Professionals at the North Central PA LaunchBox have made it their top priority to help business and industry navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, LaunchBox staff members are already looking ahead to the end of quarantine, when they’ll help businesses in the region return to normal. To help meet that end, business owners and industry leaders are being asked to participate in a short survey to help identify their needs and concerns during this trying time, and into the future.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, Penn State will host its first virtual commencement. The ceremony will be livestreamed, and available internationally, at https://spring2020.commencement.psu.edu/.
Given the continuing challenge and uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and to protect the health of students, faculty and staff, Penn State has made the decision to extend virtual delivery of courses into the summer. Further, the University will adjust tuition for the summer sessions in light of the ongoing pandemic and the persistent fiscal strain it is causing across Pennsylvania and the country.
The North Central PA LaunchBox is driving collaborative relationships with and between local, regional and state organizations, as well as government, to drive economic development in the region.
Students in the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology degree program are used to being remote; but perhaps not in the way that the current COVID-19 pandemic has made learning necessary. Recently, students joined in a remote learning meeting with Kristen Schnepp-Giger, a wildlife biologist with the National Wild Turkey Federation, who was appointed to the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners.
In ongoing efforts to help small businesses navigate the COVID-19 crisis, the North Central PA LaunchBox has scheduled a free, informative webinar at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. "Mindfulness Tips for Small Businesses During Tough Times” will be presented by Instructor Blake Colaianne.
Students in the Penn State DuBois Information Sciences and Technology program have been well-educated in making virtual connections work between colleagues and fellow students, which has made their current learning situation one they could more easily adapt to.
In response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, orders from the state government and recommendations from global public health organizations, Penn State will hold its spring 2020 commencement ceremony via livestream on May 9. The virtual ceremony will recognize all Penn State undergraduate students and all graduate students in the Penn State Graduate School.
As individuals around the globe adjust to new ways of working and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, some Penn State DuBois students are participating in real, out-of-this-world learning opportunities right from their own homes. Penn State DuBois’ Associate Professor of Mathematics and Geoscience Neyda Abreu has established a multidisciplined research group of undergraduate students that is connecting weekly with scientists from NASA and other organizations via Zoom.
Two award-winning entrepreneurs will split the top prize for business ideas submitted to Ben Franklin Technology Partner’s Techcelerator Competition. Kristen and Boyd Lewis with EasyRaising fundraising will receive $5,000 to be used for the development of their business idea for improving school and community fundraising. Evan Klapec of EMKO Technologies will also receive $5,000 to develop a new dust collection system for auto body shops.
