Youngstown State University opens the 2015-16 academic year with Penguin Paradise Welcome Week, featuring 18 days of activities ranging from outdoor movies and caricature artists to puppies and karaoke. Welcome Week events run Saturday, Aug. 15 to Tuesday, Sept. 1. Fall semester classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 19. One of the major events is the 9^th annual Block Party at Kilcawley Center, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, in the Chestnut Room. Last year’s event attracted 1,500 students.

More than 750 students have registered for Youngstown State University’s first IGNITE, a two-day experience designed to help incoming students get acclimated to the campus. IGNITE is 1 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18. Fall semester classes start Wednesday, Aug. 19. First-year students will rotate among a variety of sessions to learn about campus, relationships, academics, involvement and Penguin Pride. Students will spend time in teams led by returning YSU students, who will serve as resources and guides over the two days.

The Youngstown State University Veterans Resource Center, in collaboration with the Mahoning and Trumbull County Veterans Service Commissions, will sponsor a Veterans Resource Fair, noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 on the lawn of the Pollock House at YSU. Various support services will be on hand to assist local veterans with health care issues, housing, emergency funding, continuing education, employment and other benefits. The event is open to the public and parking is free. Veterans in attendance are encouraged to bring their DD Form 214s.

A new joint initiative between the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Department of Aging launches today in Youngstown and allows area residents age 60 and older to earn free college tuition by volunteering in their community. Through the GIVE back. GO forward. program, elders in the Youngstown region can “give back” to their community by volunteering at least 100 hours per year at any of three local organizations.