HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) will host its Annual Gala on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Hilton Harrisburg. The Annual Gala is Harrisburg University’s premier fundraising event, bringing together supporters, partners, and community leaders to celebrate the life-changing power of education while raising critical scholarship support for HU students.
Last year, HU students stole the show. Their stories of perseverance, discovery, and achievement reminded everyone in the room why scholarship support matters. Click here for a recap of the evening’s highlights and student spotlights.
A Celebration of Community, Achievement, and Momentum
Each year, HU’s Annual Gala unites community leaders from business, academia, and government to celebrate progress and momentum, both within the university and beyond. Attendees will hear firsthand accounts of student achievement, enjoy dinner, and engage with fellow supporters who share a commitment to education in Central Pennsylvania.
As always, the Gala will serve as a significant driver of support for the HU Scholarship Fund, ensuring that promising undergraduate students have the opportunity to pursue degrees in science, technology, and innovation, while preparing them to contribute to the workforce and their communities.
The Annual Gala also features the Impact Award presentation – given each year to a person or organization who has made a meaningful and lasting difference in their field, in their community, or both. This year, Harrisburg University has selected two recipients for the Impact Award: a Corporate Impact Award Honoree and an Individual Impact Award Honoree.
Corporate Impact Award Honoree: JPL
With an emphasis on “transforming human insight into action,” JPL exemplifies the spirit of the Impact Award. Their mission echoes HU’s culture of being mission-committed, collaborative, and accountable, as well as our passion of empowering society through innovation. JPL has also been a longstanding partner to Harrisburg University, having contributed significantly to the development of HU’s online experience and brand identity.
Accepting on behalf of JPL is Luke Kempski, CEO and President.
Luke Kempski leads JPL’s evolution as a top integrated marketing agency and has served as president since 2004. He joined the company in 1989 as a video producer, later pioneering its interactive eLearning and website capabilities. Under his leadership, JPL has been recognized as a Best Place to Work in Pennsylvania for 24 consecutive years and has built longstanding client relationships across higher education, healthcare, government, and family-focused brands.
A Wilmington University and Penn State graduate, Kempski also serves as CEO of d’Vinci Interactive, JPL’s learning solutions subsidiary, and is an active member of the High Center and the 4As.
Since Harrisburg University’s founding, Luke has led JPL’s partnership efforts with the University: finding ways to support students, related academic programs, the campus environment, and the institution’s brand.
Individual Impact Award Honoree: Carmen Finestra
Harrisburg University is also proud to announce that Carmen Finestra – an acclaimed writer and producer whose work helped define the American sitcom – will receive the Individual Impact Award at this year’s HU Annual Gala.
A Pennsylvania native, Finestra graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School in 1965 and earned a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University in 1969. In 1998, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University.
Born in Harrisburg in 1947 to Italian immigrant parents, Finestra began his creative journey at the Harrisburg Community Theatre before making his way to New York City, where he would go on to shape the landscape of American television.
His work as supervising producer on “The Cosby Show” earned him three Emmy nominations, two Humanitas Prizes, and a Peabody Award. He then co-created “Home Improvement” in 1991 and co-founded Wind Dancer Productions, which became one of Hollywood’s most successful independent production companies.
For HU, honoring Finestra is also deeply personal. HU’s Interactive Media program prepares students for high-value careers in digital media, entertainment, content creation, and events production – precisely the world Finestra helped build. And HU’s Advanced Manufacturing program, with its focus on rapid prototyping and the fabrication of specialized items – from props to prosthetics – speaks directly to the intersection of craft, technology, and storytelling that defines modern media production.
Finestra’s story is a testament to where creativity and technical skills meet, and to the wide range of careers HU is training students to pursue. In addition to his entertainment career, Finestra serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
Join Us for the 2026 Annual Gala
Community members, partners, and supporters are encouraged to join us for this special evening celebrating student success and the impact of philanthropy.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now. The HU Annual Gala will be held on Saturday, April 25, at Hilton Harrisburg. Proceeds from the event directly support scholarships for Harrisburg University students. To learn more or reserve tickets, please visit HarrisburgU.edu or contact Giving@HarrisburgU.edu.
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724.
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