Penn State Altoona has received a $2,500 gift commitment from PS Solutions Foundation to fund twenty need-based scholarships for girls attending the Kids’ College Summer Technology Camps, which include Bytes & Beats, Girls’ Minecraft, and Girls’ Robot Invention.

Founded in 2012 by Joe Merilli and Wayne Hippo, PS Solutions Foundation encourages young girls to develop an interest in software engineering. It partners with educational providers to give girls the opportunity to explore computer programming at a young age, shaping them for careers in computer science and/or computer programming.

Merilli states, “There simply aren’t enough women working in software development. We’re thrilled to be working with Penn State Altoona to give young girls the opportunity to learn firsthand the cool things that they can do with computer programming.” “The small number of women pursuing careers in technology is a national problem that has to be solved with local initiatives,” says Hippo, adding that this project with the college is “just the beginning of what will be a growing local effort to spark interest in young minds.”

Penn State Altoona does not receive state funding for its Kids’ College program. Gifts from individuals, businesses, and corporations in support of the program are vital, enabling the college to accommodate annual requests for financial assistance received from families who cannot afford the full cost of tuition.

“Thanks to the generosity of PS Solutions Foundation, we are able to provide young women the opportunity to work with college professors, female students, and local professionals, with the hope that their love for science will lead them to professions in software development and computer programming,” says Sherri McGregor, education and training specialist at Penn State Altoona.

Penn State alumni and friends are invaluable partners in fulfilling the University’s land-grant mission of education, research and service. Private gifts from alumni, friends and corporate partners enrich the experiences of students both in and out of the classroom, expand the research and teaching capacity of our faculty, enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty, and help to ensure that students from every economic background have access to a Penn State education. The University’s colleges and campuses are now enlisting the support of alumni and friends to advance a range of unit-specific initiatives.

For more information about the scholarships, please contact the Office of Continuing Education and Training at 814-949-5535.