Trade and Technical Information

This summer, the Office of Education and Social Equity in the College of Education will once again sponsor the Summer College Opportunity Program in Education (S.C.O.P.E.). This program provides high school 10th graders of diverse backgrounds interested in education careers (teaching, counseling, rehabilitation, special education, vocational education, education policy, etc.) the opportunity to experience college life while earning credit for college work.

S.C.O.P.E. is a four (4) week academic intensive program during which students take several courses including a Research and Writing course, an academic skills course, and a college preparatory course.  The program will run in its’ entirety from Tuesday, June 30th, through Friday, July 24th, 2026.  The program will be held at the University Park campus located in State College, Pennsylvania.

The program comes at no fee to the participant and will be challenging academically, but students having completed the program leave with a renewed sense of potential and determination.  It is our hope to prepare students for a successful college experience.  Overall, S.C.O.P.E. is a wonderful opportunity through which students get a feel for education careers, college life in general and Penn State in particular.

To be eligible, a student must meet the following criteria:

·       be of a traditionally underrepresented background in the education profession

·       be a high school 10th grader during the 2025-2026 academic year, and matriculating in the 11th grade for 2026-2027 academic year

·       planning to attend a four-year college or university

·       have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or better

·       be interested in a career in the Education field (teaching, counseling, rehabilitation, special education, vocational education, education policy, etc.)

We also concentrate our efforts on the recruitment of potential first-generation college students and students with limited financial resources.

The S.C.O.P.E. application requires the nomination of the school guidance counselor, teacher or other school/program official. S.C.O.P.E. is actively recruiting students interested in careers in the field of education.  We recognize that students in their 10th grade year of high school are often still exploring career interests; however, because of limited space, our focus is on those students showing interest in education professions.  We are asking that nominators fully consider their candidate and evaluate that individual’s interest in working in the educational field. Due to the high number of applications we receive, we will be screening candidates very carefully.  The nomination and letters of recommendation will be an important factor in our selection process; however, a nomination is not tantamount to an applicant’s acceptance.

The application due date (postmark date) is January 26th, 2026.  Flyers and applications along with additional recommendation and nomination forms may be downloaded from our website: https://ed.psu.edu/about/deans-office/office-education-and-social-equity/summer-college-opportunity-program-education. For further information about the program or application procedures, do not hesitate to contact our office at oese-coe@psu.edu.   

PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarships - $10,000 – 57 Awards (Deadline: May 1, 2025) 

To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: 

A) Be currently enrolled in or plan to enroll in a PHCC-approved plumbing or HVACR apprentice program. 

Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/8983/phcc_educational_foundation_scholarships 

HVAC Hero Scholarship - $2,500 - 30 Awards (Deadline: May 31, 2025) 

To be eligible for the scholarship a student must: 

A) Be enrolled or plan to enroll in an HVAC technical program at an accredited institution. 

B) Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Applications can be found by going to: https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/31733/hvac-hero-scholarship 

For the eleventh year in a row, we're launching the next Work Ethic Scholarship Program and giving away another $1,000,000 in scholarships this year. We’re looking for hardworking men and women who will keep the lights on, water running, and air flowing--people who will show up early, stay late, and bust their asses to get the job done. It's not for everyone, but we know hard workers are out there.

The next scholarship cycle launches FEBRUARY 12, 2025. YOU’LL HAVE TO:

• Enroll in an approved program.

• Sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge.

• Answer 4 questions about the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge.

• Make a video.

• Have 2 solid references from a teacher or boss.

• Verify your school costs.

• Provide high school or college transcript.

• Send your most recent 1040 tax form.

• Submit your application no later than April 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM PT.

Approved Programs

• Automotive Technology

• Aviation Technology

• Commercial Driving

• Construction

• Computer Information Technology

• Cosmetology

• Culinary Arts

• Diesel Technology

• Electrical Technology

• Energy Technology

• Farming & Agriculture

• Heavy Equipment Operation

• HVAC

• Machining

• Manufacturing

• Marine Technology

• Nursing

• Plumbing

• Protective Services

• Welding

• Veterinary Technology

The following programs are NOT available for this scholarship:

• Any four-year or bachelor's degree program

• Diving

• Registered Nursing, Dental, Laboratory, or healthcare programs

• Veterinary physician/medicine

How to Apply:

Go To Scholarship Application