Don Graham, York business leader, philanthropist, and longtime supporter of Penn State York, has made a major gift to advance entrepreneurship and economic development at the campus and in the community. Graham’s gift will provide a dedicated building on campus for The Graham Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies (The Graham Center), which his support helped to found in 2013.
Penn State York students who want to learn more about The Graham Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies at Penn State York should plan to attend a question and answer session at noon on Sept. 5 in The Bradley Building on campus. Lunch will be provided.
Penn State President Eric Barron, Penn State York officials and Erin Casey, co-founder and board member of Working Class, announced the launch of Working Class, a makerspace partnership, to a crowd of more than 100 on Aug. 9 on the stage of the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at Penn State York. The winners of the 2016-17 Start-Up Challenge, a business pitch competition for students, were also recognized during this celebration of entrepreneurship, leadership, partnerships and innovation.
Standing in front of an image of the building that houses Working Class, a makerspace in downtown York, Penn State President Eric Barron cuts a ribbon to celebrate the launch of the partnership with Penn State York. A $50,000 seed grant from Invent Penn State has provided funds for the makerspace and the Start-Up Challenge. Pictured, left to right, are the Penn State York Nittany Lion; Erin Casey, co-founder and board member of Working Class; Neil Sharkey, vice president for research at Penn State; Jody Keller, executive-in-residence at The Graham Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies; Barron; David W. Chown, chancellor at Penn State York; Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor; and Colin Miller, Penn State York Student Government Association president.
Penn State President Eric Barron, left, talks with team members from Home Solutions, the winners of the student Start-Up Challenge at Penn State York. Home Solutions uses near-field communication technology to make using smart devices easier and more convenient. Barron visited the campus to celebrate the work of the innovation hub at Penn State York funded by Invent Penn State. Pictured across from Barron are team members James Oplinger, Michael Wakeling and Michael Culbreth, left to right. Other team members, not pictured, are Steven Asten and Sahil Heighes. In the background is Bill Cantor, a Penn State York information sciences and technology faculty member, who works with the Start-Up Challenge and The Graham Center.
Penn State President Eric Barron, Penn State York officials, and Erin Casey, co-founder and board member of Working Class, will announce the launch of Working Class, a makerspace partnership, at 1:45 p.m. Aug. 9 in the theater of the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center at the York campus. The winners of the Start-Up Challenge at Penn State York also will be announced at the event.
Penn State York is the recipient of a $50,000 seed grant to expand entrepreneurial endeavors through the Invent Penn State initiative. York is one of six campuses recently named as part of the newest wave of entrepreneurial sites across the Commonwealth that are poised to become economic strengths in their region.
Michael DelGrosso, vice president for global sales and marketing at DelGrosso Foods, left, speaks with Penn State York students Samantha Glancey, Aqsa Siddiqui and Terry Knarr, left to right, during the Graham Speakers Series on campus. Thanks to a seed grant through the Invent Penn State initiative, students in The Graham Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies will have the opportunity to engage in the various business, planning and municipal aspects of the design of Working Class, a centrally located makerspace in downtown York.
