Because every discipline has the potential for impact in the community, the Cohen-Hammel Fellows Program will be open to students in all three academic divisions at the college: Engineering, Business, and Computing; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; and Science.
To become a Cohen-Hammel Fellow, students must apply during their first year of study at Penn State Berks. The deadline to apply to be a Cohen-Hammel Fellow for the 2025 cohort is March 22, 2026.
Applicants will be evaluated on their academic achievements, their resume (service leadership/activities), at least two letters of reference, and a 500-word essay written to respond to both of the following topic:
- Describe a leader you have personally observed who effectively addressed a need in their community. What specific qualities or actions made their leadership impactful? Then, explain how you would draw on those observed qualities to address a community need you are passionate about.
Fellows will be evaluated annually for their progress toward the program’s requirements, and they will be expected to maintain a G.P.A. of 3.25 or higher to remain in the program.