Meet the Robertsons
Kenzie was diagnosed with cancer of the soft palate as a young child and, after enduring countless treatments and surgeries, won her battle when she was just 7 years old. She joined our Springfield family in 2006 at the age of 16 years, and she has been a Springfielder ever since.
Out of all our families, Kenzie is our THON veteran - in fact, she attended her 20th THON weekend this past year. Now 30, a high school graduate, and cancer-free for more than ten years, Kenzie joins Springfield every year for Homecoming, Family Carnival, and our end-of-year banquet . We also visit her throughout the year, and she's been known to come up to State College frequently to hang out with us!
An avid gamer, Kenzie enjoys playing Super Smash Bros and Animal Crossing, not to mention she’s also Springfield’s reigning UNO champion! She likes spending time volunteering at her local hospital and keeping in touch with her half-sister. In addition to this, Kenzie enjoys watching anime videos, attending anime conventions (Setsucon is always a blast!) and listening to music (especially Taylor Swift). Springfielders often keep in touch with Kenzie by writing letters back and forth - we love to hear her stories about past THONs and Springfield alumni.
Another important member of the Robertson family is Kenzie's grandmother, Kathleen. Kathleen was a huge presence in Springfield until she passed away in September of 2014. She was a truly remarkable woman full of love, kindness, and positivity. There was never a day she was not smiling and ready to take on the world. She constantly opened up her home and her heart to Springfielders who she had never even met before, and she welcomed us into her family with open arms.
Kathleen Robertson Memorial Ceremony:
Kathleen was a wonderful person full of kindness and optimism, no matter what life threw her way. Shortly after her passing a group of alumni began a campaign to honor her memory by planting a cherry tree in the Simmons Hall courtyard. In July 2015, a group of thirty Springfield alumni, current members, and Kenzie gathered at Simmons Hall to dedicate the tree and a plaque in her honor. Springfield alumni in attendance were able to speak about what Kathleen means to them and share stories of her impact on them during their time at Penn State. Even Springfielders as far away as Japan were able to write in and have their memories read at the ceremony. They also decorated the tree with dozens of paper cranes similar to the cranes that Springfield gave to Kathleen for good luck before one of her surgeries. The cranes decorated Kathleen’s house until her passing and always reminded Kathleen of Springfield’s love for her.
Although Kathleen is no longer with us physically, she is alive in the memories that we have with her and a continued bond that we share with Kenzie and the Robertson family. She lives in the joyful moments shared between Springfielders and in the cardinal that we wear on our sleeves.
Below is a quote written by a Springfielder:
“The reason that I don’t really see Kathleen as gone is because I see her reflected in all of you every single time you make me smile or remind me that things are going to be okay. Every time one of you appreciates life or embraces the day, I see Kathleen, and I realize that her legacy is living on in us, just like we promised would happen when we commemorated her life that one cold fall evening early this year. I see Kathleen in each and every one of you, each time you offer a hug, each time you tell a funny story, each time you exude positivity, I see Kathleen and am so grateful that you all are allowing her to live on in Springfield. For those who have never gotten the chance to meet her, just look around you. The Springfielder on your right and the Springfielder on your left – they represent what Kathleen stands for: the hope, the fight, the faith, the love, stronger than anything else in the world.”
