2024 Engineering Ahead cohort in the community | Image Gallery #33386 | Penn State Berks

Students in Penn State Berks' 2024 Engineering Ahead cohort not only gained valuable classroom experience prior to officially beginning their college experience, but also became familiar with the greater Reading and Berks County area.

Students wearing protective gear use power tools to build a box made of lumber — Once the larger parts of the rock box and outdoor mud kitchen were built in the engineering lab, the Engineering Ahead students assembled the pieces in their final home at the Opportunity House's outdoor playscape in downtown Reading.

Credit: Samantha Bower

Students wearing orange safety vests sort groceries into large cardboard bins — One community service aspect of the Engineering Ahead program included donating time to Helping Harvest Food Bank, where they sorted food donations that would later be disseminated to food insecure individuals throughout Berks and Schuylkill counties.

Credit: Samantha Bower

Students wearing protective gear use power tools to build a box made of lumber — Once the larger parts of the rock box and outdoor mud kitchen were built in the engineering lab, the Engineering Ahead students assembled the pieces in their final home at the Opportunity House's outdoor playscape in downtown Reading.

Credit: Samantha Bower

Students wearing orange safety vests sort groceries into large cardboard bins — One community service aspect of the Engineering Ahead program included donating time to Helping Harvest Food Bank, where they sorted food donations that would later be disseminated to food insecure individuals throughout Berks and Schuylkill counties.

Credit: Samantha Bower

Students wearing protective gear use power tools to build a box made of lumber — Once the larger parts of the rock box and outdoor mud kitchen were built in the engineering lab, the Engineering Ahead students assembled the pieces in their final home at the Opportunity House's outdoor playscape in downtown Reading.

Credit: Samantha Bower