Autodesk recognized the contributions of a Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member to its support network during the recent Expert Elite Global Summit in Las Vegas.
The multinational software corporation honored J.D. Mather, assistant professor of engineering design technology, as 5-Year Top Expert Elite Autodesk Forums contributor for submitting nearly 500 screencast videos to the Autodesk Knowledge Network, a repository of educational content for the Autodesk community.
Penn College hosted battles of ingenuity during SWORD Fall Fights 2018 in the Field House. Approximately 45 combat robots, designed and built by Penn College students and members of the public, “fought” in the double-elimination tournament on Nov. 17. About 130 people attended the daylong event, which featured 1- and 3-pound weight classes. “In an event like this, students get to see engineering in action,” said Craig A. Miller, instructor of engineering design technology and adviser to the Student Wildcats of Robotic Design Club, which sponsored the event. “They design, build and test their robots against other builders. They see what works and what does not and make design improvements in an effort to make their robots more competitive.”
About 45 students in Penn College’s School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies employed their skills to “spooky” effect during the fifth annual Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest. The competition required the engineering design students to use software to create virtual jack-o’-lanterns. No cleanup was required as winners were declared for morning and afternoon versions of the fun activity. Morning session winners were: first place, Sidney S. Alpaugh, an engineering CAD technology major from Muncy; second place, Evan L. McElhenny, an engineering design technology major from Bainbridge; and dean’s choice, Justin B. Jay, an engineering design technology major from Milanville. Winners in their respective afternoon sessions were: first place Calum A. Nichols, of Coudersport, engineering CAD technology, and Ruan Visser of Austin, Texas, engineering design technology; second place, Morgan R. Bagenstose, of Reading, and Hugo A. Prieto, of Coatesville, both engineering design technology; and third place, Cheyenne A. Miller, of Bellefonte, and Brendan J. Madeira, of Lebanon, each enrolled in engineering CAD technology.
Pennsylvania College of Technology will feature battles of ingenuity later this month when it hosts SWORD Fall Fights 2018.
Approximately 50 combat robots will “fight” in the double-elimination tournament that is open to the public. Trophies and gift certificates will be awarded to the top three finishers in the 1- and 3-pound weight classes.
The event is scheduled for the college’s Field House on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Penn College engineering design technology students enrolled in the Technical Drawing-Related Disciplines course experienced examples of structural fabrication and design, thanks to a recent field trip to High Steel Structures Inc. in Williamsport. Located along Fourth Street, west of campus, High Steel is one of the largest structural steel fabricators in the country. The company has fabricated more than 1 million tons of structural steel during the past 20 years. Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of engineering design technology, and Kendra N. Tomassacci, instructor of engineering design technology, accompanied 33 of their students. “It was an awesome trip,” Walker said. “We are very fortunate that our local employers provide opportunities to visit their facilities. It is very beneficial for students to connect their classroom experience to real-world applications.”
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Pennsylvania College of Technology alumnus Keith L. Jeffcoat recently returned to his roots to share advice and industry experience with the next generation of students.
A school assignment required 9-year-old Trevin Allen to write about his dream. Rather than being a famous athlete, musician or movie star, the youngster expressed a desire to work as a computer designer in the plastics industry for SEKISUI SPI, which employs his father, Lucas L., a 2001 Penn College graduate in building construction technology. Trevin’s “essay” sparked a visit to main campus, where he experienced CAD, the new makerspace and various plastics labs. Trevin’s wish for applied technology education – offered by the likes of Penn College – matches the needs of the workforce, which is grappling with a shortage of skilled professionals. Many Penn College students, especially plastics majors, have jobs lined up well before graduation. The college has a 96 percent graduate placement rate. Trevin’s word to describe his visit? “Cool!”
Engineering and industrial design students at Pennsylvania College of Technology proved their software acumen by passing prominent industry certification exams during the 2017-18 academic year.
Twenty-nine students successfully completed the Certified SolidWorks Associate exam, 12 students passed the Certified SolidWorks Professional test and two students earned Autodesk Inventor certification.
“Encouraging students to obtain CAD certifications has become a practice within our department,” said Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of engineering and industrial design technology. “Their performance serves as an external validation of their skill sets, reflects their hard work in the classroom and demonstrates sincere dedication to the field. The certifications certainly help them stand out in the job market upon graduation.”
Recent scholarships from the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies reflects Pennsylvania College of Technology’s standing as a national leader in applied technology education.
Penn College students received nine of 22 awards from the PMMI Scholarship in Memorial of Claude S. Breeden, Glenn Davis and Art Schaefer. The $4,000 scholarships honor students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, plan for a career in packaging and processing machinery manufacturing, and show industry involvement through internship and career development activities.
Mother Nature hampered the quest of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Baja SAE team, but she couldn’t prevent a dynamic performance by the students at the recent Society of Automotive Engineers international competition in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Penn College posted a school-best three top-10 finishes in dynamic events, besting the likes of Ohio State, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Oklahoma and Clemson in the process.
“I’m very proud of how both the students and car performed,” said John G. Upcraft, instructor of manufacturing and machining and the team’s adviser since its inception in 2005. “The results validate the hard work and countless hours the students dedicated to designing, manufacturing and testing the car.”
Nearly all 27 members of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s SkillsUSA team – 21 of them advancing to the 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky – earned medals during recent state competition.
The competitors represent majors across four of Penn College’s academic schools, and the theme for the April 18-20 Pennsylvania Leadership and Skills Conference in Hershey couldn’t have been more fitting for students gaining career-making skills in hands-on fashion: “Champions at Work: Job-Ready, Day One.”
Pennsylvania College of Technology recently recognized 13 first-year students who received Penn College NOW scholarships.
The recipients completed Penn College courses during high school as part of the college’s Penn College NOW dual-enrollment program. The group was honored during an Oct. 27 reception.
To be eligible, students must have successfully completed at least one Penn College NOW course, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Penn College NOW classes, enroll in Penn College as a full-time freshman student for the fall semester after high school graduation, and maintain a 2.5 GPA at Penn College as an enrolled student.
As anyone on either side of the Halloween give-and-take knows, the goodies can last for days (if not months!) after the trick-or-treat bags are emptied. So it is with PCToday’s campuswide correspondents, who provided some sweet souvenirs to carry over into November. On Tuesday, two sections of Technical Drawing & Detailing (CCD 103/104) held their fourth annual Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest. The 35 students, most of them enrolled in the engineering design technology major, used SolidWorks Software to create virtual jack-‘o-lanterns using skills and techniques that they have acquired since the start of the semester. In addition, a number of college employees marked the day in costume, and Tuesday evening saw the return of another tradition – the Halloween Boofet in the Capitol Eatery.
Eight students from the widest variety of academic majors ever to represent Pennsylvania College of Technology at the National Leadership and Skills Conference returned home with medals – including first-time successes in three competitive areas.
The contingent took one of three top places in five categories, and this year marked the first time that Penn College entrants medaled in Computer Programming, TeamWorks and Welding Sculpture.
“This really goes to show how well-prepared the students are from their respective fields and how great our instructors are here at the college. This is, by far, the most diverse group of students I’ve had go to the national competition,” said SkillsUSA adviser James N. Colton II, an assistant professor of welding. “The national skills competition gives us a chance to showcase our technical skills and show everyone why we’re a leader in applied technology.”
Three Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty members were honored at Spring 2017 Commencement ceremonies for their teaching prowess. Their awards were presented May 12-13 at the Community Arts Center.
As part of the Distinguished Teaching Awards program at Penn College, President Davie Jane Gilmour presented a Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award to J.D. Mather, assistant professor of engineering design technology.
Two faculty members received Excellence in Teaching Awards: Nicholas L. Stephenson, instructor of graphic design, and Mary G. Trometter, assistant professor of hospitality management/culinary arts.