Miss Central Pennsylvania uses online education to help fight food insecurity

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For Penn State alumna April Gable, higher education is more than a career. It’s an opportunity to help others find their community and reach their goals. This passion guides her journey as a higher education professional, baton twirling coach, and Miss Central Pennsylvania 2026.

Amid a packed calendar of professional and volunteer commitments, Gable continued to invest in herself. This spring, while preparing to compete for the title of Miss Pennsylvania 2026, finishing the final semester of her master’s degree, and maintaining a full schedule of professional and community responsibilities, she remained focused on her goals.

Gable’s work paid off. In May, she walked across the stage, graduating with her master of education degree in higher education through Penn State World Campus. A few weeks later, she walked across a different stage, celebrating her first-runner-up finish as Miss Pennsylvania 2026.

Immersed in higher education

Gable described Penn State World Campus as “the glue” that holds her busy life together. The flexibility of its online learning allowed her to balance a full-time job, compete as a baton twirler, and pursue her goal of becoming Miss Pennsylvania.

“Penn State allows you to have everything — it’s the connection piece,” she said. “The courses connect to what I’m doing in my day-to-day life. I was able to learn in a more intentional way. I would not have been able to earn my degree without World Campus.”

Creating change through higher education has always been a dream for Gable. What began as an interest in politics evolved into a broader desire to understand what makes a university thrive, she said.

When she was an undergraduate at the University of Cincinnati, she immersed herself in student organizations and served in roles within the university’s senior leadership offices.

“I was everywhere I could possibly be. I wanted to experience it and be connected,” she said.

Now a young professional, Gable said she has her sights set on becoming a university president. She is paving her path toward senior leadership by gaining experience in many areas of higher education. Currently she works as an admissions counselor for the Penn State Schreyer Honors College.

A lifelong learner

Through the higher education master’s program offered online by the College of Education, Gable gained experience in enrollment management, student affairs, advising, and institutional research, which she said helped her become a well-rounded higher education professional.

The master’s degree requires a capstone project as a culminating experience. For her project, she focused on food insecurity, an issue she said is close to her heart.

“My family was food insecure,” Gable said, recalling how her parents worked multiple jobs and how she often had to be creative to make meals. “I’m able to share a different perspective.”

Originally focused on a different topic, she shifted her project with the support of faculty member and program leader Karen Paulson.

“I wanted to make sure I utilized the capstone as a body of work I would be able to have with me,” she said. “The experience opened my eyes to so many resources I didn’t know were out there.”

The project incorporated research and interviews and culminated in recommendations for Penn State officials and student leaders.

“Intervention is crucial to fight food insecurity within higher education,” she said.

Making a difference

Gable was crowned Miss Central Pennsylvania in January. In her role, she said, she travels throughout the region attending events and advocating for causes.

“My primary focus is on fighting food insecurity across the commonwealth, especially in central Pennsylvania,” she said.

She partners with organizations like the YMCA, helping pack thousands of meals for K–12 students in Centre County. She said she takes a hands-on approach to serving communities.

“I’ve created my whole car trunk to be a traveling pantry,” she said. “Whenever I see a small community pantry, I stop to refill it.”

Competing for Miss Pennsylvania

Gable represented central Pennsylvania at the 2026 Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Competition in York, held June 18–20. Leading up to the event, she participated in community appearances and continued advocating for her platform, “A Seat at the Table.”

“Being able to advocate for something like food insecurity and health at such a high level is an amazing opportunity,” she said. “It’s something I’ll never take for granted.”

She competed with her talent, baton twirling. Gable has trained in the sport for many years and represented Team USA at a world championship in 2025, when she won a gold medal. Gable was one of two finalists standing on the stage. While she didn’t wear the crown, Gable said the experience reinforced her commitment to serving others and raising awareness about food insecurity.

A Penn State education online

Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years. Learn more about the degree and certificate programs available to online learners on the Penn State World Campus website.

Editor's note: One million Penn State degrees means there are one million unique Penn State stories. This is a sample of one of the many ways Penn Staters are using their degrees to change lives, elevate impact and make a difference.