Skip to Content

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

  • Sign in to your Merit page
« Back to Recent News

CU-Lock Haven honors students visit Amica Center for Immigrant Rights

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (07/03/2025) — This spring, seven honors students from the Eileen G. Jones Honors College of the Commonwealth University-Lock Haven campus traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.

The trip was developed as a part of the students' Central American Immigration class. They were joined by three social work faculty members, Dr. Ann Jane Ross, Tulare Park and Dr. Steven Granich, along with an additional 15 student members of the CU-Lock Haven Social Work Club.

The honors students had been studying various aspects of Central American immigration including the history of Central America, reasons for immigration, the legal process of becoming a citizen, assimilation, transnationalism, remittances and detention and deportation of immigrants. The social work students study methods of practice with a wide range of individuals, groups, and families - including immigrants.

The trip to Washington D.C. included visits to national monuments and museums and was an opportunity for the students to visit an agency which helps immigrants who want to live and work in the United States. The Amica Center staff conducted a presentation on the agency's work, which has detained adult and children's programs, volunteer program to help immigrants and Immigration Impact Lab (legal program for immigrants).

Speakers described their work with detained immigrants and unaccompanied minors, including legal support and advocacy, social services and connections to various resources. The agency assists immigrants coming to the United States from around the world. This was a unique opportunity for the students to learn about the immigration legal process and work that is being done to support immigrants in the United States from individuals immersed in this system.

Honors students who participated in the trip were Ashleigh Aukerman, of Bellefonte; Lizzy Goldheart, of Drums; Rose Jeffes, of Hatboro; Hope Lapinski, of Bloomsburg; Allison Lininger, of Howard; Summer Strauss, of Lancaster; and Kaylee Swartzlander, of Mifflinburg.

Media Attachments


AA
Ashleigh
Aukerman
  • Health Sciences
  • Bellefonte, PA
HL
Hope
Lapinski
  • Undeclared Undergrad Degree
  • Bloomsburg, PA
AL
Allison
Lininger
  • Social Work
  • Howard, PA
SS
Summer
Strauss
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Lancaster, PA

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Julie Stellfox, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, jms833@commonwealthu.edu, 570-484-2280

Share this Story

  • Print
  • Email

Recent News

  • CU-Lock Haven athletic training student completes full immersion experience at Milton Hershey School
  • CU-Lock Haven's Boxing Club to participate in inaugural 'Summer Showdown'
  • CU-Lock Haven to host summer preview day August 1
  • CU-Bloomsburg holds teacher induction ceremony to celebrate new educators
  • Media Advisory: Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg Students Contribute to Food Bank
  • CU-Mansfield celebrates new educators during teacher induction ceremony
  • Future teachers lend their voice to Advocacy Day at the State Capitol
  • CU-Lock Haven professor emerita Paula 'Sandy' Bell champions women's wrestling at The Haven
  • Commonwealth University awarded 5-year TRIO grant to support students
  • Friends and family honor Lock Haven alumnus with memorial wrestling scholarship
… View all recent news
Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out