Feature Stories

Catie Farr sits at a café counter with a sliced bagel, display case, and wall of bagels behind her.

Doughing her own thing

Sometimes dreams take the scenic route. For Catie Farr, the road led through lockdown kitchens to a thriving bagel business built with patience, love, and wild yeast.

Layna Henry receives the 2026 Walker Award for Chancellor Ron Darbeau.

Curtain Call

Layna Henry finishes out her college career as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award.

Nathan Davis stands in a hallway of a community organization space decorated with colorful student artwork and motivational messages.

From the courts to campus

Staff Spotlight: Nathan Davis, student services assistant for Penn State Altoona’s Student Affairs office and the Belonging Center

Several people playing pickleball on an indoor court, with players positioned at the net and a ball in play.

King of the Court: The making of Penn State Altoona’s resident sport humanities scholar

Kyle King brings his passion for sport on the court to the classroom and beyond.

Five people seated on stage in a panel discussion, with a projected image of a circle of chairs in a library behind them.

A professor of sociology at Penn State Altoona, Amir Marvasti, has conducted research for decades on topics like race and ethnicity and the social construction of emotions. Now, some of his data has been turned into drama for the stage.

Rail Transportation Engineering

Join Penn State Altoona’s ABET-accredited Rail Transportation Engineering program and gain skills to excel in the rapidly growing, modernizing rail industry.

Two people browse clothing racks, one wearing a Penn State shirt and smiling while holding a phone.

Secondhand Style, Firsthand Confidence

Two Penn State Altoona Career Services initiatives are supporting student success through clothing

Man in a Penn State shirt stands outside Ivyside Eats food pantry at Penn State Altoona, smiling at the camera.

Turning Education into Action

After learning about Penn State Altoona’s Ivyside Eats food pantry, Joe Bilka is helping ensure that his fellow students have enough to eat.

A vintage wooden radio with large dials sits on weathered wooden planks inside a dark shed, with moonlight illuminating a misty field and trees in the background.

Inner Frequency

An audio drama produced by convergent media students was used as a teaching tool for a Canadian youth workshop this summer.

Penn State Altoona to open dedicated vets lounge this fall

Student veteran Michael Balmforth believes a new veterans lounge will build community and connection across campus and beyond.