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Advisory Committee Honors Construction Management Students

Scholarship recipients and members of Penn College's Construction Management Advisory Committee mark the occasion with a group photo. Back row (from left): Brandon Miller, area manager, Henkels & McCoy; Kevin M. Snoke, president/chief operating officer, Wagman Construction Inc.; James P. Craft, project manager, James Craft & Son Inc.; S. Curtis Wargo, project manager, Allan Myers; students Jacob R. Stouffer, of Chambersburg, and Calen B. Heeter, of Emlenton; and Matthew R. Sarver, CMAC secretary and project executive, Gilbane Building Co. Front row (from left): Student Lauren S. Herr, of Lititz; Brian J. Fish, general superintendent, Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; students Elias S. Brallier, of Hopewell, Nowell H. Covington, of Benton, and Derek S. Smith, of Port Matilda; Angie Moore, assistant project manager, Wickersham Construction; and Stephanie L. Schmidt, CMAC vice chair and president, Poole Anderson Construction. (Photo provided)

Seven Pennsylvania College of Technology students were recently designated by the college’s Construction Management Advisory Committee to receive scholarship awards.

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In Scoring Position

Doing the heavy lifting, a crane helps adorn the Athletic Field scoreboard.

A scoreboard truss, complete with the Penn College name and new Wildcat logo, was set Friday morning at the Athletic Field. A crew from Allison Crane & Rigging lofted and lowered the piece into place; Joseph H. Reynolds, of Transport Custom Designs in Montoursville – a 1976 graduate and a Penn College Foundation board member – assisted with the steel structure.

Online RN-to-BSN Degree Designed for Working Nurses

There is a nationwide push for 80 percent of registered nurses to have their bachelor’s degree by 2020. Pennsylvania College of Technology is helping to meet that challenge with its online BSN degree, designed for the working nurse. Thanks to an eight-week class schedule, full-time BSN students can complete the program in a year. Penn College nursing alumni receive a 38-percent tuition discount when they enroll in the program, and out-of-state students pay the in-state tuition rate. The Penn College BSN degree is explored in a new YouTube video with the help of Valerie Myers, assistant dean of nursing at the college; Amanda Raymond, a nurse educator at UPMC Susquehanna and current BSN student; Lori Beucler, vice president and chief nursing officer at UPMC Susquehanna; and Terri Bickert, vice president of nursing education at Geisinger Health System. “Research has shown that patient outcomes are improved when they’re cared for by a bachelor’s-prepared nurse,” Myers says. “The bachelor’s program courses are more holistic, so they are looking at nursing from a wider view.”

Penn College Spring Commencement Ceremonies Set for May 11-12

Penn College will hold three commencement ceremonies in the Community Arts Center, Williamsport, on May 11-12 for the more than 900 students who have petitioned to graduate following the Spring 2018 semester.

Three commencement ceremonies will be offered May 11-12 for the more than 900 students who have petitioned to graduate following the Spring 2018 semester at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

All of the ceremonies will be held at the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, with more than 780 students expected to march.

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Students Organize Professional Development Seminar

Penn College graduate Taylor C. Biery, who received a degree in health information management in 2013, talks about her work during a Health Information Technology Seminar organized by students at the college.

Health information technology students at Pennsylvania College of Technology, who in the world of work will likely be tasked with arranging professional development opportunities for their employees, got that experience by orchestrating a Health Information Technology Seminar for other students.

“It gives them a feel for how to set up a training,” said Daniel K. Christopher, assistant professor of business administration: health information technology and department head. Christopher teaches the Health Information Management course, a capstone class for the college’s health information technology associate-degree major.

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Event Provides Free Dental Care to Service Members, Their Families

Providing dental hygiene services are (from left): Allison D. Bailey, a student from West Chester; Samantha J. Diehl, a student from East Berlin; Paige N. Spicher, a registered dental hygienist who graduated from Penn College in 2017; and, in second exam area, Courtney E. Bashwinger, a student from Levittown.

Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students, joined by local hygienists and dentists who volunteered their time, provided free dental hygiene services to 29 current or veteran members of the armed services and their family members.

The 35 students who provided “Service Saturday” treatments on April 14 are in the Community Dental Health course, taught by Kim A. Speicher, assistant professor of dental hygiene. Each year, the class provides community service to a population in need, Speicher explained.

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Rebuilding Nepal

A helicopter lands in a Himalayan village to transport Daniel J. LaSota, ’09, to his next assignment. LaSota is a project manager for Steadfast Nepal, helping to replace homes destroyed by 2015 earthquakes.

From the Spring 2018 Penn College Magazine: Residential construction technology and management graduate Daniel J. LaSota, ’09, builds sustainable, earthquake-resistant homes in remote Himalayan villages. Read “Rebuilding Nepal.”

Record-Setting Crowd Celebrates Commitment to Students

Guests gather in the SASC lobby prior to the start of the ceremony.

Attendees view a video showcasing the success resulting from student scholarships.

With the donor wall as a visually stunning accent, the president welcomes the crowd as Loni N. Kline, vice president for institutional advancement, stands ready to hand out gifts of appreciation.

Representing Novatec Inc., Timothy Noggle accepts his company’s Ambassador's Society recognition.

Unique floral arrangements, using sheet metal and rebar from the welding and aviation labs, were crafted by alumna Karen R. Ruhl.

The largest crowd in the event’s 14-year history shared in Monday night’s recognition of the alumni, corporate partners, friends and colleagues whose cumulative giving – reflected on a Donor Wall in the Student & Administrative Services Center – leaves a lasting impression on the college’s campuses and students.

“This year, we are honored to recognize the individuals and corporate partners whose donations and entrustments place them on the wall for the first time, or in a new membership society,” President Davie Jane Gilmour said. “Together, their collective commitments total nearly $6.5 million. To everyone in the room, your contributions to Penn College are at work ensuring that our students benefit from a vibrant, challenging and supportive learning environment while they pursue their ‘degrees that work.'”

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Happy Returns of the Day

Time stands still in this Penn's Inn group photo of reunion attendees, representing the college's historic and formative early years.

About 50 alumni of Williamsport Technical Institute returned to campus on Friday for an annual reunion of graduates from the institution that laid the foundation for today’s Pennsylvania College of Technology. Established by the Williamsport School District, WTI developed many innovations in hands-on adult education before becoming the third community college in the state in 1965 and later Penn College. In addition to reminiscing, the alumni – whose graduation years ranged from 1945 to 1966 – heard from current students about the latest advancements in the college’s welding, occupational therapy assistant and mechatronics academic programs. After a morning of nostalgia and student presentations, the group gathered for lunch and toured the college’s art gallery and veterans’ resource center.

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Last updated April 13, 2018 | Posted in Alumni, Events, Faculty & Staff, Gallery, Students | This gallery contains 20 photos. | Tagged as | 5 Comments

Today’s Students Mentor Tomorrow’s ‘Women in Construction’

Teamwork in the lab

Girls in ninth through 12 grades visited Pennsylvania College of Technology on Friday for a hands-on exploration of careers in construction and design.

The daylong “Framing Your Future” event introduced 42 participants to the industry’s vast career opportunities; included a networking lunch with guest speaker Angie (Martinozzi) Moore, a May 2015 construction management alumna and an assistant project manager at Wickersham Construction & Engineering Inc. in Lancaster; and provided a dialogue with current college students.

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USA Science Festival: Where ‘D.C.’ Stands for ‘Definitely Cool’

Interactive inspiration for tomorrow's innovators

A national leader in applied technology education returned to the nation’s capital this past weekend, serving up a second helping of “A Taste of Technology” at the USA Science & Engineering Festival. Students again led the presentations of a popular program subtitled, “Sweet and Savory Science,” joined by Penn College faculty members Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts; Chef Mary G. Trometter, assistant professor of food and hospitality management/culinary arts; Chef Todd M. Keeley, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts; and Brian M. McKeon Sr., assistant professor of physician assistant. The college’s 400-square-foot exhibit featured three stations, enlisting the public’s hands-on help (and rewarding their taste buds on the other side of the demos).

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Hospitality Students Hired for Kentucky Derby Internships

A group of Penn College students (shown here, including alternates) have been hired by Levy Restaurants to help prepare food for VIP venues at Churchill Downs during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5. They will be accompanied by Chef Charles R. Niedermyer (back right), instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts.

Twenty-eight Pennsylvania College of Technology students and 11 graduates have been selected to help prepare and serve food in the high-end venues of Churchill Downs during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

The Derby, known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, is steeped in tradition – like mint juleps, spectacular hats and the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home.” A behind-the-scenes tradition for more than 25 years has been the involvement of Penn College students.

The event provides a one-of-a-kind learning experience for the aspiring hospitality professionals, who are pursuing degrees in baking and pastry arts, culinary arts, and hospitality management. Some of this year’s staffers are returning for the second, third or fourth time in their collegiate careers.

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Andrew J. Bucher Named ‘Student of the Month’ at Penn College

Andrew J. Bucher

Andrew J. Bucher, scheduled to graduate in May with an associate degree in heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis, has been selected as the March “Student of the Month” at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Considered by his nominator as a high-quality candidate for the honor due to his dedication, involvement and impact on the Penn College campus and community, the Manheim resident “has always been passionate about getting involved on campus and being a role model for his peers.”

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Health Sciences Team Owns ‘Breakout’ Session

Conquering the interactive challenge of Williamsport Escapes are (clockwise, from bottom left) Zeel Patel, a pre-nursing student from Bensalem; Long; Traister; Cera N. Blunk, a physician assistant major from Schuylkill Haven; Emily K. Conklin, a pre-dental hygiene student from Port Allegany; and Constance J. Plankenhorn, of Williamsport, enrolled in physician assistant studies.

The Health Sciences Living-Learning Community participated in an activity Friday at Williamsport Escapes, which offers a team-building series of brain games at 201 Basin Street. Tanae A. Traister, clinical director of nursing, and Taren A. (Adams) Long, a 2011 radiography graduate, joined four students as they solved clues that allowed them to break out of the facility’s locker-room area. The group was given 60 minutes to escape and managed to get out with two minutes and 57 seconds to spare! Penn College’s Living-Learning Communities provide themed housing arrangements for first-year residents in a variety of academic majors.
Photo provided

Area Auto Dealer’s Generous Donation Boosts Wildcat Athletics

A $100,000 donation from the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships will enhance Wildcat Athletics at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The donation will support athletic facilities, beginning with the purchase of two new scoreboards for use in Bardo Gymnasium. Built in 1939, Bardo Gym has a seating capacity of 1,500 and serves as the home of Wildcat basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams, as well as intramural and club sports at Penn College.

The Muncy-based Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships operates 18 automobile dealerships in central and northcentral Pennsylvania, employing numerous alumni of Penn College.

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Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University