Campus volunteers continue historic run of community service

Published 04.12.2022

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Pennsylvania College of Technology students and staff showed support for the local community by volunteering their time this past Saturday at the Lycoming County SPCA's annual Paws Run.

The Paws Run, which takes place in South Williamsport Community Park and Little League Complex, draws between 300 to 400 participants annually and is the nonprofit’s second-largest fundraiser each year.

Money and awareness raised through the event help the shelter in its continued protection of all types of domestic animals in Lycoming County by providing temporary shelter, emergency treatment, investigation and prosecution of cruelty/abuse complaints, adoption and counseling, and educational programs.



Degeyter (left) patrols the outermost portion of the course with Wildcat pride, while Smith helps at registration before heading off to serve as a race official.Students (from left) Wiest, Flanagan and Stauffer have fun working registration.Whatever the job, the Wildcat men's soccer team stands ready to help.Penn College has been a generous supporter of the event since its beginnings in 2015 through the loaning of marker cones and assistance from student and faculty/staff volunteers.

Students and organizations that volunteer each year traditionally report that it is a rewarding experience and that they feel good about giving back to the community surrounding campus, race director Timothy J. Mallery said.

The event features categories for runners, walkers and human/pet teams. Penn College volunteers were assigned to posts for the day and assisted with such tasks as setup, registration, course officiating and sweeping, running water stations, and cleanup.

This year, in an effort coordinated by Shannon L. Skaluba from the college's Student Engagement Office and Mallery from Residence Life, the Paws Run was offered as the April "(community) Service Saturday" opportunity. The college provided transportation for the 23 volunteers (19 students and four employees) to and from the complex.

Hunter (left), among the volunteers at event signup, diligently keep tabs.Webb (left) and Mackey (in knit cap) sweep the course, making sure all 350 participants make it safely through the event.Penn College student volunteers included Paige E. Doyle, Daija S. Mehaffie, Lauryn A. Stauffer, Imir L. Webb, along with:

Penn College Men’s Soccer Team
Mason A. Beaver, Alexander S. Cassada, Dylan K. Dailey, Thomas C. Degeyter Jr., Rowen P. Gibson, Jack L. Lenosky, Matt Neeson and Kyle R. Ruhl

Penn College Cheerleaders
Audrey J. Heroy, Marcayla W. Lutzkanin and Sara J. Putt

Penn College Residence Life
Caila N. Flanagan, Zak Smith and Sophia G. Wiest

Society of Plastics Engineers
Ryan Scott Singer

Faculty/Staff Volunteers
Ashley M. Hunter, Katie L. Mackey, Sherry A. McKinney and Rodney W. Sones

Photos provided by Mallery