World Campus sends students to participate in Capital Day for first time

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Penn State World Campus sent students with their Penn State peers from across the commonwealth to attend Advocate Penn State’s Capital Day in Harrisburg for the first time.

Each year, Capital Day offers students from every Penn State campus the opportunity to meet with legislators and their staff to advocate for state funding and show the impact of Penn State. Advocate Penn State encourages all Penn State students to share how the University has impacted them.

Students traveled to the capital on April 14 for a day packed with meetings and networking, culminating in a press conference.

Penn State World Campus student Jeremy Griffith was among the Nittany Lions who spoke with legislators. Griffith began his Penn State journey at Penn State Berks and now studies information science and technology online through Penn State World Campus.

He shared how Penn State World Campus allows students to earn a Penn State degree without pausing their lives.

"Capital Day is a great opportunity to showcase what Penn State is all about and spread the word about why investing in Penn State matters,” he said. "Your classroom is bigger than your laptop. There's a whole community behind you, and this is another reminder of that."

Penn State World Campus students Morgan Sattesahn and Muhammad Ahmer Khan also attended the event. Sattesahn joined University Park students and met with legislators and their staff members, including Rep. Scott Conklin, who serves the 77th District in Centre County. Khan attended meetings and discussed the financial challenges faced by students, as well as the workforce retention and economic development impacts of funding.

The Penn State World Campus Student Affairs office helped organize the students’ participation.

“We are incredibly proud of how our World Campus students show up as leaders,” said Marly Doty, Penn State World Campus director of Student Affairs. “Our students may learn online, but their impact is felt everywhere from their local communities to the halls of the Capitol.”

In addition to student voices in the state Capitol, many Penn Staters also acted through Advocate Penn State’s digital advocacy campaign to let state leaders know they support funding for Penn State and its students. Anyone who has not yet participated can still support the campaign by going to advocate.psu.edu to speak up for Penn State’s funding.

A Penn State education online

Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years. Learn more about the degree and certificate programs available to online learners on the Penn State World Campus website.