CSIU Program Highlight: Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences
Julia Monaco, a Lewisburg Area High School student, participated in the prestigious Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences (PGSS) at Carnegie Mellon University.
The PGSS is a rigorous, five-week program that provides talented Pennsylvania rising high school seniors with enrichment experiences in the sciences and mathematics and encourages them to pursue careers in science and technology. Students accepted into the Governor’s School for the Sciences are among the top achievers at their schools, and each year, the CSIU is honored to co-sponsor a student selected into the program from the IU region.
World United Against Bullying
The World United Against Bullying virtual event will be hosted by the Center for Safe Schools on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are invited to join educators, community leaders and advocates to:
Raise awareness of the importance of bullying prevention.
Discover proven strategies to reduce bullying from leading experts.
Connect with your peers who want to make bullying prevention a priority.
Take action to improve your school climate and create safer schools and communities.
The CSIU partnered with SooAh Lay, a Bucknell University engineering student, to bring her CanSAT STEM workshop to the IU. The CanSat, short for “Can Satellite,” is a model satellite roughly the size of a soda can. Through hands-on activities, 10 students from local school districts built models that simulated real satellite missions on a smaller, more accessible scale. Participants gained practical experience in key engineering fields, including mechanical and electrical engineering, coding and embedded systems, and aerospace engineering. To conclude the week, students launched their CanSATs approximately 100 feet into the air, monitored ground control to review data retrieved from onboard sensors, and tested their parachute designs for a successful return to earth.
Refugee Education Summit
The Center for Schools and Communities coordinated and facilitated the 2025 Refugee Education Summit on Sept. 16-17 in Lancaster, PA. The Summit is a unique two-day convening for Pennsylvania educators, community staff, and other practitioners who work with refugee students and families. Participants attend to learn about engaging, supporting, and advocating for newcomer students and their families.
This is Pennsylvania’s only in-person statewide professional development opportunity dedicated to supporting the education of refugee students.
Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center Celebrates 42 New Graduates
The Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center honored its newest Licensed Practical Nurses during a graduation ceremony held Thursday, August 14, 2025, in the Lewisburg High School auditorium. The event celebrated the dedication, skill, and perseverance of 42 graduates who have completed the rigorous program and are ready to begin their careers in healthcare.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Ashlee Bower, Director of Operations for the Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center, followed by the presentation of Academic Achievement and Clinical Excellence Awards. Graduates were then awarded diplomas, received their nursing pins from instructors Bethany Warner and Stacy Reibsome, and were each presented with a rose by Heather Goshert and Alicia Freed in recognition of their commitment to the nursing profession.
The evening also featured remarks from faculty members Amy Gaines and Alicia Freed, as well as an inspiring address from class speaker Herbert Dodson.
“We’ve been tested, not just in exams, but at moments when we wondered if we had what it takes. We’ve learned that healing isn’t always about curing and that sometimes the most powerful thing we can give a patient is compassion, patience and our full attention," said Dodson.
The August 2025 graduating class included students from across the Central Susquehanna region, representing communities such as Lewisburg, Milton, Sunbury, Williamsport, Selinsgrove, and beyond.
An educational program of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, the Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center partners with Geisinger Medical Center, WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital, and multiple regional healthcare facilities to prepare students for successful nursing careers.
For more information about CSIU’s LPN Career Center, visit www.csiu.org/lpn.
Upcoming Board Meeting: October 15, November 19 and December 17
