Gov. Wolf to Honor Department of Aging Employee for Developing the Intergenerational University Connections Program

HARRISBURG, PA - Governor Tom Wolf will honor Stephanie Cole, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Aging, with a Governor's Award for Excellence for going above and beyond in her duties to serve older adults in the commonwealth. She created a program that brings together Pennsylvania undergraduate and graduate students and older adults who are receiving services from the Department of Aging. Cole will be among 50 employees from 12 agencies to receive the awards during a ceremony on May 20 for extraordinary accomplishments in 2021.

Cole took the initiative to solicit the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) for interest in developing the Intergenerational University Connections Program. The program partners students with older adults recruited by local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and provides service-learning credits to the students. Slippery Rock University (SRU) became the first school to implement the program in the 2020 fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote an editorial recognizing the program and noted that it should be a model not only for Pennsylvania but for the nation.

"Stephanie's innovative thinking to develop this unique program truly shows her passion for serving older Pennsylvanians. I applaud her for creating the Intergenerational University Connections program, and I look forward to seeing the program grow in the years to come," said Gov. Wolf.

In 2021, Cole continued to build relationships and expand the program to other universities including West Chester University, Widener University, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State Scranton with Penn State College of Nursing preparing to have their campuses participate. This effort also included inviting AAAs across the commonwealth to join and help recruit older adults who could benefit from the program.

"One of the biggest concerns with older adults when people were locked in due to COVID was the negative impact of social isolation," said Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. "Stephanie felt that with students having more time at home, especially those that were studying social work, public health, nursing, and recreational therapy, they would be inclined to engage with an older adult on a one-on-one basis, if such an opportunity were offered."

The Department of Aging has received positive feedback from both students and older adults who have participated in the program. Some students have continued their relationship with their assigned older adult. Some students have reported an increase in their confidence in working with older adults and have made commitments to work with older adults in their career. Some older adults have expressed how positive their engagement with students has been as they shared their knowledge and wisdom with the students and even started recalling
long-forgotten memories as part of the process.

In 2021, Cole joined professors from SRU to discuss the Intergenerational University Connections Program during the Gerontological Society of America's Annual Scientific meeting.

Learn more about the program by visiting the Department of Aging's website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jack Eilber, Aging: [email protected]

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