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Brewing Up Some Major Promotion

Major swag: Glasses, openers and coasters promote the new brewing and fermentation science degree.

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s new brewing and fermentation science degree was highlighted at the Billtown Brewfest on Saturday. Held in downtown Williamsport at Midtown Landing, an area behind Trade and Transit Centre II, the festival featured 30 craft breweries offering tastings. Representatives from the college’s Admissions, Alumni Relations and Corporate Relations offices were on hand for the event, answering questions about the new major and greeting alumni in attendance. Also participating was Timothy L. Yarrington, instructor of brewing and fermentation science and an award-winning brewmaster, who visited with fellow brewers and promoted Penn College’s academic entry into the industry. “I thought it was a great event in a great location,” Yarrington said. “It was good to see so many of my brewing peers here in Williamsport and be able to taste so many great products. I enjoyed catching up with some old friends and also making some new ones. I look forward to this becoming an annual Williamsport tradition.” Organized by the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau and Brickyard Restaurant & Ale House, the celebration of craft beers offered two three-hour tastings and featured entertainment by two local bands – The No Maddz and The Family Ties. Penn College’s brewing and fermentation science degree begins this fall.

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Last updated July 24, 2017 | Posted in Admissions, Alumni, Brewing & Fermentation Science, Faculty & Staff, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications | This gallery contains 8 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Grads Pave Way for Vital New Highway

Jackson and Wise survey the expansive project site ...

... a literally groundbreaking opportunity to untangle a decades-old traffic snarl.

Two Penn College civil engineering graduates – David Wise, ’92, and Maggie Jackson, ’08 – are helping to lead the $670 million Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project, one of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s largest undertakings. Wise is a construction manager for PennDOT, and Jackson is the design project engineer. Both rely on their Penn College background as they work on the 13-mile limited access highway that will alleviate a problem faced for 40 years: congestion and heavy truck traffic through Shamokin Dam. “Here’s the largest construction project that I know of in the state and here are two Penn College graduates that are right at the top of the list in making this whole project work, and that’s pretty significant,” said state Sen. Gene Yaw, who also chairs the college’s board of directors. “They should be pretty proud of their own accomplishments because we can do all these things at the college and train them and everything, but I think it’s incumbent upon the individual to go out and use the skills they’ve learned … and these two people obviously have. And we’re really excited about them.”
– Photos by Tom Speicher, writer/video editor

Penn College Degree Leads to Philadelphia Eagles Front Office

Penn College web and interactive media alumnus Christopher C. Rutledge is employed by the Philadelphia Eagles as digital project coordinator.

Pennsylvania College of Technology graduate Christopher C. Rutledge, a collegiate soccer player and all-around sports enthusiast, chose his degree without imagining that it would lead to work that so closely relates to his lifelong pastime, let alone that his first full-time job would be with his favorite NFL team.

“Ever since I was 6 years of age, I have been in love with sports, and to this day, I still get myself involved with many activities, whether it is football, soccer, softball, etc.,” the 2016 graduate said.

Rutledge, a four-year member of the Penn College men’s soccer team, received a bachelor’s degree in web and interactive media. Last summer, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office as digital project coordinator.

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Students Gain ‘Tons’ of Hospitality Experience at Iconic Event

Penn College culinary arts and systems students R. Colby Janowitz, of Westminster, Md.; Amaris T. Smith, of Williamsport; and Cy C. Heller, of Milton, work an à la carte lunch in the Turf Room on Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.

Pennsylvania College of Technology students returned from the 2017 Kentucky Derby with a wealth of experience in high-volume hospitality, courtesy of Churchill Downs food operator Levy Restaurants.

“Working at the Kentucky Derby was an insane, amazing, life-changing experience,” said R. Colby Janowitz, who received both a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts and systems and an associate degree in hospitality management from Penn College in May. It was the second trip to the Kentucky Derby for the Westminster, Maryland, native.

Janowitz joined 24 other Penn College students – and faculty member Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts – in the kitchens of Churchill Downs during Derby Week, a series of events that culminates in the storied Kentucky Derby, which this year drew a crowd of 158,000.

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Faculty Member Named One of Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America

Niedermyer accepts applause as he's announced among the Top 10 honorees.

A Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member has received one of the highest honors bestowed on pastry chefs: a spot among Dessert Professional Magazine’s Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America.

Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, of State College, an instructor of baking and pastry arts and culinary arts, was named to the 2017 Top Ten list by Dessert Professional publisher Matthew Stevens and editor Tish Boyle, who selected honorees based on their talent, creativity, contributions to the industry and dedication to creating high-quality confections.

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Last updated June 6, 2017 | Posted in Alumni, Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts, Business & Hospitality, Faculty & Staff, Students | This gallery contains 3 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

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 and Graphic Design, 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.”