On Saturday, Feb. 15, Penn State Berks will hold a Lunar New Year celebration with a live performance of the traditional Asian art form of the Lion Dance by Gong Lung (Steel Dragon) Kung Fu and Lion and Dragon Dance in the Perkins Student Center. There will also be a presentation on Asian culture, an opportunity for questions and answers, activities like face painting and light refreshments. This free event runs from 1 to 4 p.m., and is open to the public.
As a college that has always provided a welcoming environment for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, from serving as home to international students from 29 different countries, to numerous clubs and organizations that create a community for students of various backgrounds and identities, to events that celebrate the many cultures of its community, Penn State Berks has announced the newly established Office of Inclusive Excellence.
The Penn State Berks International Klub will host its second annual Diwali Garba Night on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center. The event will include Garba dancing, music, refreshments and crafts. This event is free and open to the public but advanced registration is required.
Penn State Berks will welcome Piscataway Nation singers and dancers to honor and celebrate Indigenous and Native American Heritage Month. The event is free and open to the public and will take place on Monday, Nov. 4, at 12:15 p.m. in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium.
Penn State Berks wrapped up its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 11 with its 12th annual Latino Forum, an outreach effort for local high school students. Chancellor Radha Pyati provided a warm welcome to the students in Spanish, and she reached out to both students and the greater Latino community through a Facebook Live interview on La Mega Radio Station, a Spanish-language station who was on site for the event. Pyati was also interviewed live on La Mega’s Morning Show on Oct. 8.
Penn State Berks will hold its first Queer Con from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, in the Perkins Student Center. This inaugural event will feature a presentation by celebrity guest Carson Kressley, television star and LGBTQ+ advocate. Queer Con is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.
According to the 2020 census, the Hispanic and Latino population of the City of Reading is nearly 69%, up from 58% in 2010. To meet the needs of this growing population, Penn State Berks is expanding its efforts to engage with and support the local Hispanic and Latino communities with several new initiatives.
Eight incoming Penn State Berks students were awarded a four-year scholarship to study engineering through the Penn State Berks Leveraging Innovation and Optimizing Nurturing (LION) STEM Scholars Program. Funded by a U.S. National Science Foundation grant, the main goal of the LION STEM Scholars Program is to enhance the STEM workforce by graduating more diverse high-achieving STEM students who have demonstrated financial need.
As part of the college’s ongoing efforts to engage with and support the local Hispanic and Latino communities, Penn State Berks will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15–Oct. 15, with a variety of vibrant events, educational presentations and cultural showcases. These events include dynamic speakers, Latin cuisine, music, dancing and much more. All events are free and open to the public and most are held at Penn State Berks, except "Enhance Your Customer Service" with Rosa Julia Parra, which will be held at Centro Hispano Daniel Torres in downtown Reading.
