Student Centric, Student Led Initiatives
Students are at the core of the institute’s mission. O’Pake matches students' educational interests, passions, and talents with distinctive hands-on experiential learning opportunities. Through these opportunities, students build their resume and elevate their professional profile while simultaneously impacting economic development in the Greater Reading area.
Business Incubator
The student run incubator will provide experiential learning opportunities for students of all disciplines. This initiative will allow students to create, collaborate and lead while they provide hands-on support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community.
Industry and community partners, such as Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Berks County Community Foundation, and the SCORE Berks Schuylkill Chapter, will provide resources and professional mentoring to students and entrepreneurs.
Fellows Program
The O’Pake Fellows Program provides elite undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on distinctive experiential learning opportunities. Students of high academic standing, from diverse majors and backgrounds, can work directly with regional entrepreneurs, small business owners, faculty researchers and industry leaders.
Through distinctive hands-on experiential learning, this premier student powered organization strives to be a catalyst for entrepreneurship and positive economic change in Reading and Berks county. Simultaneously, the program will provide long term enhancement of Alvernia University’s academic reputation, student experience and resources.
Project #6
The “first five” projects on a company’s strategic to do list are typically high priorities with a high level of associated risk. Project #6 typically involves less risk. While Project #6 is still important and necessary, the company often lacks the human resources to complete it.
Thus, with the help of O’Pake, Alvernia students can employ their skills and talents to work on a company’s Project #6. This mutually beneficial partnership provides Alvernia students with valuable hands-on experiential learning opportunities while the company benefits from the successful completion of their Project #6.