On Nov. 9, Penn State rehabilitation and human services students will transform the Reading Recreation Commission, located at 320 S. Third St., into a pop-up playground for children ages 5-12 in the city of Reading. The goals of the initiative are to give children in the city of Reading a true ‘free play’ experience and to provide rehabilitation and human services majors an opportunity to create, facilitate and analyze a play experience.
This summer, 15 Penn State Berks students traveled with their faculty adviser to Orange, Texas, to work with children affected by Hurricane Harvey as part of Camp Noah, a week-long day camp that responds to children touched by community disasters.
A favorite quote for Katherine Giorgi, a Penn State Berks student marshal and commencement speaker representing the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Division, is Lao Tzu’s “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
There’s a good reason why Penn State Berks student Robert “Robby” Pearson wants to give back after he graduates. “I have always wanted to help people; it came natural to me,” he said.
After serving his country and traveling the world as a Navy combat medic, James Holmes returned to the U.S. with an honorable discharge and a severe case of undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
