UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — High school students head into the new school year prepared with new skills for success after participating in the first ever Community Hero Initiative Program (CHIP) this summer at Penn State. 

During the camp, held in partnership with the College of Health and Human Development and Penn State Conferences and Institutes, students worked to develop and improve their social, physical, nutritional and emotional health so they can make a positive impact in the world through outreach and advocacy. Participants included students from State College Area School District, Bald Eagle Area School District, Philipsburg-Osceola School District and an international student from Lima, Peru.  

The program was created by Associate Teaching Professor of Kinesiology Lori Gravish after she helped launch Interdisciplinary Study of Street Medicine, a for-credit course offered to Penn State students that embedded students in Los Angeles to learn about the growing problem of unhoused people. Gravish said leading that impactful program left her wondering how she could continue the mission closer to home. She realized there was an opportunity in youth outreach. 

“I strongly believe that in order to have impact of advocacy and leadership in our youth, it requires that they need to take care of themselves first,” Gravish said. “With mental health being a top priority of our nation, I wanted to create a camp focused on the four dimensions of health: social, physical, nutritional and emotional.” 

Each day during CHIP, students focused on one of those dimensions and came back to reflect on the experience. Some of the opportunities students experienced included touring Penn State Athletics buildings and stadiums, participating in a mindful yoga session, completing a farm tour and a discussion on food insecurities, taking a tour of Housing Transitions — a housing program in State College — and more.  

For State College Area High School Student Leila Crandall, the experience gave her a greater understanding of college life, health and medicine, something she said she is considering studying in the future. 

“I gained tools that will help my own well-being as I strive to live a life of impact,” Crandall said. “There can be a lot going on sometimes, so learning how to center ourselves has been helpful.” 

Gravish was able to get grants and work with local school districts to help make the cost accessible to students who wished to participate. 

“We are not just reaching students who are going to college. This program is open to all students,” Gravish said. “I want to teach these students that in every role in America, whether you are builder, whether you are a fuel truck driver, whether you are a cosmetologist, there is always a way to give back.” 

After completing the program, students were given a new challenge to continue their work as part of the Penn State Community Hero Ambassador Master Program (CHAMP). In the program, students are charged to complete 40 hours of service in their community to receive recognition from Penn State. Gravish will present the award to the students at their respective schools. 

“Curiosity builds outreach and advocacy and that is true impact in my eyes. We ask them, 'you just finished CHIP, now do you want to be the CHAMP?'” Gravish said. “We are working to give these kids the opportunities and then at the end of the four days, we have empowered these students. That is what advocacy is.” 

State College Area High School student Yidi Zhang and Amber Yang both came into camp with volunteer experience through their church and at school. Both said they are excited to continue to use what they learned in the camp to make an impact in their community. 

“Being a community hero to me is being someone who is actively doing something to help out the community and improve the community for everyone,” Yang said. 

“We are both participating in CHAMP, and we are excited to continue volunteering, and I think it will give us a great opportunity to continue giving back,” Zhang said. 

Conferences and Institutes is a program of Penn State Outreach. 

More information about CHIP is available here.