In the Metzgar Center Monday morning, Behrend chancellor Ralph Ford, Ph.D., announced a new four million dollar partnership between Penn State Behrend and Erie Insurance.

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The announcement was made in front of a crowd that filled the lower level of the Metzgar Center. Attendees ranged from Behrend faculty to Erie Insurance representatives, also including several Erie news stations.

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The program, called Excelerate, will provide scholarship funding as well as research and internship stipends for as many as 50 Behrend students each school year.

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“The idea behind this partnering effort is really quite simple,” said Ford. “It’s intended to broaden the pathway to a college education for more area young people and to help build the talent that powers economic revitalization of the Erie region,” he continued.

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Excelerate will be funded with an initial commitment of 1.5 million dollars, provided by Erie Insurance, and 2.5 million dollars in matching funds from Penn State.

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Excelerate aims to provide real-world work opportunities, bolstering students in their career growth. There are opportunities for internships with local small businesses, work with teams of students to solve company problems locally and summer research projects with Behrend faculty.

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Students who are given the opportunity to participate in these projects will be eligible for a stipend of $4,000 per school year.

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An important aspect of Excelerate is the evaluation of student and economic development to indicate the success of the program.

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Ford stated that the program will also double enrollment in the Pathway to Success: Summer Start (PaSSS) program, which helps first year students and students from underrepresented groups acclimate to the college environment.

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PaSSS is a six-week program that offers select first-year Behrend students the opportunity to earn a Penn State degree in four years or fewer, potentially saving families thousands of dollars. Started in 2017, the program aims to establish connections, build an academic advising relationship, learn skills through work experience and help students earn credits that will help them graduate from Penn State on time.

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Tim NeCastro, president and CEO of Erie Insurance, stated "The broader community also benefits when those students remain in college.” He then said, "By doubling the scholarship opportunities for students in the PaSSS program, Excelerate is a long-term investment in the local workforce."

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Rebecca Olanrewaju, a sophomore plastics engineering student who will be benefiting from Excelerate, shared her thoughts on the partnership from a student’s point of view. With college expenses being a bit of an issue for almost any student, Olanrewaju stated that she is more than grateful to be given the opportunity to save some money for when her younger sibling enters college.

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This program is a step in the right direction for students who may have limited access to educational funding. Financial help from the University itself is not always easy to get, if it is even available. Behrend has shown great initiative with this partnership and has hopes that students will make an effort to get involved.