Penn State athletes take to downtown New Kensington for community service project

Penn State New Kensington students welcomed themselves to the community by giving back to it.

About 120 student-athletes and their coaches took to downtown New Kensington on Friday afternoon to clean up the community as part of a back-to-school community service project.

Assignments included cleaning Fourth Street and the outside area of Valley Points Family YMCA.

Two buildings near the YMCA on Constitution Boulevard recently were torn down. CEO Kelli McIntyre said the plan for that vacant space is to establish an outdoor space for the community.

“But we need to get a lot of the rocks out of the grass,” she said, laughing. “So that’s what they’re doing here.”

Penn State New Kensington Athletic Director Reneé Brown‑Antonelli coordinated the event. The project’s purpose, she said, was to get students involved and energized in the city, build bonds between themselves and interact with community leaders.

“I’m very, very big on community service because that’s the way I was raised,” Brown-Antonelli said.

Students wore neon green shirts because, Brown-Antonelli said, “everyone can see we’re here.”

“We want to be a part of it, and we want to give back,” she said.

Brown-Antonelli said the community service project is the first of many.

“We’re hoping to continue this trend moving forward each and every semester,” she said.

Freshman Cheriden Turiczek of North East, Pa., chose Penn State New Kensington because of its radiology sciences program. Turiczek will play volleyball this fall and basketball this winter. She said Friday’s event allowed her to get to know and bond with her teammates.

“It’s fun. It gets me adjusted to the area, and now I know what’s down here,” she said. “It’s team bonding.”

For upperclassmen, the project also provided a leadership opportunity. Junior soccer player and team captain Jacob Guerrini said the day also helped with leadership and taught him about communicating with teammates to be successful on a task.

“It’s a nice bonding experience, as well as giving back to the community,” he said.

Senior softball player Molly Collins said the community service event showcased the small campus’ values.

“Our name is New Kensington, and we want to show we’re here for the community — not just go to school and be done,” she said.