June 30, 2026
Samantha’s Place is a new open-sided, octagonal pavilion named in honor of Samantha Resnick. A tiered metal roof and exposed wooden ceiling define the structure, while shrubs, palm trees, and manicured beds frame the space. Inviting white rockers complete the scene.
June 18, 2026
The Presidential Search Profile reflects the valuable input received from faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, trustees, and other members of the Beacon community during the listening and engagement process.
June 17, 2026
A total of 190 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2026 at Beacon College were named to the vice president of academic affairs' list or the president’s list.
May 20, 2026
Beacon College has earned a second consecutive spot on Forbes’s Accessibility 200 list. Earlier this week, Forbes unveiled its list of 200 leading innovators and impact-makers in accessibility for people with disabilities.
May 18, 2026
Charlie Ige, a rising senior, is observing animal behavior at ZooTampa at Lowry Park as part of her studies for a degree in anthrozoology.
May 15, 2026
In all, 87 graduates received degrees Saturday, including 53 Bachelor of Science, 19 Bachelor of Arts, nine Associate of Science and six Associate of Arts degrees.
May 14, 2026
Beacon College is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. James T. Brett to its Board of Trustees.
May 11, 2026
Beacon College students are heading to summer internships that will help prepare them for future careers as they network, build connections, learn new skills and gain hands-on experience.
April 29, 2026
Beacon College’s Women's track and field team claimed the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship in the 4x100 relay April 25 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
April 27, 2026
Beacon College will confer honorary doctorates on three internationally recognized learning disability advocates during its Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. at the Brownwood Hotel & Spa.
April 10, 2026
As Beacon College prepares for the retirement of President George J. Hagerty, Ed.D., in June 2027, the search for our next leader is officially underway. Central to this process is the "Beacon Voice," the collective input of our faculty, staff, and students.
February 3, 2026
Beacon College is reaching a growing number of students with new opportunities to build professional credentials for the workplace — from math and public speaking to first aid and computer certifications.
As Samantha Resnick stepped forward, her printed speech wavering slightly in the breeze, she stood on the platform with one foot anchored in the past and the other striding toward the future.
Fourteen years ago, Resnick arrived on Beacon’s campus — then home to just over 100 students — as unsure as a newborn colt finding its footing. Like many of her newly minted peers at the first accredited college for students who learn differently, she lacked confidence, leaned heavily on her parents, struggled to form friendships, and fretted over the growing independence ahead. That was then.
Fast forward 10 years, and Resnick is an accomplished professional, grounded by lasting friendships and driven by a heart to smooth the path for others who arrive at Beacon with similar origin stories.
That perspective shaped the recent dedication (May 2026) of Samantha’s Place, a new outdoor gathering space designed for Beacon College students to connect or simply find a moment of calm between classes.
“Socialization was always difficult for me in my elementary, middle, and high school years,” Resnick said. “Within a couple of months at Beacon, I developed a key group of friends that I continue to have a friendship with to this day. Hopefully, this quad can lend itself to other students as an area for their comfort and relaxation so that they can also develop lifelong friendships.”
Samantha’s Place, an open-sided, octagonal pavilion named in her honor and recognizing her parents’ (Joshua and trustee Debbie Resnick’s) decade-long commitment to Beacon, blends warmth with purpose. A tiered metal roof and exposed wooden ceiling define the structure, while shrubs, palm trees, and manicured beds frame the space. Inviting white rockers complete the scene.
Members of the college’s board of trustees, along with a small group of faculty, gathered to reflect on a journey from dependence to independence — the arc that defines a successful Beacon experience. And Samantha’s life, to a tee.
“You know, Samantha was never intimidated by her challenges,” Debbie Resnick told the audience. “She just accepted (them), and she’s gone through life really finding herself, and that’s part of who Samantha is.”
“This is my friend,” President George Hagerty began, sharing memories of first meeting Samantha and reflecting on how much she has grown over the years.
For the 2016 human services graduate, the moment marked a homecoming. After working in various roles at the college following graduation, and later testing her sea legs beyond Beacon’s walls, Samantha has leaned into her human services background and now serves clients with memory challenges.
In a very real sense, though, she has never truly left. With Samantha’s Place, the spirit of confidence and compassion that took root on this campus now has a physical home. One meant to inspire others to keep reaching for more.
