Kellen Stepler stories, Page 2
3 area colleges get boost to dual enrollment programs
Area colleges received a financial boost to support dual enrollment programs, where high school students take college-level courses and simultaneously earn both high school and college credits. Butler County Community College and the Community College of Allegheny County received about $347,800 each, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania received $349,500,...
Pitt’s new quantum research lab ‘helps the entire region level up’
University of Pittsburgh officials say its new, nearly $12 million quantum research center has the equipment and technology needed to move science and engineering research forward. A ribbon-cutting for the Western Pennsylvania Quantum Information Core lab was held Monday at Pitt’s Old Engineering Hall in Oakland. “WP-QIC helps the entire...
PennWest California professor to study AI education in Brazil on Fulbright Scholar award
A Pennsylvania Western University professor will be researching artificial intelligence and higher education during a trip to the Amazon this summer. Mark Lennon, a business professor at PennWest California, was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil. In June, he will travel to the University of the Amazon in...
Affordability talks ripple across colleges as Pitt slashes tuition for some
The University of Pittsburgh’s pledge of free tuition for low-income students could have a ripple effect across higher education in the region, according to one expert. Competing colleges should be nervous, said Katie Smith, a professor in Temple’s College of Education and Human Development. “Programs like this are a really...
Vandergrift native Sade Taylor, a PennWest student, to serve on State System of Higher Education board
Sade Taylor, a Vandergrift native and Pennsylvania Western University student, has been named to the State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors. “I’m here to serve,” said Taylor, 20 and an early childhood education major at PennWest Edinboro. “I take this role very seriously. I’m committed to making students...
Proposed Hampton Township schools budget raises taxes 3.47%
Hampton school officials will consider a proposed budget that raises taxes 3.47% next year. The proposed $68.8 million spending plan would increase the school district’s millage rate from 23.93 mills to 24.75 mills, said Jeff Kline, co-director of administrative services. A home at Hampton’s median assessed property value of $176,500...
Pitt regional campuses to offer free tuition for students of families making $75K or less
Pennsylvania residents whose households make $75,000 or less will be eligible to attend a University of Pittsburgh branch campus tuition-free. Pitt on Thursday announced its Regional Campus Tuition Pledge that will begin this fall. Students whose household adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less would pay nothing in tuition at...
IUP’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine gets state system approval
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has cleared another hurdle in establishing an osteopathic medicine college. IUP announced Thursday that its doctor of osteopathic medicine degree program was approved by Christopher Fiorentino, chancellor of the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It’s part of the process for any state system university to...
Pitt grad’s journey went from aiding Brazilian flood victims to pursuing sustainability career
It’s one thing to see natural disasters on the news but another to experience them firsthand, says Cassidy Laffey. During her sophomore year as a University of Pittsburgh student, she participated in a study abroad trip to Brazil. During her stay there, a catastrophic flood left thousands of residents in...
Student-led project at Pittsburgh King aims to address mental health needs
When 10 Pittsburgh King students were brainstorming ideas for a service project, potential ideas included gun violence, drug use and poverty. But the students found that addressing one topic could cover a bevy of issues: mental health. “We decided all of that stuff fell under mental health,” said student Carmelo...
West Allegheny unified track meet provides opportunities for life skills students — and their peers
When Carlee Lash started her senior year at West Allegheny High School this fall, the thought of entering a career in special education never crossed her mind. That’s until she got involved with the school’s new Unified Partners in Sports program, where students build relationships with their peers in life...
Meal plan, fees raised at PennWest, room rates adjusted
Meal plan costs, fees and some room rates are increasing at Pennsylvania Western University. The cost of 19-week and 14-week residential meal plans will increase by $100 per semester, said Wendy Mackall, PennWest spokeswoman. It reflects a 4.1% increase from PennWest’s vendor. The current 19-week plan is $2,475 and the...
West Mifflin School District creates trail walk and arboretum that serves wide audience
A new trail and arboretum on the West Mifflin Area High School complex was built for wellness, athletics — and some education, too. School district officials unveiled the T’s Trail and Titan Arboretum last week, culminating a 14-month process. The school district transformed what was an unused hillside on school...
More feedback needed before PPS school closure vote, say parents and activists
More public input and planning is needed before the board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools votes on the proposed Future-Ready Facilities Plan, parents and advocates said at a Monday press conference outside Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8. 412 Justice, an educational advocacy group, has held four community listening sessions over the past...
Pitt’s new, $240M Victory Heights arena to give university athletics competitive, recruiting edge
The University of Pittsburgh’s $240 million Victory Heights sports complex is on schedule to host commencement ceremonies this week and athletic competition in the fall, officials said Monday. The facility, originally announced in January 2020, hosts dedicated practice facilities and locker rooms for Pitt gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling and spirit squads....
Seward man recognized with IUP’s aspiring alumni award
A Seward man was recognized by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania for his involvement in the community. Kamden Boyle, who is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs from IUP, received the aspiring alumni award from the university during a gala earlier this month. Boyle is a 2024 IUP graduate...
57th NFL Draft pick Logan Jones to get lifetime supply of Heinz ketchup
Here’s hoping Logan Jones likes ketchup. Jones, an Iowa center, was selected by the Chicago Bears on Friday night during the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. As the 57th pick overall, the Kraft Heinz company will give him a custom jacket and a lifetime ketchup and brand deal. It’s part of...
Here’s the one place you can find calm and quiet at the NFL Draft
Turns out there is a place to find peace and quiet among the hustle and bustle of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Birmingham, Ala.-based nonprofit KultureCity set up “sensory activation vehicles” around Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore. The trailers offer a safe, quiet and calming space for people with...
Slippery Rock, PennWest name schools after philanthropic backers
Big financial investments were recognized this week by Slippery Rock and Pennsylvania Western universities. Slippery Rock on Thursday unveiled the Haverlack College of Business, the first named college at the university. It’s established from a $5 million gift, the largest in the university’s 136-year history, from Rhonda and Elliott Haverlack....
North Siders, Perry alumni to announce 224th pick in NFL Draft
Many people attending the NFL Draft this week in Pittsburgh came from all over the country. For some, it was their first time visiting the city. But the festivities were just down the road for Andrew Knight and Stalea Chapman, both of Pittsburgh’s North Side. Knight, a teacher at Pittsburgh...
Steelers’ 1st-round pick had element of surprise, draws cautious optimism from fans
Minutes before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ announced its first-round draft pick Thursday night, Josh Kelly of Baldwin predicted the team would pick up USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Alas, Pittsburgh’s cross-state rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, drafted Lemon the pick before. “I had a feeling he was going to go,” said Kelly,...
‘NFL Dads’ at Point Park forum describe the dynamics of parenting high-level athletes
Jamesetta Cleveland disagrees with a saying popular in sports circles: “Ball is life.” Instead, she believes in the opportunities created by sports. Going beyond performance on the field is what’s key, said Cleveland, founder of Sports Mom University, a consulting agency that navigates a student-athlete’s recruiting and playing sports professionally....
Chatham student develops real-time antisemitism incident tracker
Delilah Hollander, a Chatham University student, has created a real-time anitsemitic incident tracker designed to surface threats and incidents as they happen. Hollander, of Pittsburgh, has launched trackantisemitism.org, a website that flags incidents, maps emerging hotspots and preserves digital evidence of antisemitic acts worldwide through public records and news sources....
Bridgeville woman accused of stealing $18K from Chartiers Valley choral boosters account
Allegheny County Police have charged Valerie Kubiak, of Bridgeville, with stealing more than $18,000 from a Chartiers Valley booster organization. In February, county detectives started an investigation into funds being stolen from the bank account of the Chartiers Valley Choral Parents Association, according to police. Detectives determined that Kubiak, 42,...
AI-driven sports technology from Carnegie Mellon students draws interest from Mark Cuban
More than 68 million Americans play a racquet sport, but improving their skills can be difficult. Costs for lessons are becoming increasingly expensive, and feedback for technique isn’t always individualized. But three Carnegie Mellon University students think they have an answer. They launched a company called ServeSense. Pitching their technology...
