Engagement Opportunities

Student Experience and Support Opportunities 

ENtern internship program

Created through a partnership between E-SHIP and Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, the entrepreneurship internship (ENtern) program pairs technology-based cluster students with startup companies currently participating in Happy Valley LaunchBox’s FastTrack Accelerator or Invent Penn State’s Summer Founders program.

Through their internships, ENterns are directly exposed to the entrepreneurship world and can explore their entrepreneurship interests and the startup culture. They gain real-world experience as an employee of an early-stage venture, building their resumes and potentially identifying employment opportunities in the Centre Region. 

Microgrant 

The Lion Launchpad Microgrant is offered to entrepreneurial student teams to help them get up and running with initial expenses. Total team grants are up to $500. These funds can be used to purchase materials to assemble a prototype, for design and coding services, licenses, applying for a trademark, and other similar expenses.

Entrepreneurial Speaking Opportunities

Bishoff Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Created in 2003, the Bishoff Entrepreneur-in-Residence program is named for and underwritten with an endowment by E.V. Bishoff, who was a Pittsburgh native and long-time supporter of the College of Engineering. The program contributes to the engineering entrepreneurship program's mission to develop new entrepreneurs and creative thinkers through innovation, leadership, and project-based coursework.

Norbert and Audrey Gaelen Entrepreneurship Speaker Series

Established in 2008, the Norbert and Audrey Gaelen Entrepreneurship Speaker Series invites entrepreneurs to the University in the hopes of encouraging entrepreneurship among Penn State students, faculty, and staff. Norbert Gaelen is a 1947 industrial engineering alumnus.