SHARON, Pa. — Ozzie Shaffer’s college journey started early as a dual enrollment student at Penn State Shenango as she was finishing up at Mercer High School, with the goal of transferring the credits to another institution to complete her degree. However, she found it hard to leave after experiencing life at Shenango.
“I started classes in the fall [of my senior year of high school], and I was hoping [the credits] would transfer. And then after that I thought, ‘Wow, I really love this campus. I really love the people,’” Shaffer, a psychology major, said.
“I loved it," she added. "I thought, ‘This is a great place. I would love to be here next year,’ so that really pushed me to go to Shenango."
With eight school districts in Mercer and Lawrence counties sending dual enrollment students to Penn State Shenango, many students have similar experiences to Shaffer’s. Choosing to enroll in college courses while still in high school can get students closer to their educational and career goals, but it can also add a financial burden on families earlier than many are expecting.
To help alleviate the financial burden of dual enrollment, Penn State Shenango is participating in the annual PA Ohio Gives Giving Week hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio from June 21 through June 27.
Each year, donors can participate in Giving Week by choosing between different local non-profit organizations to support, including Penn State Shenango, and take part multiple “giving challenges,” including donation bonuses for the organization that received the first gift of the event, or who received a gift from a donor who is the furthest distance away from the Shenango Valley, among others.
Through a $5,000 gift from local foundation H M Willson Trust, Penn State Shenango is already halfway towards meeting its $10,000 goal for Giving Week.
“When Herbert Willson established his trust in 1926, he specified help for children and youths as his main priority. The Penn State Shenango Dual Enrollment program fits that request perfectly,” said Jim Feeney, H M Willson Trust president and chairman, who expects that this initial gift will act as a catalyst for Giving Week participants. “We hope other Charitable Organizations and individuals will help us in this effort.”
In previous years, Penn State Shenango has participated in Giving Week to raise funds for various opportunities related to academic and student life. Past fundraising efforts targeted student and faculty research, study abroad, Shenango Athletics and funding for occupational therapy assistant and physical therapist assistant students to help cover the cost of their clinical experiences.
According to Shaffer, taking college credits while still in high school is worth the extra time, effort and financial commitment.
“What could be bad about getting ahead while in high school? Honestly, it did so much for me.” said Shaffer, who is expecting to graduate a semester early because of the credits earned through dual enrollment. “I think that was the best decision I've made regarding college. I wouldn't trade my time at Shenango for anything.”
PA Ohio Gives Giving Week begins on Saturday, June 21, and runs until midnight on Friday, June 27. Interested participants can visit Penn State Shenango's website. Gifts made in support of dual enrollment at Penn State Shenango through the PA Ohio Gives campaign are processed by the Community Foundation of Western PA and Eastern Ohio; as a result, those who make donations will not receive a tax receipt from Penn State University but will instead from the Community Foundation.
Gifts made to Penn State advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.
