HARRISBURG, PA — On April 25, 2026, community leaders, students, staff, faculty, and friends of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) gathered at Hilton Harrisburg for HU’s Annual Gala. The Gala serves as HU’s keystone fundraising event, celebrating the profound impact of philanthropy on higher learning and highlighting the transformative academic experiences of HU’s outstanding students.
As always, the evening served as a significant driver of support for the Harrisburg University Scholars Fund, which directly benefits HU’s undergraduate students.
And for this year, HU was pleased to honor two recipients of the 2026 Impact Award – the University’s highest honor. Carmen Finestra, acclaimed writer and producer and a member of HU’s Board of Trustees, received the Individual Impact Award. Marketing and communications agency JPL received the Corporate Impact Award.
But it was the students who truly stole the show.
Over the course of a formal dinner, attendees heard firsthand from four HU students about their journeys, their projects, and the road that brought each of them to Harrisburg University. From a research lab studying food security on Earth and beyond, to a sixth-grade Hour of Code that sparked a future engineer, to a young man whose path from Ghana to HU was shaped by both unimaginable loss and unshakable family love – these students brought their full selves to the stage.
Keep reading for a look back at these four inspiring stories from HU students!
Alvin Ebow Smith ‘27 — Advanced Manufacturing
Alvin Ebow Smith was born and raised in Ghana but relocated to the United States with his family in 2011 when they came in search of greater opportunity. The years that followed brought extraordinary challenges: his mother’s diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, her passing in 2016, and Alvin’s own diagnosis with multiple sclerosis during his junior year of high school.
After graduating from high school in 2020, he spent two years working from home while his family completed the documentation needed for him to apply to college. In 2022, Alvin enrolled at HU as an Advanced Manufacturing major, where he now works alongside Dr. Richard Pitts, Jr., and the ADMA program’s industry-leading equipment and curriculum.
“Everything I have been through has shaped me. I have lost people I love, faced health problems, and had to grow up fast. But I am still here, and I am still pushing forward. That is why college means so much to me. It’s not just about school. It’s about honoring my parents, my journey, and everything my family sacrificed so I could have a better future.”
Prashila Kafley ‘27 — Biotechnology
Prashila Kafley is a junior in HU’s Biotechnology program whose research portfolio already reaches from Pennsylvania to outer space. Her work in aquaponics focuses on developing closed-loop systems that could provide fresh, affordable food in areas where access is limited: research with applications for both food deserts here in Pennsylvania and crewed, long-duration space missions.
Prashila also works in HU’s GIS Lab, analyzing historical maps to identify unsealed oil and gas wells across the Commonwealth as part of a multi-million-dollar research contract from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). On weekends, she works as a pharmacy technician.
“HU has taught me that being a scientist doesn’t just mean being in the lab. It means showing up for the people around you. Every person in this room has their own story about how you’ve supported Harrisburg University … and, in doing so, helped write stories like mine. Your generosity is what makes life-changing opportunities possible.”
Savanna Green ‘27 — Environmental Science
Savanna Green came to Harrisburg University expecting to study forensic science: a degree she discovered at her high school college fair. Once on campus, her interests shifted and Savanna found her home in HU’s Environmental Science program.
Today, as a junior, she runs a student club, hosts events through her on-campus job, and has built lasting connections across the HU community. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree, she says, allows her to “solve real problems through research” – exactly the kind of hands-on education that drew her to HU in the first place.
“Let me close by saying how thankful I am for my time at HU, and for the wonderful students and staff I have met. And if you’ve helped support Harrisburg University – this evening or at any point in the past – I hope you understand what a difference you’re making in people’s lives.”
Thomas O’Donnell ‘27 — Engineering & Mathematical Sciences
Thomas O’Donnell’s path to Harrisburg University began in sixth grade, when a computer science teacher introduced his class to Code.org’s “Hour of Code.” Most of his classmates thought it was cool. But Thomas became obsessed. By high school, he had enrolled in HU’s College in High School program to earn college credits while completing his secondary education.
Once on campus, he started two clubs in his first two years, navigated a major change with the help of HU’s Student Success team, and landed an internship with STORMWERX, HU’s advanced manufacturing research center.
“Looking back, I can trace a straight line from my teacher recommending Hour of Code in 6th grade to where I am tonight. That journey only happened because the right people invested in it at every step. Your generosity … gave me the chance to explore, to change direction when I needed to, and to come out the other side with a career I’m excited about.
An Evening of Heartfelt Thanks
To every donor, sponsor, faculty member, staff member, and friend who supports the Harrisburg University community: thank you. Stories like Alvin’s, Prashila’s, Savanna’s, and Thomas’s are made possible because of you. Your generosity sustains the scholarship support, learning environments, and small-class culture that allow HU students to pursue research, pivot when they need to, and emerge ready to make their mark.
Ready to help HU and its incredible community of learners write more inspiring stories like these? From supporting the Scholarship Fund to sponsoring the Annual Gala, there are plenty of ways to support higher learning and economic development in the heart of the Commonwealth. Let’s start a conversation today about how you or your organization can contribute to HU’s mission of empowering society and building futures through STEM innovation.
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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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