Lifelink PSU, a unique partnership between the State College Area School District (SCASD) and Penn State, provides an opportunity for special education high school students ages 18 to 21 to interact with others by taking Penn State courses and engaging in University activities.
However, the Lifelink PSU program met a new reality when both the school district and the University announced that classes would be held remotely due to the impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Although there was concern from families on how Lifelink PSU would continue the program in its standard capacity, program staff and Penn State student volunteers, called mentors, have been working diligently via Zoom to bridge the socialization gap.
Ellen Cannizzaro, program coordinator for Lifelink PSU, explained that continuing the program as usual, is essential because having a schedule is important to Lifelink PSU students.
“Our students and mentors handled all of this so well,” Cannizzaro said. “For my students to know there’s still structure has been helpful. I’m truly amazed at how they embraced this new normal and how incredible our mentors are. They stepped up to be there for our students, and some of these friendships between students and mentors go on for years. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Currently, Lifelink PSU has over 600 mentors, a record for the organization, and four full-time learning-support staff that normally work with students in their classroom located within the HUB-Robeson Center. Mentors would take Lifelink PSU students to their Penn State classes, assist with notes and assignments, have lunch with them and spend time with them in the HUB classroom.
Lifelink PSU students, during the spring 2020 semester, met online every morning at 8:15 a.m. and would end each day at 2:45 p.m. Mentors tried to move forward as smoothly as possible, such as hosting their regular sessions, like fitness classes and reading hours, via Zoom.
