Youth Leadership program inspires service, connection

Friday, May 30, 2025

Photos by Rob Hinkal, social media specialist

High school students who participated in the 2024-25 Penn College Youth Leadership Program pose for a group photo on the patio of the Thompson Professional Development Center on the evening of their program graduation dinner. The students represented Jersey Shore, Loyalsock, Montgomery, Montoursville, St. John Neumann, Sullivan County and Williamsport schools.

Twenty-one high school students from seven area school districts participated in the 2024-25 Penn College Youth Leadership Program, an initiative hosted annually by Pennsylvania College of Technology.

As part of their engagement, the young leaders took field trips to local resources and community organizations, and they also completed service projects to learn more about leadership as a function of social change. They visited Rider Park (as a function of First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania), YWCA Northcentral PA, United Churches of Lycoming County, Dwell Orphan Care, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank-Williamsport Branch and Hope Enterprises.

Schools participating were Jersey Shore, Loyalsock, Montgomery, Montoursville, St. John Neumann, Sullivan County and Williamsport.

At the recent Youth Leadership Graduation Dinner, held in Penn College’s Thompson Professional Development Center, the students shared their program experiences and were presented with certificates for completing the training.

A panel of Penn College representatives shared their leadership experiences and advice with the young participants and their dinner guests. The college panel featured Chuck D. Crews Jr., assistant director of secondary partnerships; Joanna K. Flynn, vice president for academic affairs and provost; Kate Hummel, senior director of campus life and the residential experience; and Jennifer McLean, dean of students.

Brianna Heltman, of Williamsport Area School District, delivers the student address during the Youth Leadership Graduation Dinner.

The Penn College leadership panel (at right) shares advice. Moderating at the podium is Meghan R. Delsite Coleman, assistant director of student engagement.

Offering wisdom: Jennifer McLean, dean of students ...

... and Chuck D. Crews Jr., assistant director of secondary partnerships. (In background is Kate Hummel, senior director of campus life and the residential experience.)