Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State

Cocoziello Institute advances workforce development through student summit | Penn State University Penn State students got a firsthand look at the future of construction during the Cocoziello Institute’s Constructing Tomorrow Student Summit in Pittsburgh. From construction robotics demonstrations to networking with industry leaders, the trip showcased how innovation, workforce development and c...

! We're looking back on the past 9+ years of City Semester, as we get ready to welcome a new cohort of students this month!

This summer, students will intern with community partners across Pittsburgh while exploring impact-driven careers and building connections throughout the city. We’ll be sharing their experiences all summer long...stay tuned.

Congratulations to the Penn State Class of 2026!

Sending a massive congratulations from the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center to all the Penn State graduates who crossed the stage this weekend! You have worked so hard for this moment, and we are thrilled to welcome you to the alumni family.

To the parents, families, friends, and mentors who supported these students along the way: congratulations to you, too! It takes a village. 💙 🤍

Last week, the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State welcomed guests from across the Pittsburgh region for the inaugural Flourishing in Adolescence Summit, hosted by Penn State College of Health and Human Development.

The summit brought together educators, researchers, counselors, and community leaders to explore new ways to support high school students well-being and mental health through programs and curriculum.

We’re proud to provide a space for meaningful conversations and partnerships that strengthen education and student success across Pennsylvania.

Thank you to the Penn State faculty, students, and partners who helped make the summit possible, including the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center at Penn State and The Grable Foundation.

Last week, our Center Director, Tom Bartnik, joined Penn State New Kensington as the keynote speaker for their Climate Resilience and Adaptation Project Fair.

Students in the Energy and Environment course showcased their final projects, tackling real-world climate challenges across power generation, transmission, and distribution. It’s inspiring to see Penn State students leading the way with ideas that can shape a more sustainable energy landscape.

As Earth Week comes to a close, we’re highlighting some of our community partners in Pittsburgh who are making an impact across every corner of sustainability, every day.

We’re grateful to collaborate with organizations working across air, energy, water, food, and land including:

AIR 💨
• Bike Pittsburgh: multimodal transportation that promotes cleaner air and safer streets
• Breathe Project: regional hub for air quality data and resources
• Tree Pittsburgh: expands and protects Pittsburgh’s tree canopy to reduce pollution

ENERGY ⚡️
• Exus Renewables North America: advances clean energy transition from its Pittsburgh headquarters
• Green Building Alliance: creates high-performing, sustainable buildings and spaces
• Sustainable Pittsburgh: convenes regional partners through its Clean Energy Workforce Roundtable

WATER 💧
• Riverlife: activates and connects Pittsburgh’s riverfronts
• Three Rivers Waterkeeper: protects water quality across regional watersheds
• UpstreamPgh: advances resilient watershed restoration

FOOD 🥪
• 412 Food Rescue: rescues surplus food to reduce waste and fight food insecurity
• Grow Pittsburgh: supports urban agriculture and local food-growing initiatives
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: ensures access to healthy food for all

LAND 🍃
• Allegheny County Conservation District: protects soil, water, and natural resources
• Landforce: builds environmental and workforce pathways through land stewardship
• City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning: helps shape a shared vision for Pittsburgh’s future

As Pittsburgh welcomes national attention this week during the NFL Draft events, we created space to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the meaningful work happening across our region every day.

In honor of Earth Week, the Center hosted a special lunch and networking gathering with community partners and Penn State leadership, faculty, staff, and students.

It was a great afternoon of conversation, new connections, and collaboration around the future of Pittsburgh.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

The idea of thinking globally and acting locally is often used in conversations about sustainability and positive environmental change. At our Center, it’s already in action year-round.

Through our student- and community-driven programming, we connect classroom learning with real-world experiences and impact. We bring students, faculty, and community partners together through internships, class visits, research projects, and capstone presentations to explore sustainability challenges and help develop local solutions.

We’re proud to be part of that work every day.

Join us for the next Careers in Action webinar featuring professionals from Exus Renewables North America, as they share their career journeys and what it’s like to work on the technical side of wind, solar, and battery storage projects.

This session will spotlight the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Technical Support team. Attendees will hear directly from professionals about:
• How they got started in the industry
• What their day-to-day work looks like
• Advice for building skills and breaking into the field

Tuesday, April 28 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Zoom

Register:

Careers in Action: Technical Engineering, Procurement, and Construction - Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State Learn from the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Technical Support team, the group responsible for analyzing, designing, and optimizing renewable energy projects before and during development, construction, and operations.

While many college students spent their spring break catching up on sleep, traveling or heading somewhere warm, more than 40 Penn State students and staff chose to spend their week serving communities across Pennsylvania - facilitated by Penn State Outreach.

"I love helping others, and volunteering is one way I can give back to those in need within my community. When I first heard about this opportunity, I was excited not only to spend my spring break giving back, but also to volunteer close to home and support my local community. I’m grateful for experiences like this that continue to shape my perspective and remind me why service matters."
–Kelvin Lendeh, a criminal justice major from Penn State Berks

Read more:

Student, staff volunteers spend spring break serving Pennsylvania communities | Penn State University Volunteers from Penn State Abington, Beaver, Berks, Fayette, New Kensington and University Park spent spring break volunteering at food pantries in Pittsburgh and the Greater Philadelphia Region.