President's Annual Report 2024 - 4

MORE THAN
90%
of students receive financial aid, and 45 percent
of those students receive a Stevens Grant, an
institution-specific grant helping qualified students
whose family contribution and other financial aid
does not meet the cost of attendance - the Stevens
Grant makes up the difference for tuition, housing,
and food. Stevens Grant students also receive tools
and equipment.
As our student census continues to grow, philanthropic
support for scholarships becomes an increasingly urgent
need. To help a student receiving the Stevens Grant, reach
out to Jenny Germann, Executive Director of the Foundation,
at germann@stevenscollege.edu or 717-299-7776.
Making Things Work
/// ARIEL PALACIOS-ROJAS FINDS SUPPORT AND FINDS HIS
PLACE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
As a youngster, Ariel Palacios-Rojas loved to tinker
with electronics. He recalled his father throwing
away pieces of equipment that seemingly no longer
worked. Those moments inspired his interest in
repair-in discovering how things work so he could
make them work again.
At J.P. McCaskey High School, Ariel took a series of
electronics electives, courses that sealed his decision
to pursue the field further. Now in his second year
as an Electronic Engineering Technology major at
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, he spends
much of his time troubleshooting circuits, soldering
components, and coding controls.
" In my major, we learn to figure out what the issue is,
then try to restore it, " he says.
And just like he troubleshoots in the electronics lab,
Ariel has been able to find solutions to any challenge
he's faced during his academic journey. For example,
financial aid, including a Stevens Grant, eased his
family's concern about affording a college education.
" With the grant, I didn't have to worry about buying
books and tools, " he says. " Since I have the supplies
I need, I don't have to worry about working and can
focus on my classes. "
He's also received academic and personal support
that has boosted his confidence and made him feel
welcome. Initially, he felt nervous about textbooks
and written tests-English isn't his first language.
" They see my potential, " he says of his primary
instructors Bruce Schreiner and Thomas Evans.
" They always allow me the time to work on my
assignments because they see how well I can do
when I go at my own pace. "
Ariel also values the guidance he's received from
Sheri Wright, director of the Academic Center, who
shared with him digital tools that help him translate
and process text.
" They've all impacted me a lot, " he says of his built-in
College support network. " I feel very at home here. "
$52,500
median first-year salary
18
job opportunities
available per
graduate
$12,000
average student debt
upon graduation
President's Annual Report 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of President's Annual Report 2024
