Rally supporting Penn State New Kensington underscores educational, economic needs

Kelli Collins believes Penn State New Kensington changed her daughter’s life.

“For a kid that struggled in high school, she ended up on the Dean’s List,” Collins said of her daughter, Molly, who graduated from the Upper Burrell campus last year. “She gained so much self-confidence from this school because they believed in her.”

And although Molly got an athletic scholarship from another college upon graduation from Riverview High School five years ago, Penn State New Kensington’s small, friendly and affordable campus was a much better fit for her, her mother said during a Thursday rally drumming up support for the campus.

“This is the best deal you can get in a college, financially,” Collins said. “It’s the deal of a lifetime. Molly got a four-year degree for under $40,000.”

About a dozen speakers ranging from elected and appointed officials to graduates and current students spoke to the educational opportunities Penn State New Kensington provides and its impact on regional economic development and the workforce during the event at New Kensington City Hall.

In late February, Penn State administrators announced some branch campuses will close because of declining enrollment, demographic shifts and finances.

In addition to New Kensington, other campuses potentially on the chopping block are Fayette, Beaver and Greater Allegheny in McKeesport.

The decision on closures will be made before Penn State’s spring commencement exercises. No campus would close before the end of the 2026-27 school year.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said that, because of the college, dreams in the city have become a reality.

The Corner Launchbox, an entrepreneur training center and co-working space, helped open about 140 new businesses in the city over the past four years.

The Digital Foundry, a business development service, is one of four smart manufacturing centers nationwide, Guzzo said, and efforts have welcomed Re:Build Manufacturing to the city, which aims to hire 300 people over the next couple of years.

“For the first time in a long time, New Kensington isn’t talked about in terms of what we used to be, but now it’s about what we can be and what we are,” Guzzo said.

Student Alexandra Reilly, who is in her third year studying criminal justice, said attending Penn State New Kensington was optimal to her financially and it helped being close to family. She initially was going to complete two years at Penn State New Kensington before finishing her degree at University Park, but “once I started at Penn State New Kensington, it was clearly where I belonged.”

“This campus has allowed me to earn a Penn State degree but in a way that was most beneficial to my circumstances and needs,” she said.

Closing Penn State New Kensington would hinder economic growth and educational opportunities not only in New Kensington but the Alle-Kiski Valley, speakers said. Carl Tutak, a 2016 graduate and manager of radiology operations at the Allegheny Health Network, emphasized the importance of the college’s radiology program to local health care institutions.

The campus provides high-quality, accessible education, Tutak said, and prevents local, talented students from relocating elsewhere for more lucrative opportunities that can plague smaller communities like New Kensington. That, in turn, contributes to the economic vitality of the region, he said.

“The impact of losing this campus and losing this program is unmistakable, he said. “Local hospitals, including the one in which I work at, benefit directly from a steady stream of highly competent graduates.”

Professors and staff at Penn State New Kensington foster opportunities for education and growth for students, said Alyssa Albini of Kittanning, who is in her second year studying Radiologic Sciences. She’s not sure what she would have done post-high school graduation had it not been for the Upper Burrell campus.

“Penn State is a reputable name, and New Kensington is the closest,” she said. “I believe it’s definitely an important aspect to our area. It’s a very good opportunity across all fields at Penn State New Kensington.”

The campus also provides an affordable and accessible option for people in this area, especially for nontraditional students and first-generation college students, like state Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville.

“We have a chance to chart a stronger path, creating thriving businesses that will hire our young professionals,” Cooper said. “Imagine the possibility if these creative partnerships are expanded, not shut down.”