Promoting the rights of children and having some fun at the same time is the goal of the Universal Children’s Day celebration at Penn State York.

Becky Halstead, retired brigadier general, United States Army, shared her thoughts on leadership in a presentation, “Inspiring Courageous Leadership,” on Nov. 8 at Penn State York.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017-18 Penn State York Advising Award. Students may submit nominations for the award, which is presented at the Academic Awards Program in April of each year.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2017-18 James H. Burness Award for Excellence in Teaching at Penn State York.

Penn State York student Nicole Guise was named the winner of the first Startup Challenge Logo Contest. Guise’s design was selected from among 14 designs, and will be used on the Startup Challenge T-shirts, and on a variety of materials to promote the second annual event in search of the next big idea.

In a hard-fought battle, Penn State York was unable to stay alive in the Penn State University Athletic Conference soccer playoffs, falling to Penn State New Kensington 2-1 at home Oct. 25 in the conference quarterfinals. Tim Weikert took his team to the playoffs in just his second year as head coach.

Penn State York’s veterans organization, Student Veterans of America (SVA), York Chapter, is sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive on campus. New, unopened, and unwrapped toys will be collected through Dec. 9. The toys, for children ages newborn through 12 years old, will be distributed to less fortunate children in the community through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in York, Pennsylvania. Community members are welcome to bring donations to the campus.

Jimmy Clark, 24, understands what it is like to fight for his life. A cancer survivor, Clark will host the eighth annual Poker with Jimmy, a No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, on Nov. 5. The tournament has raised more than $65,000 over the past seven years for THON and the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children’s Hospital for children battling pediatric cancer.

Learn more about the Mexican Day of the Dead and decorate a sugar skull on Tuesday, Oct. 31, when Penn State York offers a look at this holiday celebration. There will be plenty of colorful paint and a variety of other items to decorate a sugar skull from noon to 1 p.m. in the community room of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center.

Paint a diya, a clay candle holder; see colorful decorations; enjoy Indian snacks; and listen to music during the Diwali celebration set for 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in the conference center of the Main Classroom Building at Penn State York. The event is sponsored by the Penn State York Multicultural Club and the Student Activity Fee.

Legendary basketball coach Bob Hurley Sr. will visit the Penn State York campus on Saturday, Oct. 28 to offer a coaches’ clinic, from 1- 3 p.m., and an evening program, at 6 p.m., to share his story. Both programs take place in the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center on campus.

Tickets are on sale now for Penn State York Benefiting THON’s band concert featuring three rock bands -- Heroes 4 Ransom, Carving Out Fiction, and Moxie & Rebel -- set for 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20 in the conference center of the Main Classroom Building.

Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center kicks off its 2017-18 ticketed season with John Zaffis, Godfather of the Paranormal on Oct. 5, and Wynonna and The Big Noise's Roots and Revival Tour on Oct. 7. Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m.