Lycoming College receives PPL grant to support new programs

Williamsport, Pa. — The PPL Foundation has awarded Lycoming College with an $8,850 grant to build connections between students and the local community.

The two programs receiving the funds — Partnership Welcome Week and OpenWilliamsport — were successfully piloted during the 2022-2023 academic year.

The programs were designed to foster relationships, community, belonging, and understanding among citizens of the greater Williamsport area and Lycoming students from diverse geographic and cultural backgrounds. The programs serve to foster these students’ transition into the broader Williamsport community and to give community members greater opportunity to interact with, learn from, and support them.

Partnership Welcome Week organizes events that bring students into the community as they first arrive, acquainting them with local businesses and leaders. OpenWilliamsport pairs students with recruited host families, provides outings for them in the community, and encourages building meaningful relationships through mutual understanding.

Last year, the programs included field trips to the Little League World Series, Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat, and Knoebels Amusement Resort, as well as organized city walking tours, team-building community service projects, and a luncheon with Mayor Derek Slaughter and Chief of Police Justin Snyder.

“Lycoming College is so thankful to receive the PPL grant,” said PageCarol Woods, Ed.D., associate dean of student success. “This grant will allow our students, who come from hundreds of miles away, to experience Williamsport and Lycoming County in a unique way so they can visualize themselves becoming a part of this wonderful community! This grant will continue to allow our community to not only be a part of our students’ lives, but also grow with our students.”

“PPL supports communities where all are respected, valued and free to reach their full potential in life,” said Lissette Santana, PPL Foundation president. “The PPL Foundation is proud to recognize programs supporting underserved communities and advancing equity and inclusion in the communities we serve.”

The PPL Foundation announced the recipients of its Powering Equity Grants, awarding $203,000 in grants to support 30 organizations working to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the communities they serve.

Related reading: PPL Foundation awards Powering Equity grants; applications open for Empowering Communities grants