UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) is a program of Student Affairs that supports students in recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders. On April 18 the program held its Spring Celebration of Recovery on Zoom. The celebration is an event held each semester in which current Penn State students, alumni, family and friends gather to acknowledge their various recovery milestones.  

The event was led by a speech from Patrick K., an alumnus of the Penn State CRC, after which students were invited to take a chip and say a few words. At the end, attendees celebrated graduating members.

While the event had to be moved online from its typical location in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, more than 70 people attended, including the current members as well as alumni representing every era of the CRC.

“I’m proud of our community for weathering this period of social distancing,” said Jason Whitney, Penn State CRC program coordinator. “They are a highly supportive community, and they have made the best of the situation from the beginning. This celebration was a huge success, and the capstone of a very strong year for our students in recovery.”

Since Penn State’s move to remote learning, the CRC has been successful in converting to a remote format and continuing to provide support and online space for students in recovery. The CRC holds virtual peer support seminars every day from Monday through Friday.