Campus critters are nuts for Penn State's 'Squirrel Girl'

Four years ago, the 22-year-old senior became an internet sensation for placing tiny hats on the ubiquitous rodents that live near Penn State's landmark Old Main building, and coaxing them to hold miniature props.

With Penn State reeling from the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, Krupa decided her fellow students could also use a laugh.

Krupa's anthropomorphized Sneezy would become an unofficial mascot — Penn State's very own Rocket J. Squirrel or Chip and Dale — and, over the course of her college career, the English major dreamed up many amusing scenes for the squirrelly star.

Sneezy raking leaves, rooting for the home team and drinking tea, mostly while wearing an assortment of squirrel-size hats.

Growing up in a wooded neighborhood outside State College, she had always been fond of the birds, squirrels and other wildlife around her house.

"The squirrel's actually a good way to break the ice, because I'll be sitting here patting a squirrel and other people will come over and we'll just start like feeding the squirrels together and chatting about them," she said.