We are excited to share with you a new initiative for Penn State Greater Allegheny students who have had experience in foster care. Fostering Lions at Greater Allegheny provides our students with resources to help them successfully meet their goals and graduate from college. Resources include:  

  • Individualized support from campus liaisons. 
  • Priority consideration for student employment, textbook loan assistance, emergency grants, and temporary housing assistance grants administered through the ACE office. 
  • Assistance with identifying financial aid opportunities and finding housing during breaks and over the summer. 

WE ARE here to make difference in the collegiate journey of foster youth on our campus.  WE ARE committed to providing them access to educational advocates who are willing to meet them where they are. WE ARE willing to help them navigate the complexities of the Penn State system. WE ARE willing to help them gain access to key resources.  WE ARE champions for their success.  

Who Qualifies? 

Any student who checks box 53 on the FAFSA, which asks, "At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?"; Please note that if the answer is yes, the student must submit a dependency review packet to Student Aid for “independent status” to be determined.  Students will then qualify for other financial resources.   

A student also qualifies to participate in the program if they self-identify within one of the following categories: 

  • Self-identified as having significant experience in foster care (even if that experience is within your biological family or other kinship care arrangement). 
  • Foster care placement after age 13.  
  • Identification as a youth in foster care, or a youth discharged/adopted from foster care at 16. 

 
Main Point of Contact – Resource Liaison  

Shelly Brown, ACE Academic Counselor 
Trio Student Support Services 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 412-675-9457 

Financial Aid Liaison 

Erica Willis, ACE Director 
Trio Student Support Services 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 412-675-9453 

Mental Health and Social Worker Liaison 

Ann McCurdy, Mental Health and Wellness Counselor/Social Worker 
Student Affairs 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 412-675-9475