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An instructor of baking and pastry arts and culinary arts at Pennsylvania College of Technology was invited to teach one of this year’s two-day regional workshops for the Bread Bakers Guild of America.
Chef Charles R. Niedermyer II, a faculty member at the college since 2005, taught “A Modern Approach to Classic Viennoiserie” to 14 guild members Aug. 8-9 in the college’s baking and pastry arts laboratory.
Pennsylvania College of Technology held its Summer Commencement at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. Dylan G. Otis, presented with associate degrees in heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis and heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis, was the student speaker. In addition to degrees conferred by college President Davie Jane Gilmour and state Sen. Gene Yaw, chair of the Penn College Board of Directors, the college presented an Alumni Mentorship Award to 2007 graduate Andrea (Niklaus) Reed, an administrator at UPMC Susquehanna Muncy, and an Excellence in Teaching Award to Terri A. Stone, assistant professor of nursing programs.
Pennsylvania College of Technology presented a Mentorship Award to alumna Andrea (Niklaus) Reed, director of nursing/patient safety, privacy and compliance officer at UPMC Susquehanna Muncy.
The award was bestowed upon Reed by Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour during the Summer 2019 commencement ceremony, held Aug. 10 at the Community Arts Center.
Reed earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing from Penn College in 2007 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in nursing from University of Phoenix in 2014 and a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in leadership and health care administration from Grand Canyon University in 2018.
Pennsylvania College of Technology has presented student achievement awards to its Summer 2019 graduates.
A commencement ceremony was held Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Community Arts Center, Williamsport. Penn College is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University.
The Pennsylvania College of Technology Athletics Department has announced its 2019 Hall of Fame Class: Cody E. Buterbaugh, Zachary J. Buterbaugh, Christopher P. Brennan and Teresa S. Burrill.
The inductees will enter the Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 4, during a 5:30 p.m. ceremony in the Thompson Professional Development Center.
A total of 275 students have petitioned to graduate following Pennsylvania College of Technology’s summer sessions. A commencement ceremony is set for Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Community Arts Center.
The student speaker for the 11 a.m. event will be Dylan Gary Otis, of Wyalusing, who will be presented with Associate of Applied Science degrees in heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis and heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis.
A “life celebration” of Veronica M. Muzic, an inspiration to students and colleagues throughout nearly five decades as a faculty member and administrator, was held Saturday in Penn College’s Student & Administrative Services Center. The three-and-a-half-hour gathering attracted a cross-section of those who benefited from Muzic’s no-nonsense counsel and dedicated leadership – family, faculty/staff, former students and community members – and who marked the day with remembrance, reverent and otherwise, sprinkling their anecdotes with laughter and honest tears. Among those offering remarks were Marcianne Muzic Laycock, one of the honoree’s two daughters; niece Lisa Halberstadt, who read “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou (a March 1987 visitor to Williamsport Area Community College as part of a Women’s Series initiated by Muzic); President Davie Jane Gilmour; and Lynn Hanson, now a professor at Francis Marion University and co-director of the Baruch Institute for South Carolina Studies. The event also included music from a Williamsport Symphony Orchestra quartet and informal tours of “Veronica’s Garden” on the building’s second floor. Muzic, who died June 18 at the age of 82, joined WACC as an English instructor in 1968 and was awarded its first “Master Teacher” award in 1982. She retired as vice president for academic affairs/provost, served part time service as a special assistant to the president and holds emeritus faculty status.
A public celebration of the life of Veronica M. Muzic – a life that included a half-century of devoted service to the college, its students and her co-workers – will be held from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in Penn College’s Student & Administrative Services Center.
The first 90 minutes will allow guests an opportunity for informal gathering and to visit “Veronica’s Garden” on the second floor, where a Williamsport Symphony Orchestra quartet will perform. Remarks will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by impromptu reminiscences from the floor. “Business casual” attire is suggested.
Muzic, who died June 18 at the age of 82, joined Williamsport Area Community College as an English instructor in 1968 and was awarded its first “Master Teacher” award in 1982. Her years of teaching and administrative leadership culminated in her retirement as vice president for academic affairs/provost, part-time service as a special assistant to the president and induction into the company of emeritus faculty members.
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s transportation partner for Wildcat Athletics, Susquehanna Trailways, is increasing its support, which will be commemorated on the new scoreboard at the college’s updated athletic complex.
As part of the company’s commitment, two Susquehanna Trailways tour buses will continue to sport Penn College promotional wraps for five years.
Incoming Fall 2019 students and their families attended the first of the season’s Connections sessions this week, getting their lay of the Penn College landscape before the glorious swirl of Welcome Weekend. Following an itinerary that will echo throughout the summer, college employees and student assistants – called “Links” in recognition of the relationships they forge – provided invaluable information on college life, in and out of class. This summer’s Connections Links are: Janelle R. Becker, of Fort Loudon, culinary arts and systems; Emily K. Conklin, Port Allegany, dental hygiene: health and policy administration concentration; Lacey A. Decker, Emporium, pre-dental hygiene; David Eaton, Harrisburg, web and interactive media; Patrick C. Ferguson, Williamsport, business administration: marketing concentration; Hallie S. Harriman, Mifflinburg, information technology sciences: gaming and simulation; Michael E. Highland II, Slatington, electronics and computer engineering technology; Shawnee M. Mills, Waldorf, Maryland, plastics and polymer engineering technology; Joey M. Morrin, Morrisville, graphic design; Alaina M. Murren, Aspers, dental hygiene; Natascha G. Santaella, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, applied management; and Sophia G. Wiest, Butler, entrepreneurial innovation. Ferguson and Conklin are serving as “Lead Links.” The campus will greet another five orientation groups next month, including one session (July 8-9) that is already full and a one-day program solely for adult learners (July 22).
Second and third photos by Tim Wegman, student photographer
The email contained a stark message for the transfer student. After a year of subpar grades, Pennsylvania College of Technology had to place her on academic probation.
Jacqueline M. Westervelt repeatedly scanned the message, hoping that the words would change. They didn’t.
Her dream of earning an information technology degree – already delayed for two years – was in jeopardy. Self-doubt, fueled by past struggles in school, flooded her mind. Tears flowed as she thought that the people who told her she wasn’t college material were right.
Turns out, they were wrong.
A dozen residential Pre-College Programs and a daytime Creative Art Camp brought hundreds of young women and men to Penn College’s campuses in mid-June, providing hands-on entry to the myriad career opportunities reflected in the institution’s postsecondary curriculum. Keeping campers (and PCToday photographers) busy in recent days were these fun learning opportunities, some of which involved culminating projects: Architecture Odyssey, Autism Spectrum Post-Secondary Interest Experience (ASPIE), Automotive Restoration, Aviation, Building Construction (new this year), Creative Art Camp, Engineering, Future Restaurateurs, Graphic Design Summer Studio, Grow & Design Horticulture, Health Careers, Information Technology and SMART (Science and Math in Real-world Technologies) Girls.
Veronica M. Muzic, whose dedicated service as a faculty member and administrator is tightly woven through 50 years of college history, died Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the age of 82.
Muzic joined Williamsport Area Community College as an English instructor in 1968 and was awarded its first “Master Teacher” award in 1982. In recognition of her years of distinguished service to WACC and Pennsylvania College of Technology, the award was renamed in her honor in 2006.
In nearly four decades of teaching and administrative leadership – culminating in her retirement as vice president for academic affairs/provost, part-time service as a special assistant to the president and designation as faculty emerita – she was a tireless and selfless mentor to students, alumni and colleagues.
“Veronica was an essential piece of the fabric of our college, and she will be forever missed,” President Davie Jane Gilmour said.
A visit from “the world’s most sought after golf trick-shot performer” at the Penn College Foundation’s 33rd Annual Golf Classic provided another record-setting year in scholarship support for Pennsylvania College of Technology students.
The June 17 event, featuring Chuck “The Hit Man” Hiter, was the most successful in college history – topping $125,000 in revenue.
Compass Group North America was the title sponsor for the tournament, the net proceeds of which benefit the Penn College Foundation Golf Classic Scholarship. Fisher Mining Co. was the tournament sponsor, and a number of other businesses generously signed on as additional sponsors.
“I always look forward to doing any kind of outing,” said Hiter, who treated players and guests to an exhibition on the Williamsport Country Club’s first tee. “But with what this college does on the vocational side, awarding technical degrees for which there’s definitely a great need, it’s especially a pleasure to support a benefit like this.”
Anne Reiner of the On the Pulse local news site visited campus recently to interview Ryan M. Witmer, a mechatronics technology student from Lancaster County. Reiner watched Witmer employ various diagnostic tools to monitor the performance of Penn College’s roll-fed thermoformer and discussed with him the unique major, which combines electrical, mechanical and computer engineering into one field. Reiner also explored mechatronics with one of Witmer’s teachers: Howard W. Troup, instructor of automated manufacturing and machining. “Everything that I learned in high school was, ‘I needed to fix it,'” says Witmer, who graduated with high honors on May 17. “Here, I can build it … I can fix it … I can, you know, prevent it from being broken in the first place.” The new alumnus is employed as an assembly technician for Astro Machine Works in Ephrata.