Pitch Summit set for April 27

Six colleges will be competing in a pitch-off in the inaugural Lehigh Valley Collegiate Business Pitch Summit from 6 to 9 p.m. April 27 at Ben Franklin TechVentures, Innovation Institute, fourth floor, Lehigh University Mountaintop Campus.

Teams from Lafayette College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, and Penn State Lehigh Valley, and numerous regional companies, will participate.

Sponsors include Aesculap, Arkados, EcoTech Marine, Follett, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Olympus, PPL, and Victaulic.

Coastal Carolina local helps Rotary project

Jasmine Rodriguez, a marine science major from Bethlehem, and 26 other students from the Rotaract Club of Coastal Carolina University donated $202 for the Rotary Smiles Project that benefits children in need of cleft palate surgery in Diplog City, Philippines.

The club’s donations, through Rotary clubs and the International Children’s Surgical Foundation, went toward books, toys, fruit and water; club members also made a large banner and handdrawn cards.

Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, S.C.

Locals inducted into honor societies

Jasmine Jones, of Bethlehem, has been inducted in to the Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Work at Kutztown University. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

Two Bethlehem residents were initiated recently into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

Jacqueline Kanaskie was initiated at Pennsylvania State University and Haley Lawson was initiated at Texas A&M University.

Ashleigh Lesko, of Hellertown, was inducted into the Cedar Crest College Theta Rho Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing on April 7.

Local is Kentucky Derby server

Bethlehem resident Maria E. Berrios is among 28 Pennsylvania College of Technology students selected by Levy Restaurants to help serve a expected crowd of more than 160,000 at the May 6, running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky.

Ten of the students are making a return trip to the Derby. Among them is Brittany L. Mink, an applied management student from Allentown, who will take her third turn at Churchill Downs.

The students, who will be accompanied by Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts at the college, have served Derby Week internships for more than 25 years.

Penn State Day on May 20

Eleven Penn State organizations, including that of the Lehigh Valley, are co-sponsoring the eighth annual Penn State Day on May 20 at Knoebels Amusement Park, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. at Pavilion M. The program will begin at 11 a.m. with a book discussion, lunch, a performance by the alumni Blue Band, an appearance by the Nittany Lion and prize raffles.

There are several ticket options available for registered attendees. Penn State Day T-shirts may be ordered in advance. The reservation deadline is May 1.

For more information and to register, call 610-285-5066 or email dul11@psu.edu

PSU/LV tour set for April 27

Penn State Lehigh Valley, in conjunction with Lehigh Valley LaunchBox, will hold a familiarization tour from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. April 27 for representatives from Lehigh Valley businesses. The fam trip visits will include the innovation centers at Penn State University Park campus and an invitation to the Penn State College of Engineering’s Learning Factory design showcase at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The showcase features project displays by participating students, which will be judged by a panel of industry experts.

There is a cost; breakfast is provided on the bus. Register at http://www.cvent.com/events/penn-state-learning-factory-fam-tour.

Penn State University’s local campus is located at 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley, 18034. For more information, contact 610-285-5000 or visit www.lv.psu.edu.