Preparing for the World

Jonathan Adrien, a sophomore and IT student at Penn State Brandywine, knows what it takes to make an impact.

Jonathan Adrien is studying information technology and cybersecurity as a sophomore at Penn State Brandywine. Jon’s parents, both Haitian immigrants, have always instilled in him the value of getting a good education, but he knew that the demands of an institution like Penn State could be a challenge. That’s why he enrolled in Pathways to Success: Summer Start, one of the programs targeted by the campaign’s Open Doors Scholarship Program.

In the summer before his first year at the campus, Jon took classes that gave him a running start in his academic program, experienced the support and mentorship of other students and faculty, and learned about all the opportunities that the University had to offer. Because of his PaSSS experience, Jon had the drive and the ability to become a student leader in his very first year at Penn State Brandywine, participating in THON and serving as a Lion Ambassador. He devoted this summer to PaSSS, too, as both a student and a peer mentor.

“It has given me so much joy to represent this University—not just at the Evening of Discovery, but every day,” says Jon. “Penn State is meant for everyone, every type of person. Whether you’re rich, poor, any color, any background, the University welcomes you. Penn State prepares you for the world because it represents the world through its richness in diversity and inclusion. I tell every high school student I meet to go to Penn State.”