Pennsylvania Western University

When Dana Wenner arrived at PennWest Clarion, she didn't imagine that a single club meeting would change the course of her academic career. Her journey began when the American Chemical Society (ACS) Club visited one of her early classes.

When Hannah Rake arrived at PennWest Clarion, she never expected to become a statewide leader in education. Today, as a junior, she serves as president of Clarion's student PSEA chapter and was recently elected state president-elect of the organization.

For PennWest student Rachael Chobany, the road to her dream career wasn't a straight line. But thanks to the supportive community at PennWest California, her journey was paved with discovery, mentorship and opportunity.

Ari Kaser's path to becoming a PennWest California golfer and a two-time PSAC Athlete of the Week was a series of unexpected turns. A gymnast for most of her life, the Wadsworth, Ohio, native picked up golf after a shoulder injury at age 14 led her to seek a new sport. With a golf coach for a father and a family full of golfers, she had grown up surrounded by the game. Her gymnastics background gave her a unique advantage: the ability to "hit the ball really far, especially for a girl."

The journey to PennWest Clarion was a long one for Luna Castellanos, both in distance and in time. As an international student, she knew that athletics would be her pathway to an American education. Her connection to PennWest Clarion came through a teammate at a Texas club, who had previously dived with Luna's current coach, Heath Calhoun. That small connection sparked a recruitment process that would change her life. After visiting the campus, Luna "already knew I really wanted to come here." The feeling of being a PennWest student-athlete is profoundly meaningful to her. "If I wasn't a student athlete, I probably wouldn't be getting my degree here in the States," said Castellanos, who is pursuing dual degrees in psychology and criminal justice. "It's just like it's opened the doors for me and I love this campus and I love to represent it with everything I have." Luna's dedication to her sport is evident in her recent, historic accomplishments. She was named Division II Women's Diver of the Year after a national title sweep, winning both the one-meter and three-meter dive championships in Indianapolis. Her score of 542.55 in the three-meter dive didn't just win; it shattered both the school and national meet records. Despite her success, Luna is candid about the mental challenges of her sport. She still gets scared before some dives, but she relies on a strong support system, including her coaches and a sports psychologist. Her mental preparation for a dive is simple but powerful: "I just try to take a deep breath, remind myself that I've done this before and I'm capable of doing it again." She is a firm believer in the importance of time management, noting that it was initially difficult but that her coaches are very supportive, always reminding her that academics come first. Her advice to new students is to "get yourself out there" and to utilize all the resources available on campus. She encourages students to surround themselves with people who have the same goals and mentality because "at the end of the day, those people are going to become your family here." Luna Castellanos's story exemplifies PennWest's commitment to providing a supportive community that allows students to thrive. Her journey from international student to national champion showcases how PennWest helps students achieve their ambitions, fostering an environment where talent, dedication, and resiliency can lead to incredible success. Luna was recently featured on PennWest's Podcast, "The Power of PennWest." Listen to her story here.

When Sydney Cochran passes through the Natali Student Center on the PennWest California campus, she hopes students see someone they can approach.

Some students dip a toe into campus life. Bethany Morrow dove in. Morrow swore into the Army National Guard at 17, works weekend doubles as a CNA, mentors and tutors for PennWest Clarion's TRIO Upward Bound program, serves as an ambassador, and leads Clarion's Student Senate.

When JT Taylor's previous college unfortunately shut down, he was forced to find a new academic and athletic home. A native of Pittsburgh, he came to PennWest Edinboro as a transfer student from Notre Dame College. His first visit to the campus was all he needed to know he had found the right place.

When Ruthie Karsteter first visited Edinboro, something clicked, despite her initial reluctance to follow her older brother, Paige, who was already a senior on campus.

Eight students from PennWest's Finance and Personal Financial Planning program, led by professor Dr. Nan Li, participated in a professional development trip to Pittsburgh. During the two-day experience, PennWest students visited four leading financial firms in the region: Allegheny Financial Group, Beratung Advisors, Federated Hermes, and Fort Pitt Capital Group.

When PennWest Edinboro senior Hayden Stippich stepped onto the lanes in Chicago for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Trials, he wasn't just competing for pins - he was chasing a lifelong dream. With a commanding total pinfall of 10,917 (+1,317), the 24-year-old McKean, Pa., native captured the tournament title, earning full-time entry on the 2025 PBA Tour and eligibility for the PBA Elite League draft.

A group of PennWest University students had the chance to sharpen their professional skills and make meaningful employer connections during the 2025 CFA Society of Pittsburgh Career Fair, held Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh.

When PennWest Edinboro senior Taney Basinger steps into a studio or classroom, her energy and drive are immediately evident. Whether leading an animation project, mentoring new students, or curating social media content for a national landmark, Basinger embodies the qualities of a young leader on the rise. That dedication earned her recognition this fall as Edinboro's nominee for the ATHENA Young Professional Award. The award, an extension of the internationally renowned ATHENA Leadership Award, honors outstanding young college students who demonstrate both professional excellence and a commitment to serving their communities.

Congrats to the nearly 3,000 undergraduate students named to Pennsylvania Western University's Spring 2025 Dean's List. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who achieve high academic standards will be identified for placement on the Dean's List in accordance with the following criteria: The student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.40. The student must earn a minimum of 12 graded credits during the semester, not including credits by proficiency examinations, incomplete grades, temporary grades (e.g., Not Reported), or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades.

Congrats to over 3,000 undergraduate students named to Pennsylvania Western University's Fall 2024 Dean's List. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who achieve high academic standards will be identified for placement on the Dean's List in accordance with the following criteria: The student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.40. The student must earn a minimum of 12 graded credits during the semester, not including credits by proficiency examinations, incomplete grades, temporary grades (e.g., Not Reported), or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades.

Five PennWest students gave oral presentations at the Duquesne-PennWest Conference on Global Bioethics, held at Duquesne University's campus in Pittsburgh from November 7-9.

With plans to attend law school after graduation, PennWest criminal justice major Jessica Ashworth was looking for ways to expand her resume and extend her learning experiences beyond the classroom. After a quick consultation with her advisor, criminal justice professor Dr. Kevin Courtright, Ashworth is now developing instructor materials for a book written by respected corrections veteran, author, correctional trainer and instructor Gary Cornelius.

Pennsylvania Western University celebrated the academic achievements of more than 1,700 graduates during spring 2024 commencement ceremonies.

California senior Noah Bernarding was recently voted a Third-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators (CSC). Bernarding becomes the program's second Academic All-American in the last three years and the 10th all-time in program history - all since 2009.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced its nominees for the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year. Clarion alumna London Fuller (Baltimore, Md., Baltimore Polytechnic) was one of the conference's two nominees for the prestigious honor, joining Gannon's Sam Pirosko.

California (PA) junior pitcher/utility Caleigh Rister repeated as a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Third-Team Academic All-American on Tuesday afternoon, becoming the fourth multi-time Academic All-American in program history.

Congratulations to students at Pennsylvania Western University who have been named to the Dean's List for the 2024 spring semester. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who achieve high academic standards will be identified for placement on the Dean's List in accordance with the following criteria: The student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.40. The student must earn a minimum of 12 graded credits during the semester, not including credits by proficiency examinations, incomplete grades, temporary grades (e.g., Not Reported), or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades

PennWest California's University Players will roll for initiative as they present "She Kills Monsters," a drama-comedy play written by Qui Nguyen that uses the famous tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons to explore concepts of loss and sexuality. The performances will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 22-24 and 2 p.m. Feb. 24, all at Steele Hall's Blaney Theatre.

In recognition of a stellar start to the season, California sophomore guard KJ McClurg was featured on the initial Bevo Francis Award Watch List. The Bevo Francis Award is presented annually to the player who had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball, which is comprised of NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA.

Congratulations to students at Pennsylvania Western University who have been named to the Dean's List for the 2023 fall semester. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who achieve high academic standards will be identified for placement on the Dean's List in accordance with the following criteria: The student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.40. The student must earn a minimum of 12 graded credits during the semester, not including credits by proficiency examinations, incomplete grades, temporary grades (e.g., Not Reported), or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades

Outside hitter Cassidy Snider became the fifth player in program history to earn Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Athlete of the Year honors, highlighting a trio of Golden Eagles named to the all-conference team on Thursday afternoon.

Senior Malia Anderson earned an individual qualifier for the NCAA National Championships for a consecutive year, as the Vulcans finished No. 11 at the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday morning. Led by a pair top-10 individuals, the California (PA) women's cross country team registered 281 points to finish 11th at the regional race hosted by Lock Haven. The Vulcans were the only team in the field to feature multiple runners in the top 10 on Saturday.

Eleven students across all three campuses of PennWest University's School of Business recently attended the 2023 Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of Pittsburgh Career Fair.

A team of three PennWest University finance and personal financial planning students recently advanced to the final phases of the Financial Planning Challenge, hosted by the Financial Planning Association (FPA), Ameriprise and the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

Criminal Justice students from PennWest Edinboro toured the Crawford County Correctional Facility in Saegertown, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 20.