Joshua Ridge Memorial

Joshua Aaron Ridge was a young man full of love for life and saw each day as an opportunity to learn, grow, and conquer new challenges. He took every opportunity to share the love of God with everyone he met. Joshua would greet everyone he met in a unique way - a handshake for those in authority, a hug or high five for his friends and best buds, and even a kiss on the hand for the girls he loved to flirt with.

To Joshua, everyone was a friend. Regardless of what struggles he might have been going through, he always had a smile on his face, a song in his heart, and a dance in his step. He lit up the room and it was obvious to everyone in his presence. He made sure that no one ever went unnoticed or sat alone.

Joshua was a humble and pure soul, but he carried a pride with him for his family, his country, and his God. He loved bowling, bocce ball, participating in track and field at the Special Olympics, and was a die-hard Steelers fan. Two of the proudest moments in his life were when he became a Penn State student in the Career Studies Program in 2018, and when he became an uncle in August of 2019.

Joshua shared his love for everyone, every day, even when his own life was full of pain and sickness. We believe he is like a sequoia tree, where he has planted his heart and soul deep into the lives of those he has met, and is still touching the lives of so many people even though his place is now in Heaven. He loved his teachers, his peer mentors, and every one of his classmates.

To honor the incredible impact that he had on countless people, the Joshua’s Hugs Fund has been established to support students in the Career Studies Program through Continuing Education at Penn State Harrisburg.

This fund will support other young adults with intellectual disabilities and their families by providing financial support for books, tuition, fees, transportation, and other expenses associated with this incredible program. We want these students to have the same amazing opportunity to complete the Career Studies Certificate Program and carry on the legacy of Joshua’s love for life.

We would love for you to join us in continuing Joshua’s legacy of spreading love and joy by supporting this fund. Your gift will directly support students, like Joshua, in the Career Studies Program and help them achieve their dreams of completing their certificate program.