Penn State Altoona
03/19/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/19/2026 13:05
Penn State Altoona welcomes ROTC trailblazer Amy Fowkes
Amy Fowkes was featured in a 1972 article in the Altoona Mirror focusing on her experiences as the first woman to join the ROTC.
Credit: Altoona Mirror, Oct. 11, 1972
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March 19, 2026
ALTOONA, Pa. - Penn State Altoona celebrates Women's History Month with guest speaker Amy Fowkes on Tuesday, March 3,1from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Eiche Library.
Fowkes started at Penn State Altoona in 1972, the same year Title IX, which prohibited discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs, took effect, allowing women to join the ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) program.
At 18, Fowkes signed up, becoming the first woman recruited into the national women's Army ROTC program, which was brand-new at the time.
Fowkes will speak about her trials and tribulations during her more than 25-year career in the military.
Space is limited. Register on Discover.
Contact
Marissa Carney
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