News
2026
Congratulations to the three Fostering Lions students who graduated in December. This brings the total number since Fall of 2018 to 43!!
Alumna Rosemary Katchmar's $200,000 gift will significantly expand support for Penn State students in the Fostering Lions Program
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2025
The generosity of donors has strengthened the Fostering Lions Program at Penn State—and empowered Madison Sohnen to chart her own path forward.
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Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) has been awarded a three-year, $650,000 Institutional Challenge Grant from the William T. Grant Foundation to strengthen research-practice partnerships that focus on improving health and well-being outcomes for foster youth.
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Undergraduate student Charlie Keller-Golden tragically lost his immediate family members by his senior year of high school and was taken in by a family who lives near Penn State’s York campus.
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A new $50,000 gift and a $100,000 estate commitment from Penn State alumni and longtime donors and volunteers Dr. Alan Bedrick (class of 1974 in science; class of 1978 in medicine) and Sally (Pollock) Bedrick (class of 1975 in education) were inspired by Sally’s simple question: “What does Penn State do for students who have been through the foster care system?”
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Each year on Capital Day, more than 200 Penn State students from across the commonwealth gather in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg to advocate for vital state funding that benefits all Penn State students. Zion Sykes, a Fostering Lions' student attending this trip.
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Christian Ragland, the president of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) 5th Assembly in 2010-11, recently visited his alma mater and sat in on a UPUA General Assembly meeting.
He was invited by Zion Sykes, the current president of the 19th assembly, to attend and meet the representatives.
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2024
Through his actions as student body president, Zion Sykes hopes to leave a lasting legacy at Penn State and that his fellow University Park students feel heard and cared for.
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Can I get a WE ARE!
The Fostering Lions program is designed to provide support in four main areas. Those include mental health services, advocacy for financial aid, help with academics and logistics. Created and run by Cheri Hillard, she wants it to be a place of support for students who have been through a lot.
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Undergraduate student Charlie Keller-Golden tragically lost his immediate family members by his senior year of high school and was taken in by a family who lives near Penn State’s York campus. Charlie enrolled at that campus, where he was immediately connected with the University’s Fostering Lions Program. The program expands access to education and provides proactive and comprehensive support for foster youth at Penn State.
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Led by Cheri (McConnell) Hillard, education coordinator at the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, Penn State’s Fostering Lions Program offers holistic support to foster youths, aiding their transition to college life. By providing proactive and comprehensive assistance, the program helps students achieve what many never thought possible — a college degree and a chance for a better life.
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Foster youth can face many challenges, but those who continue into college are better prepared for adulthood and more likely to achieve economic independence and an improved quality of life. The Fostering Lions program, which already supports current Penn State students who were foster youths, hosted its fourth “Fostering Little Lions” summer camp for foster youth going into 11th or 12th grade and recent high school graduates.
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McConnell said a part of her role she values is being someone students can come to — not only when they have problems but also when they have successes. A student from an intact family likely has a family member they can call to celebrate when they pass a major exam.
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2022
For many youth in the foster care system, continuing their education at the collegiate level may seem out of reach.
The Fostering Lions Program was founded in 2018 to provide support, critical university services, and help developing skills for post-graduation success to Penn State students who were previously in foster care.
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For many Penn State students, a helping hand or word of guidance is as close as a phone call to Mom or Dad. Care packages show up at their dorm room regularly, and they come to college equipped with all the school supplies they might need.
Students who grew up in the foster-care system often aren’t so lucky—but that doesn’t mean Penn State students are left to figure things out on their own. The Fostering Lions Program helps fill in the gap of care and resources that former foster youth may experience.
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There are not enough "thank yous" for the donations from the Penn State Parents Program for support of the Fostering Lions Program-- you rock!!! This allowed students get a package to get them through finals week!
2021
Penn State Fostering Lions Program guides foster care youth through postsecondary education
Penn State’s Fostering Lions Program, which operates through the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, provides support for foster youth in postsecondary education. Students who are in or have been in foster care or have experienced homelessness in their youth involved with Children and Youth Services are eligible for the program.
Cheri McConnell, the coach of the Fostering Lions Program, has worked with the program since its start in fall 2018 and has been working for the solutions network since 2016. McConnell said the program has “doubled since last spring,” with around 50 students involved.
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When kids leave foster care they have to make a decision: A job, or college? A new scholarship program tries to tip the scales toward education.
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This fall will be the first cohort of students for the Lenfest Immensitas Scholars Program run through the Fostering Lions Program.
The Scholarship program will provide support for youth from the Philadelphia region in foster care and aging out of foster care.
Click here to read about this new opportunity for students attending Penn State!!
Brook J. Lenfest Foundation and Philadelphia Foundation Launch Lenfest Immensitas Scholars Program for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
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As we start spring semester 2021 -- I want to send out a huge thank you to the points of contact folks at the commonwealth campuses that assist me in support of the 47 students in the program! Thank you, also, to the FLP Support Committee at UP. Without all of you - I wouldn't be able to support the students the way I do~Cheri
Fostering Lions Program receives scholarship to assist students
The Rohrbach/Shuey Family Scholarship will provide support to students to help reduce their debt to cover room and board expenses.
A HUGE thank you to Penn State Golden Key and the Centre County Orphan Care Alliance for the great donation of clothing that will allow me to have my first "zoom" fashion show.
Your support of the Fostering Lions Program is appreciated!!
2019
Fostering Lions program to support foster youths on Penn State's campus
‘Trust is huge.’ How a Penn State foster care support group reaches students in need
'Fostering Lions' program connects foster youth with opportunity at Penn State
Program offers support, resources and guidance to foster youth at Penn State campuses.