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Penn College’s Spring 2017 Graduates Listed

The list of Spring 2017 graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology has been released by the Registrar’s Office.

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College’s Spring 2017 Dean’s List Released

The Spring 2017 dean’s list has been announced at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

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Commencement Gallery Mines a Mother Lode of Memories

Never too old for a pick-me-up from Mom, Carlos A. Ramos-Sonera celebrates in front of the Penn College sign.

Pennsylvania College of Technology held three commencement ceremonies at the Community Arts Center on May 12-13 for more than 900 students who fulfilled their degree requirements during the spring semester. The proceedings at 3 p.m. Friday featured students from the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies and the School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications. Students from the School of Construction & Design Technologies and the School of Health Sciences were in the spotlight at 10 a.m. Saturday, while graduates of the School of Business & Hospitality and the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies were featured during the 1:30 p.m. session. Student speakers were Lauren J. Crouse, of Turbotville, who received a Bachelor of Science in applied human services on Friday; Madison L. Carts, of State College, who received an Associate of Applied Science in surveying technology on Saturday morning; and Robert E. Wood, of Williamsport, who earned a Bachelor of Science in culinary arts and systems on Saturday afternoon. The college also presented three Distinguished Teaching Awards and two alumni awards.

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Last updated May 13, 2017 | Posted in Alumni, Events, Faculty & Staff, President | This gallery contains 83 photos. | Tagged as | One Comment

Two Alumni Honored at Penn College Spring Commencement

Pennsylvania College of Technology presented honors to two alumni during Spring 2017 commencement ceremonies, held May 12-13 at the Community Arts Center.

Thomas J. Giannattasio, of Bethesda, Maryland, received the Alumni Achievement Award on May 12, and June Kilgus Zimmerman, of Williamsport, was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award on May 13.

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‘Biggest Loser’ Nutritionist Shares Healthy Recipe

Juliette Yeager, '10

From the Spring 2017 Penn College Magazine: Juliette Yeager, ’10, is the nutritionist at a Biggest Loser Resort. There, she provides knowledge, encouragement and a healthy menu while she coaches clients to steady health gains. Get her recipe for grilled chicken with quinoa tabouli and beet turnip slaw. Read “Feeding Healthy Lifestyles.”

Penn College Students Bat a Thousand in SkillsUSA Competition

SkillsUSA-Pennsylvania

All 25 members of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s SkillsUSA team, including more than half moving on to national competition June 19-23 in Louisville, Kentucky, were medalists during the Pennsylvania Leadership and Skills Conference held late last month in Hershey.

Fifteen team members advanced to nationals with first-place finishes, seven placed second, and three placed third in their respective categories.

“I feel great about the students’ performance at the state competition. It goes to show how well prepared the students are from their respective fields and how great our instructors are here at the college,” said James N. Colton II, assistant professor of welding and the college’s SkillsUSA adviser. “I’m excited for the students going to the national competition in Louisville. I have every confidence they will put their best performance forward.”

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Last updated May 9, 2017 | Posted in Alumni, Architectural Technology, Art, Web Design & Interactive Media, Automated Manufacturing & Machining, Building Construction, Business & Hospitality, Business & Hospitality Management, Collision Repair & Restoration, Construction & Design Technologies, Electrical, Engineering Design Technology, Faculty & Staff, Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Information Technology, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies, Welding | Leave a comment

Penn College Announces Spring Food Show Winners

A water lily-inspired cake by Penn College student Rachel A. Henninger, of Bellefonte, took first place among entries in the Cakes and Decorations course at the college’s Spring Food Show.

Pennsylvania College of Technology announced winners of its Spring Food Show, a showcase of food artistry and expertise by students in the college’s hospitality majors.

The show included final projects by students in Advanced Baking Applications for Culinary Arts, who showed high-end plated desserts; Advanced Garde Manger, who produced cold-food platters and charcuterie boards; Cakes and Decorations, who decorated plant-inspired two-tier cakes; Culinary Senior Project; and Hospitality Beverage Management Service and Controls.

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Last updated May 9, 2017 | Posted in Alumni, Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts, Business & Hospitality, Events, Faculty & Staff, Students | This gallery contains 23 photos. | Tagged as | One Comment

Alumni Insight Affirms Career Satisfaction in Health Information

Health information is the backbone of the nation’s health care system, and Penn College’s related portfolio – an associate degree in health information technology and an online bachelor’s degree in health information management – offer diverse and rewarding career opportunities. Those possibilities are represented in a new YouTube video by Joseph P. Travagline (’15) and Lyndsey A. Diehl (’13). Travagline is director of operations for the Centralized Credentialing Office at Johns Hopkins Health System and Diehl is a trauma data quality specialist for the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation.

Minority Student Scholarship Established at Penn College

Current, former students establish minority scholarship fund.

Current and former Pennsylvania College of Technology students who were members of the student organization Minorities Lending Knowledge have established The Start to Finish Minority Student Scholarship at the college.

The students are: Kacie L. Weaver, of Harrisburg, a 2016 alumna who earned a bachelor’s degree in applied human services; Kyani L. Lawrence, a former applied human services student from 2013-16 who transferred to a college in her hometown of New Rochelle, New York; and Wilmer I. Clase, of Lancaster, a building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration student who is set to graduate with a bachelor’s degree this month.

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2016’s Deadliest Quake

A building's upper level lies on the sidewalk in a coastal Ecuador city.

From the Spring 2017 Penn College Magazine: Ecuador resident Patrick Watts, ’09, helps those affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rattled the nation’s coast. Read “2016’s Deadliest Quake.”

Alumna’s Return Yields Product Insight, Student Aid

Kate Hunter, a 2000 culinary arts alumna, offers career insight to students in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts majors.

Chef Paul Mach records the mathematical results of students’ bacon-cooking tests.

Chris Eckard, of Anchor Food Professionals, talks through boiling point and resulting evaporation – and loss of yield – of cream.

Dylan H. Therrien, left, of Reading, was named a 2017-18 recipient of the Jones Dairy Farm Culinary Scholarship. With him (from left) are: Elizabeth A. Biddle, director of corporate relations for Penn College; Kate Hunter, ’00, manager of Peak Sales and Marketing; and Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor and department head of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts.

Dylan H. Therrien, a culinary arts and systems student from Reading, learned during a visit to campus by Kate Hunter, a 2000 graduate of the college’s culinary arts technology and food and hospitality management majors, that he will receive the Jones Dairy Farm Culinary Scholarship for 2017-18. Jones Dairy Farm, a six-generation family-owned leader in breakfast sausage, established the scholarship for Penn College students in 2015. Hunter is a manager for Peak Sales & Marketing, a broker for Jones Dairy Farm products. In addition to presenting congratulations to Therrien, Hunter brought a lesson in calculating yields, using bacon from Jones Dairy Farm that was cooked and tested by students in Chef Paul Mach’s Classical Cuisines of the World course. The students calculated how much bacon and fat remained after cooking and the resulting per-slice and per-ounce cost of the cooked product. Joining Hunter was Chris Eckard, of Anchor Food Professionals, who added further insight related to dairy products, such as cream and butter. Critically evaluating cost vs. quality among competing products will serve students well in working kitchens, Mach explained.

Student Activities Banquet Honors Campus Luminaries

Front row (from left): Lauren J. Crouse, Student Leader of the Year; Elizabeth L. Landis, of Columbia, an emergency management technology major who accepted the award for Community Betterment Program; Morgan N. Keyser, of Cogan Station, a graphic design student who accepted the award for Outstanding Community Service Program; Hanna J. Williams, New Student Leader of the Year; and Hannah G. Maize, Riverside, a plastics and polymer engineering technology major who accepted the Outstanding Student Organization award on behalf of the Society of Plastics Engineers. Second row (from left): Bryonna A. Aldubayan, Student Leader Committed to Social Justice and Diversity; SGA President Caleb E. Cartmell, an automotive management technology student from Honesdale; Jeffrey R. Hasiak, Greek New Member; and Austin D. Adams, Center Valley, information technology: network specialist concentration, and Ryan W. Conklin, Beech Creek, information technology sciences-gaming and simulation, representing the Association of Professional Programmers, chosen as the Most Improved Student Organization. Back row (from left): Everett B. Appleby, SGA Senator of the Year and Student Leader Legacy Scholarship recipient; Josiah D. Stoltzfus, a construction management major from Morgantown, honored for Yell(ow) It Out, Outstanding Program; Jon R. Hallinstad Jr., a residential construction technology and management student from Germansville, who accepted awards including Greek Academic Achievement Award on behalf of the Omega Delta Sigma veterans fraternity; Greek honoree Paul M. Lasell, also one of the year's Student Leader Legacy Scholarship recipients; and Gregory C. Hidlay, of Catawissa, enrolled in information technology: network specialist concentration and a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity chapter, celebrated for Outstanding Philanthropy and for its new Jump for St. Jude event.

An impressive roster of students and campus organizations recently stepped into the much-deserved spotlight of Penn’s Inn, receiving accolades for their contributions to Penn College and the broader community during the 2016-17 academic year.

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Alumni-Led Industry Tours Reinforce Laboratory Learning

Penn College grad Paul R. South (in red hard hat) leads students on a tour of Danzer Veneers log yard.

Students in the Forest Products (FOR 210) class took field trips Tuesday to Wheeland Lumber Co. Inc. in Liberty and to Danzer Veneer Americas in Williamsport. At Wheeland Lumber, the students toured a high-production sawmill, log yard and millwork facility with Penn College alumni Damen R. (’00, forest technology, and ’03, technology management) and Derek E. (’03, business administration: banking and finance concentration) Wheeland. At Danzer Veneer, students visited the log yard and production facility with Paul R. South, a 2016 graduate in forest technology. “Both tours were educational for the students,” said Erich R. Doebler, laboratory assistant for forest technology, who accompanied the group and provided the photo. “It allows them to see in person and experience the manufacturing environment that is discussed in class.”

WTI Reunion Takes Grads on Round Trip Through History

Enjoying the Aviation Center surroundings are John Hertel, (left) ’48, agricultural equipment and repair, and ‘49, electric and acetylene welding, and Ralph Mills, ’58, plumbing.

The Lumley Aviation Center proved to be a popular venue for Friday’s 17th annual reunion for graduates of Williamsport Technical Institute, a Penn College predecessor from 1941-65. Alumni and their guests, totaling about 75 attendees, enjoyed swapping stories, savoring lunch and listening to remarks by President Davie Jane Gilmour. Presentations on forestry, industrial design, athletics and veterans affairs were also on the agenda. Forest technology students Nicholas J. Fedele and Nancy M. Summers shared their passions for the major, as did Erich R. Doebler, laboratory assistant for forest technology. Discussing exciting activities in industrial design were students Dwight D. Alexander, Sean P. Christy and Brett F. Warkoski, and their professor, Thomas E. Ask. Offering insights into the college’s evolving athletics efforts were John D. Vandevere, director of athletics; Lauren S. Herr, a women’s soccer student-athlete enrolled in construction management; and Chris H. Howard, head baseball coach. Chet Beaver, financial aid specialist for veterans services, detailed progress of the Penn College Patriot Scholarship and introduced student veterans on hand to assist with luncheon logistics. Following lunch, Walter V. Gower, assistant dean for transportation and natural resources technologies, took participants on a tour of the hangar, where many reveled in viewing aviation equipment and chatting with students performing various tasks on the tarmac.

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Last updated April 25, 2017 | Posted in Alumni, Aviation, Construction & Design Technologies, Construction Management, Forestry, Industrial Design, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Sports, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies | This gallery contains 1 photo. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Still-Employed Octogenarian Proves ‘the Sky’s the Limit’

The visitor stops by the sheet-metal shop with faculty member Thomas D. Inman.

The alumnus invented, manufactured and marketed slide-in adapters to retrofit new radios in older aircraft, a cost-saving innovation that he demonstrated for students.

Haubert alights a twin-engine Dassault Falcon 20 business jet donated to Penn College during the Spring 2015 semester. Impressed by the college's fleet of instructional aircraft, including a Boeing 727 parked outside the aviation campus at the Williamsport Regional Airport, he marveled that "We worked on T-33s!" (A reference to a postwar trainer jet manufactured by Lockheed.)

Proudly pointing out a slideshow version of his younger self, kneeling at the airport

Haubert swaps stories with interested students and faculty.

Paul W. Haubert, a 1960 graduate of Penn College forerunner Williamsport Technical Institute, regaled a classroom audience with tales from his storied (and ongoing) career during a recent visit to the Lumley Aviation Center. The 83-year-old alumnus – who operates an avionics repair shop at New Cumberland’s Capital City Airport with his son Wayne – took students and faculty on a top-flight reminiscence of his life in aircraft maintenance. And what a life it’s been! He received his certificate at WTI after an honorable discharge from the Air Force and went on to a series of aviation-related adventures starting with American Airlines at New York’s Idlewild Airport and winding through a number of mechanical, manufacturing and management positions that continue to this day. Haubert was treated to a tour of the Montoursville facility with Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of aviation, and enjoyed lunch at the college’s Le Jeune Chef Restaurant with Kimberly R. Cassel, director of alumni relations, and Rhonda S. Walker, alumni relations specialist.