On August 23, 2022, Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty, while visiting the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, noted that with more than 90% of children playing video games and the explosive growth of esports worldwide, Whitaker Center and its partners saw an opportunity to offer students and their families a space to reconnect, share passions for gaming and esports and learn about coding, art, and the technology embedded in video games. The PNC Innovation Zone hosts weekly activities, led by certified educators, for youth ages eight and older.

The PNC Innovation Zone complements efforts at the state level to engage students in STEM education. During the past seven years, the Wolf Administration has secured $40 million for career and technical education and has invested $116 million in science, computer science and technical education, including $80 million in the innovative PAsmart program and $36 million in apprenticeships and workforce training. To view the press release, click here.