He is our pommel horse guy. It was to the point where the broadcast had a "Nedoroscik Pommel" countdown clock in the bottom left corner of the screen.

We had high hopes and he came in clutch. He helped Team USA win its first men's gymnastics team medal in 16 years.

He is also a champion for those who wear glasses.

After being seen preparing for his routine by meditating whilst touting his iconic glasses, he took the internet by storm.

He's quirky. He wears glasses. He doesn't take them off until the moment he mounts on the pommel horse. He is like the Clark Kent of gymnastics.

It was only entirely natural that the internet would gain an almost immediate affinity for the "dorky" American hero. You haven't seen better glasses-wearing-person representation than this!

So without further ado...

The dude is literally Clark Kent. His disguise is his glasses. Once they come off, he performs like Superman would. And his routine was, in fact, heroic, leading the team to a bronze medal.

I mean, if you're good at something, might as well be REALLY good at it. So good that it's all you have to do in order to lead the team to victory! He came, he pommel-horsed, he conquered. What's better than that?

It was cinematic. The removal of the glasses. The flawless routine. Then almost immediately putting the glasses back on. It was downright iconic.

What's more Steve than raising your iconic glasses in celebration? At this point, he didn't even know his glasses were taking the internet by storm. Meaning he just does that to celebrate. Which makes him all the more lovable to us.

It just totally adds to his dorkiness, which is what made the internet fall in love with him in the first place. The more we learn about him, the more we love him. He is the perfect Clark Kent story. There's nothing better!

This is going to be a forever reaction photo used on the internet now. It conveys so many things. It could be applied to so many situations. Stephen Nedoroscik, the meme that you are. Congrats on your bronze medal, it's well-deserved!