As students entered the fourth week of Summer Discovery, their experiences centered on healthcare and wellness—both physical and mental—and the many career paths that make healthcare one of the most vital and varied fields in the world.
From a full day visit to Penn State’s University Park campus to hands-on CPR training and mental health workshops, learners from all locations explored the importance of care, connection, and career readiness.
Experiencing College Life at Penn State
This week, all Summer Discovery students from Pittsburgh and Central PA came together for a full-day visit to Penn State University Park, getting a glimpse of life as a Nittany Lion and what their own college journey could look like.
During the visit, students enjoyed iconic Penn State experiences like eating at the dining commons, posing at the We Are statue, and grabbing a scoop at the world-famous Penn State Berkey Creamery. They also broke into small groups for college-specific interactive sessions designed to help them explore college life and future possibilities:
At the Eberly College of Science, students heard from Jennelle Malcos (Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education) and current student, Matt, at the college. They also visited the anatomy lab—and touch pig lungs and a human brain!
At the College of the Liberal Arts, they heard from Clarence Lang (Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts), Jordan Seifert (Recruitment Coordinator), and two students. They also had the opportunity to walk through the Matson Museum of Anthropology and explore how the study of people, history, and culture can shape meaningful careers.
At the Smeal College of Business, learners heard from Jamie Campbell (Associate Dean, Diversity Enhancement) about the college and how business knowledge can be applied in fields like healthcare, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
By the end of the day, students could picture themselves in a science lab, exploring a classroom, grabbing lunch in a dining hall, or walking across campus. The visit sparked new ideas for their future and showed them how a Penn State education could help them get there.
“At Penn State, it felt like everyone had each other’s backs. The way people talked about the school, the opportunities, and the alumni network all made me feel like I’d be stepping into a community that actually cares. I can see myself going there!”
-Tanvi
“The campus at University Park is impressively massive and welcoming. I like the diverse college options, modern architecture, and natural ambiance.”
-Ian
“Being able to see Penn State through the eyes of Dani [junior instructor] was amazing because we could see how much she has fallen in love with the culture, people, and beautiful campus. It was great being able to talk to someone who knows me too. She was able to help me find clarity in some of my questions. I also enjoyed visiting Smeal as I would love to go to college there next year!”
-Anwita
“Being able to walk around at the University Park campus really allowed me to begin to experience what a big campus actually feels like. I enjoyed being able to learn about three broadly different academic colleges and all the things the programs really have to offer. Overall, I had fun walking around campus as well as bonding even more with my instructors and friends to another level.”
-Jayshri
“My favorite part of today was the Eberly College of Science. Already having an interest in science, I really enjoyed the environment, especially the lab. I especially enjoyed when the marine biology student came up to tell us about her experience and how she balances her classes.”
-Lauren
“I loved how the two paws on the pillars are named maw paw and joe paw for Joe Paterno and his wife. And also the ice cream.”
-Kendal
Exploring Career Pathways in Healthcare
Throughout the week, students dove into healthcare in the classroom and on their off-site field trips, and gained insight into the many ways people serve and support others through this essential field.
Pittsburgh Highlights:
- Participated in Heartsavers CPR and AED training at Highmark and West Penn Hospital, practicing life-saving skills with hands-on simulations
- Toured AHN’s STAR Center and explored how healthcare professionals train using advanced medical simulation tools
- Visited the Mental Health: Mind Matters exhibit at Carnegie Science Center to deepen their understanding of mental wellness
- Heard from Jenny Sharpe of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network about the robotics ecosystem in the region (fun fact: Pittsburgh is the robotics capital of the world!)
“I was happy to explore certified skills by performing CPR and AED protocols on a resuscitation mannequin!”
-Alonah
“Something I learned was the variety of careers you can get in the healthcare industry, and if you work at a hospital, there’s everything from IT to being a doctor or a nurse, or you could work with lawyers and things like that. So I think today has been really beneficial in learning more about a new field that I hadn’t really explored before.”
-Tejas
“Today was amazingly fun. We saw all kinds of cool historic things, and we came to the sports museum, and we got to do a lot of fun activities. We got to play soccer, we got to play on the spinny thing, and then we did fake hockey, which was so fun.”
-Alonah
“There was a lot of different information on different mental disorders, like anxiety, bipolar or depression. And a lot of like interesting information about the history of it as well. They talked about the study of psychology and different mental disorders, and it just gave me more insight into a field that I’m interested about”
-Ryder (on the Carnegie Science Center and Mental Health exhibit)
Central PA Highlights:
- Explored patient care and hospital operations during a behind-the-scenes tour of UPMC Altoona
- Learned about assistive technologies at C-NTA and how they support individuals with disabilities
- Visited DeVilbiss Healthcare to explore careers in medical manufacturing and supply chain
- Participated in on-site CPR/AED training with Somerset Ambulance
- Engaged in a wellness-focused yoga and mindfulness session
- Met with UPMC dieticians to learn about nutrition careers and taste healthy snack options
- Heard from Conemaugh Health professionals about roles in nursing, imaging, administration, and beyond
“I felt very calm in this environment, and I thought it was a wonderful experience. I know many people with autism and many people that aren’t fully functional so getting to see that they have people looking out for them was very nice.”
-Kylee (on C-NTA visit)
“I learned that getting your foot in the door can be very beneficial even if you think you are over-qualified for a job. Getting involved and exposed to a certain environment can help you understand the job and its role.”
-Ben
“I didn’t realize how many different jobs it took to provide patient care.”
-Tiffany
Building Mental Health Awareness
This week, students in Pittsburgh completed Teen Mental Health First Aid training (tMHFA)—Central PA students were certified last week. TMHFA is an evidence-based program that helps young people recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in peers.
Led by Matt Crutchman and Cynthia Pollich from Penn State Extension, the training introduced the five-step action plan: Look, Ask, Listen, Help, and Friendship. Students practiced how to approach difficult conversations, understand the impact of social media on mental health, and offer support to others.
“I’m learning a lot more about how if my friends are in need with their mental health how I can go about doing it without making them feel like there’s something wrong with them in a way that really helps.”
-Sabrina
“I learned how to support people struggling with mental health issues, and I think it’s important because you need to have that to succeed and thrive in life. Personally, I have a lot of friends that have experienced struggles with it, and so I try to help them.”
-Michael
“Mental health matters no matter the day.”
-Josh
Looking Ahead
Week four gave students a powerful mix of inspiration and real-world skills. As we head into the final week of Summer Discovery, students will be wrapping up their Community Design Challenges, exploring pathways in social entrepreneurship and civic engagement, and celebrating all they’ve learned, discovered, and accomplished along the way.
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