Students who have participated in an experiential learning opportunity through Penn State programs are encouraged to apply to present their work through lightning talks and poster sessions at the 2026 Experiential Learning Showcase.
Impact Stories
The latest news and information about Penn State Outreach and its impact on the Commonwealth.
Through their work at The Arboretum at Penn State, Aubrey Tallon is helping create outdoor spaces where everyone can learn, connect, and belong. Their approach to volunteerism, education, and community engagement is rooted in a simple belief: we are a part of nature, not apart from it.
The Penn State and local communities can welcome the arrival of fall at the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center Fall Open House on Saturday, September 12, with free hands-on activities, wildlife programs, live music, guided walks, and opportunities to explore the outdoors.
The Max and Shirley Kogan Museum Experience Fund and Experiential Learning Social Impact Fellows program provide students with funding and support to pursue immersive learning experiences that extend their education beyond the classroom.
Penn State students and recent graduates across the state have enriched their classroom education with real-world, hands-on learning experiences through Penn State Outreach programs like Fullers Overlook, Musser Gap Greenway, and Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.
Mandy DiBella’s work at The Arboretum at Penn State goes far beyond the plants visitors see. As curator of living collections, she connects plants, people, and information, helping transform the Arboretum into a living resource for education, research, conservation, and community engagement.
For its efforts connecting with and serving Pennsylvania communities through the power of Penn State, Keystone Community Partnerships was recently honored by the Community Development Society.
Although they had come from counties across the state, 33 newly hired deputy sheriffs became close as they learned and grew together during the Penn State–run Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training Program. The class graduates together on August 21.
For 25 years, the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute, part of Penn State Outreach, has been helping prepare child support professionals through the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement Training Institute.
Two Penn State faculty members and a team from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development were selected from a competitive pool of nominees spanning multiple campuses and units.