Russell '68 and Penny Younkers

Younkers has spent the last 40+ years giving back to the community. During his time as a teacher in the Prince George’s County Public School System, Younkers mentored youth through coaching a variety of sports teams. The majority of Younkers’ career was spent working as a police officer stationed in the Bureau of Patrol at the Seat Pleasant District Station. After 20 years of dedicated service, he retired with the rank of sergeant. Since his retirement, Younkers has worked as a supervisor and project manager at the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment.
As former student-athlete at FSU, Younkers appreciates the profound learning experiences that occur outside of the classroom, particularly on the playing field. He attributes career success, mostly in law enforcement, to the ideas of teamwork and finding common ground. During his time teaching and policing, Younkers spent many years umpiring baseball with the Metropolitan Baseball Umpires Association.
Through his membership on the FSU Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors and campaign committee, Younkers has assisted the Foundation with raising much-needed money for athletics. Since neither state funds nor tuition can be used for athletics, his support has been instrumental to the philanthropic investment in this area. Through personal giving and his donor-advised fund, Russell and his wife, Penny, have generously supported both athletics and the Annual Fund.
“We’d like the brightest and the best to go into teaching. … In physical education and coaching, you learn life skills such as organization and motivating people,” said Russell.