Harsco STEM Center of Excellence

In the late 1980's, Central Pennsylvania community leaders, business leaders, city planners, art associations and goverment officials came together to discuss an evident necessity in the region: an education-based center that would promote science and the arts and provide cultural enrichment to the region. The dream of Whitaker Center began with Harsco Corporation (Harsco) and Derek C. Hathaway as key players in its genesis.

From its initial Leadership Gift in 1996 to secure the naming rights to the science center portion of Whitaker Center, Harsco has been a vital stakeholder of Whitaker Center since its inception. With Derek C. Hathaway as a Founding Board Member and Harsco as a Founding Donor, Whitaker Center would be built on a foundation of strong corporate citizenship, providing Central Pennsylvanians with coutless opportunities for education through science and the arts.

Today, Harsco continues to fund the innovative STEM-based programming within Whitaker Center by providing The Harsco STEM Center of Excellence. Programs such as Surgery Live!, Discovery Camps and our Whitaker on Wheels (W.O.W) programs will continue to expand and grow to meet the educational needs and capacities of the students who attend. Our At Home with Science program gives adults ideas for experiments and design challenges that can be done at home so learning about science can be a family affair. Scout Badge Workshops give Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Bear Troop Leaders a place to bring their scouts so they can fulfill the requirements for official Girl and Boy Scout STEM badges. Our Girls in STEM programs continue to engage young minds in the world of STEM through interactive workshops and camps.

Advancing STEM education through learning and teaching others is what Whitaker Center and The Harsco STEM Center of Excellence pledge to accomplish in the coming years. Please visit our website often and sign up for emails to hear about new and exciting programs being offered year-round!