Daily Brief

Kutztown SBDC Meets with Lancaster Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) met with Lancaster Hispanic Chamber of Commerce founder and president, Esther Aurora DeWoody, to discuss strategy, community partnerships and collaborative programming for entrepreneurs in Lancaster County. Kutztown SBDC representatives included Lorena Bravo, bilingual business consultant, Jacqueline Escobar, center director, and Rachael Wolfe, business consulting program manager. The conversation focused on expanding Spanish-language business support, strengthening regional economic development efforts and ensuring that services remain grounded in the needs of the communities served. The meeting highlighted the importance of both business development and relationship building. While strong businesses are essential to local economic growth, strong partnerships help make that work more accessible, meaningful and community centered. The Kutztown University SBDC looks forward to collaborating with the Lancaster Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to support Hispanic entrepreneurs, Spanish-speaking business owners, startups and small businesses in Lancaster County and across southeastern Pennsylvania.

Kutztown University Small Business Development Center

Rachael Wolfe, Kutztown Small Business Development Center

Summer 2026 Orientation Dates

Orientation season is officially upon us. We will spend next month welcoming hundreds of our new students and families to campus. Below are the upcoming orientation dates for the summer. If you see any new students and families on campus these days, be sure to give them a warm welcome.
Transfer Orientation Dates:
- Wednesday, July 1
- Tuesday, July 21
- Wednesday, Aug. 19
Freshman Orientation Dates:
- Wednesday, July 8 to Saturday, July 11
- Wednesday, July 22 to Saturday, July 25
- Tuesday, Aug. 18

Orientation Programs

Brett Santos, New Student Orientation

Supporting Future Teachers: Why Student Teaching Stipends Matter

Student teaching is a required, full-time experience for future educators and has historically been unpaid, creating financial hardship for many students. To help offset this burden, Governor Shapiro created the PA Student Teacher Support Program, which provides up to $10,000 in stipends to support essential costs like housing, transportation and lost wages. As Pennsylvania finalizes its state budget, student teaching stipends are receiving increased attention. These investments reduce financial barriers and help ensure schools have qualified, well-prepared teachers, benefiting students, families and communities across the commonwealth. At Kutztown University, nearly $2.5 million has supported teacher candidates over the past two years, helping more students complete this critical step and enter the profession. While impactful, not all candidates participate due to program requirements, and funding remains limited. This spring, faculty across the university played an important role by offering flexibility so education students could complete applications early; an essential step in a first-come, first-served process. This support directly helped students access funding and stay on track. Thank you for making this possible.

2026-27 Student Teacher Support Program Application

College of Education