UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State and State College Area School District (SCASD) recently agreed to continue the LifeLink PSU program, a symbiotic relationship that has a positive impact for both local public-school students and Penn State students alike.
Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity, LifeLink PSU supports SCASD students with disabilities ages 18-22 as they gain the skills and independence needed to be successful in life by pairing them with mentors at the University Park campus to help them navigate the University through social and educational opportunities.
“We are truly honored to sponsor LifeLink PSU,” said SeriaShia Chatters, Penn State associate vice provost for Educational Equity. “Our partnership aims to support the State College Area School District as they provide educational programming for students with disabilities and support for their families. LifeLink PSU continues to offer invaluable services while also providing excellent volunteer opportunities for Penn State students and continues to be a valued member of the Penn State University Park community.”
Since SCASD students with disabilities are eligible to stay in public education until they are 22, they often do not have the chance to be in the same spaces and to learn alongside their peers. Teri Linder, founder of LifeLink PSU and former SCASD special education teacher, recognized this as a problem and had the idea to build the initial partnership with the Penn State College of Education.
“This partnership allows students to interact with their same-age peers as well as Penn State student mentors — a combination that has proven to foster social and academic growth since 2002,” said Heather Pringle, State College Area School District director of special education and LifeLink PSU program supervisor. “The students who participate demonstrate increased behavioral and cognitive development because of the opportunities they receive.”
LifeLink PSU started as a small project and has blossomed to include hundreds of Penn State students a semester, mentoring local special-needs students as they navigate and acclimate to being part of the Penn State community.
Perspective LifeLink students must apply to be part of the program with an application, letter of recommendation and transcripts — much like applying to college. In addition to their application, students also must have paid or volunteer work experience while in the program. Most students work part-time jobs while also volunteering for community organizations. In the past, students have held positions at community businesses like The Nittany Lion Inn, Berkey Creamery and Discovery Space.
“The LifeLink PSU program is extraordinarily unique and impacts the trajectory of both SCASD special education students and their Penn State mentor students,” said Amy Bader, SCASD board director. “Our students with special needs have the opportunity for a college experience while building skills and confidence, and Penn State mentors learn so much from working with these SCASD students.”
While the initial partnership was with the College of Education, not all student mentors are from the college, but education majors make up a large portion of mentors in the program.
“A foundational belief of the Penn State College of Education is that everyone deserves equal access to education and to be treated with dignity and respect. We not only talk about the importance of neurodiversity and learning differences but create an environment where it is part of our students’ daily lives,” said Kim Lawless, dean of the College of Education. “We greatly value our partnership with LifeLink PSU because it allows students from State College Area School District to benefit while simultaneously enriching the academic careers of our students. It teaches our students lessons they’ll carry with them throughout their professional and personal lives.”
Penn State LifeLink mentors assist students by accompanying them to classes, helping with note taking and assignments, and providing social support so that they can become engaged members of the community. They also engage in social activities like eating and spending time together in the HUB-Robeson Center.
“The mentorship program gives Penn State students interested in learning more about individuals with special needs the opportunity to learn about diverse learning styles across a wide variety of contexts,” Pringle said.
During the 2023-24 school year, LifeLink PSU had 302 Penn State mentors accumulate a total of 5,515 volunteer hours with students.
“Throughout my years as a mentor, I have watched many students in this program blossom into mature and magnificent individuals,” said Kayla Moninger, former LifeLink PSU mentor. “I have practiced speeches and interviews with them, and I have watched them obtain college acceptances, jobs and other notable achievements as a result. Rather than a mentor, however, I truly think of myself as a friend and peer to these students. In many scenarios, I strove to emulate an upperclassmen position for the students, who took on the role of underclassmen who just needed a little guidance navigating such a vast campus.”
Moninger turned her mentorship into a full-time position within LifeLink PSU as a special education paraprofessional in the classroom this past year. She recently graduated from Penn State on the pre-medicine track with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and will be attending Ohio State University to continue her dream of becoming a physician.
Any Penn State University Park student who meets LifeLink PSU’s requirements is eligible to become a mentor. Interested students can email LifeLink PSU program teachers Ryan Gill at rtg11@SCASD.org and Peyton Stark at pas20@SCASD.org for more information. Anyone interested in learning more about SCASD special education can reach out to Pringle at hrp13@SCASD.org.
The newest memorandum of understanding between Penn State and SCASD extends the LifeLink PSU partnership for an additional four years at its current capacity.