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Student Julius Colabove Awarded Grant To Support Mental Health & Addiction Recovery

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College student Julius Colabove II (Altoona, PA) was awarded a $500 PA Maslow Mental Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which funded his project to promote mental health and drug and alcohol recovery. 

Colabove hosted a tabling event at the College’s Blair Center in mid-March, where he created gift bags that were distributed to students. Each bag included sensory items, along with local resource flyers and brochures to help share information about the availability of help in the Blair community for those managing mental illness or substance use disorders.  

“This was a project that really hit close to home,” Colabove stated. “There are many people in our community struggling with mental health issues and addiction. I wanted to be another resource they have if they need help. I tried to keep it simple, but informative.” 

Along with being a Behavioral Sciences major at Penn Highlands, Colabove is a Certified Recovery Specialist with Blair Drug and Alcohol Partnerships. He is now three years drug-free after spending 26 years in active addiction. 

Colabove was informed he received the grant in late January after being chosen through a selection process over multiple other applications.  

“An ad for the grant was put up on the board at the Blair Center, and I just gave it a shot,” Colabove stated. “I applied for it and was on a list of considerations for a couple of months before they informed me. I’m glad I was able to promote something I’m so passionate about.”