Penn State has been selected to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education that will allow the University to expand its Talent Search Programs, providing staff who work directly with disadvantaged middle and high school students to help them complete high school and attend college.
As they step on campus for the first time as Penn Staters, incoming students are often out of their comfort zones and in unfamiliar surroundings. Penn State New Kensington’s three-day New Student Orientation is designed to assuage that angst.
As a vital part of Penn State’s 20 Commonwealth campuses located across Pennsylvania, Penn State New Kensington not only educates more than 700 students annually, it also drives substantial community impact as an employer. With more than 160 full-time and part-time employees, the New Kensington campus is an asset to the economic health and development of the Alle-Kiski Valley and Pittsburgh region.
Traditional students, adult learners and veterans can see if the New Kensington campus fits their reality at the “Spend a Summer Evening” admissions event at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in the Conference Center. Participants will meet staff and current students, and find out all they need to know about admissions, financial aid and student life. Students and their families can tour the campus and enjoy light refreshments.
Mowgali, Baloo and Bagheera are the stars as Penn State New Kensington’s Summer BBQ and Drive-in Movie series concludes under the stars with “The Jungle Book” on Aug. 10, in the campus’ Athletics Center parking lot. The BBQ begins at 7 p.m., and the Disney flick start at dusk. The family-oriented, PG-rated show is free to the public.
Penn State New Kensington will host two evening movies outdoors in July and August. In keeping with Chancellor Kevin Snider’s vision of bringing together the campus and community, the shows are free to the public and geared to families.
Chancellor Kevin Snider conferred degrees to 79 graduates on May 7 at the 57th spring commencement exercises at Penn State New Kensington. James R. Shorkey Jr., a life success coach and founder of Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group, delivered the commencement address, “Blueprint for Success.”
Students at Penn State New Kensington will pay the same basic, in-state tuition for the third consecutive year as the Penn State Board of Trustees approved the freeze July 22 for eight Penn State Commonwealth Campuses. Tuition stability ensures that all Penn State New Kensington students will have access to the campus’ quality academic programs. Affordability is the top initiative of Chancellor Kevin Snider’s seven-point strategic plan for the New Kensington campus.
The next capital project at Penn State New Kensington should be the construction of an “awards” wing for the office of Jim Shields in the Academic and Career Success Center. The timing couldn’t be more serendipitous since the center is undergoing restoration after a ceiling water pipe broke in July and doused offices, equipment and the adjacent Penn State bookstore. Shields, career services coordinator, picked up another accolade in May when he was given the Warrior Award by the Western Pennsylvania Career Services Association. It was the third time in 14 months that Shields has been recognized for the quality of his work.
Danielle Richardson was named the 2016 recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award April 29 at the Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony at Penn State New Kensington. The Walker Award is given to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. The award was established in 1980 by Penn State President Eric Walker and is presented at each of Penn State's 24 campuses.
