A unique educational experience found only at Penn State New Kensington! Learn more here.
The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a unique learning initiative specifically for promising students of any major. The program, which is only available at this campus, provides participants with opportunities to establish innovative skills necessary for the future workforce, network with industry leaders and organizations and build professional experience.
Unlike other programs that require students to be in their third or fourth year before they seek related professional experience, the G.R.E.A.T. Program encourages students to have meaningful experiences as early as their first year at Penn State.
Qualifications
We welcome your application to the G.R.E.A.T. Program if you meet the following qualifications:
- Be an accepted or current Penn State New Kensington Student in any major
- Have a high school or current Penn State New Kensington grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. Students with an overall high school GPA lower than a 3.0 may still apply and be considered for provisional acceptance.
- Submit a G.R.E.A.T. Program Application.
Outcomes
Students gain a competitive edge toward their future career by strengthening and building sought-after skills which business, industry, community, and non-profit partners seek in their employees: adaptability, problem-solving, creative thinking, innovation, collaboration, communication, perseverance, innovation, resilience, entrepreneurial skills, leadership, and service.
Outcomes and experiences in the G.R.E.A.T. Program include:
- Networking with professionals and Penn State alumni to build beneficial connections;
- Increased comfort with interpersonal communications and interviewing;
- Site visits to employer facilities to observe and learn from professionals in the workplace;
- Participation in conferences, meetings and events to build career contacts and confidence;
- Exposure to digital technologies and robotics; and
- Increased understanding of the application of technology for problem solving in any field.
How to Apply
The G.R.E.A.T. Program Application is now closed for the academic year—thank you for your interest!
If you have any questions about the G.R.E.A.T. Program or application process, contact [email protected].
"The G.R.E.A.T. Program has given me the opportunity to have an internship after my first year of college, which is something I never thought would happen. It equipped me with the tools and soft skills that I needed to prepare and go on an interview, as well as to enter the workforce, by giving me knowledge and experience very early on in my career and education." - Heather Shultz
"It introduced me to a lot of great people around campus and led me to land an internship at the end of my first year. With direct help from everyone in the GREAT Program, I am already meeting my goals of gaining experience in an engineering related field." - Nicholas Gavran
"My biggest takeaway from the G.R.E.A.T. Program is the hands-on experience I'm gaining from working in a research lab and being able to have conversations with the engineers I work with about their careers and the paths they took." - Sedona Rogers
"If it wasn't for the G.R.E.A.T. Program, I wouldn't have had the amazing internship that I did and a great employment opportunity before I even graduated." - Lynsie Headley