ENTREPRENEURSHIP FEATURE
Being Human in the Age of AI: The Student Startups Bringing Us Back Together
From Whirl Pong to Now You Know, Penn State founders are building experiences that trade screen time for real connection, signaling where the world is heading. Something is changing. Not slowly. Not quietly. You can feel it at Penn State tailgates, in student apartments, and at pitch competitions where the ideas gaining traction are no longer just apps or platforms. They are experiences. They are real. And they are solving a problem that has been hiding in plain sight.
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Outdoor recreation is the future of economic development for small towns, and Purple Lizard is mapping the way
by Cara Aungst Purple Lizard maps showcase Happy Valley’s outdoor recreation assets. On the day of our interview, Mike Hermann and his team were days away from finishing their 17th map. The map represented more than a thousand hours spent over two years, starting with hiking boots on the ground

Anonymous donor honors Wally Triplett with endowment to create Brand Academy
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Penn State sports fans may recognize the name Wallace “Wally” Triplett. A tailback and linebacker for the Nittany Lions, Triplett became the first Black player to start for Penn State on Nov. 17, 1945. According to a recent Penn State press release, Triplett became the first Black

Unbaked Flour Company restores the joy of food to those with digestive disorders
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Hannah Carney with her donut holes at the Happy Valley Venture Capitalist Competition. Photo: Provided. Sometimes, necessity is the mother of invention. At least that’s the case with Hannah Carney, whose medical condition inspired her to take dietary matters into her own hands. Carney’s issues with her

“Gritty, fast and focused on outcomes”: Todd Erdley’s plan for explosive growth in private industry
By Cara Aungst On March 1, Videon founder Todd Erdley joined Ben Franklin Technology Center as a central regional director responsible for mentoring startups and small manufacturers in Centre, Mifflin and Juniata Counties. He calls it a natural next step for him — Ben Franklin was instrumental in Videon’s growth
Proud Sponsor Downtown Improvement District (DID):
Something for everyone to discover.
DSCID is a non-profit Neighborhood Improvement District with over 350
participating businesses, established by ordinance of the Borough of State College
in accordance with the laws of Pennsylvania. The District extends from Atherton
Street to Sowers Street, College Avenue to Highland Alley.