Construction & Design Technologies

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ConCreate Design Club to host jewelry workshop

Attendees at Tuesday's pendant decorating workshop can turn concrete runes ... — Attendees at Tuesday’s pendant decorating workshop can turn concrete runes …

... into beautifully original pieces of jewelry. — … into beautifully original pieces of jewelry.

The ConCreate Design Club, a student organization that grew out of one of Penn College’s newest majors, will hold a concrete pendant decorating workshop from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday in the Bush Campus Center lobby. “Decorating a pendant is a quick and easy process that will allow students and faculty to be creative,” explained Joseph F. DiBucci, the club’s founder and president (who also provided the photos). “The workshop will give you the ability to choose a concrete pendant and decorate it with an assortment of paints, stains or dyes.” Each stone costs $3 and will come with a necklace or keychain on which to place it. All funds raised by the ConCreate Design Club will go toward more hands-on workshops for the campus community.

Civil Engineering & Surveying Construction & Design Technologies Scholarships STEM Students

Civil engineering student awarded $2,000 regional scholarship

Regina M. Peluzzo, a civil engineering technology major from Philadelphia, holds an oversized scholarship check outside Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Student & Administrative Services Center. Peluzzo, who serves in the U.S. Air Force and is employed as a Veterans Affairs work-study student, was recently awarded $2,000 from the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Central Pennsylvania Section.

A civil engineering technology major at Pennsylvania College of Technology is one of four students to be recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Central Pennsylvania Section for outstanding academic achievement.

Among those presented with a $2,000 check at the section’s recent dinner meeting, the 28th time that the organization’s annual awards have been distributed, was Regina M. Peluzzo, of Philadelphia.

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Farm Show activities illustrate Penn College’s hands-on magnetism

Sixth-graders from Fleetwood Area Middle School in Berks County proudly show off their keepsake aircraft, some of the 70 or so built at the college's booth that day.

Penn College’s inspiring majors made their customary splash throughout the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg (Jan. 4-11), as a rotating regiment of subject experts satisfied each day’s crowds – intellectually and nutritionally – at the nation’s largest indoor agricultural expo. In addition to the photo gallery below, the college’s involvement was covered by the Pennsylvania Cable Network and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, which featured the schools of Nursing & Health Sciences and Business & Hospitality in its editions.

Building Construction Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Networking opportunities plentiful at concrete conventions

Penn College's Joseph F. DiBucci (back row, second from left) joins other American Concrete Institute honorees at the organization's annual convention in Cincinnati. In the front row is Tricia G. Ladely, assistant director of the ACI Foundation. (Photo provided)

The School of Construction & Design Technologies’ concrete science technology major was well-represented by students and faculty at a trio of industry gatherings during the Fall 2019 semester.

Joseph F. DiBucci, of Glenshaw, an applied technology studies student and founder/president of the college’s ConCreate Design Club, attended all three: the American Concrete Institute convention, Oct. 20-24 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati; the International Concrete Repair Institute convention, Nov. 11-13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City; and the Pennsylvania Aggregates & Concrete Association annual meeting, Nov. 18-19 at the Hotel Hershey.

Admissions Alumni Business & Hospitality Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies Nursing & Health Sciences Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications Students Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies

College to help Farm Show patrons ‘imagine’ career possibilities

Assembling a truss bridge at the Pennsylvania College of Technology booth, Bret A. Yetter – a surveying technology major from Liverpool – was among those welcoming visitors to the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. Students and employees will return to the complex from Jan. 4-11 to showcase the variety of careers represented by Penn College’s six academic schools.

A New Year’s tradition – Pennsylvania College of Technology’s eye-opening participation in the nation’s largest indoor agricultural attraction – is about to be renewed.

Knowledgeable students and employees will busily represent the college at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, and personify the event’s 2019 theme of “Imagine the Opportunities.”

“We always look forward to showcasing the excitement of our academic programs. This is a great opportunity to introduce Farm Show visitors to the opportunities a Penn College degree provides,” said Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management/associate provost. “With so many visitors from across the commonwealth, we also enjoy connecting with our alumni attending the event.”

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Civil engineering alum on publication’s list of young industry leaders

Eric J. Fino, a 2016 civil engineering technology graduate, is included among Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Top 20 Under 40. “Throughout my high school career, I tinkered with everything I could get my hands on, from working on cars to helping put together stage equipment for my high school’s Christmas play,” Fino said. “I learned early that I was a hands-on learner. ” That naturally led him to Penn College, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation internship in his chosen field and full-time employment there as work zone coordinator. In addition to his job responsibilities, Fino is an Eagle Scout who serves his community in a variety of capacities.

Architectural Technology Construction & Design Technologies Students

Students walk among city’s architectural treasures

ACH112 students, during a pause in their walking tour

Students in Rob A. Wozniak’s Architectural History course, an art elective that attracts students from a variety of majors, recently closed out the semester with a brisk stroll among downtown Williamsport’s rich selection of buildings and styles. The course is typically taught in the spring, but Wozniak (an associate professor of architectural technology) kept the same schedule for the fall term – which meant “a bit of a chill.” The class followed an informative pamphlet compiled several years ago, traversing a self-guided loop that encompasses 23 structures within a one-mile area. Among the historic buildings are the First National Bank Building at 21-25 W. Third St., the city’s first “skyscraper;” the former county prison at 154 W. Third St., built shortly after the Civil War; the Ulman Opera House at 2 E. Third St., where Mark Twain promoted “The Innocents Abroad” on New Year’s Eve in 1869; and the much-beloved James V. Brown Library at 19 E. Fourth St. “If you’re looking for something to do, bundle up as the students did,” said Wozniak, who also provided the photo. “Or put it on hold for the warmer days ahead.”

Alumni Construction & Design Technologies Construction Management

Construction management alumni among ‘Top Young Professionals’

Two alumni of Penn College’s four-year construction management major – Brian J. Fish and Matthew R. Sarver – are included among the 20 Top Young Professionals in Engineering News-Record’s Mid-Atlantic Region. Fish, a 2002 graduate, is a general superintendent with Hensel Phelps; Sarver, Class of 2004, is an area manager at Gilbane Building Co.

The magazine’s 2020 roster represents the “best and brightest emerging design and construction leaders from across the region,” comprising Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The awards program honors individuals who have built extraordinary industry portfolios in just a few short years. In addition, according to the publication, many donate significant amounts of time and expertise to serve their communities. Each recipient will be profiled in more detail in ENR MidAtlantic’s February issue.

The winning entries will advance to consideration for ENR’s National “Top Young 20 Under 40” honors, to be announced in the spring.

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First-place win among construction management success

The first-place Pre-Construction Team that represented Penn College in regional competition is (from left) Justin L. Stanton, of Newfoundland; Zachary J. Kravitz, of Berwyn; Brendan B. Thompson, of Womelsdorf; Seth G. Hendershot, of Dunkirk, Md.; Adam J. Hutchinson, of Greensburg; and Jacob R. Stouffer, of Chambersburg.

Six-member teams of Pennsylvania College of Technology construction management students brought home first- and fifth-place honors from the 30th annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Student Competition held Nov. 8-10 in Albany, New York.

Penn College topped the Pre-Construction category, sponsored by Weeks Marine Inc., which challenged four teams to handle project startup for the first phase of deck rehabilitation at International-Matex Tank Terminals’ Pier 6 in New Jersey – including allowance for delivery of materials and equipment by waterborne barge.

The college’s Commercial entry, enlisted by Dimeo Construction Co. to renovate a three-story dormitory at Providence College and connect it by an atrium to a new two-story building, placed fifth among 13 teams. That category was won by Drexel University.

Building Construction Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Ceremony marks college’s contribution to veterans memorial

Markley (left) listens as Howard Wilt, a Marine veteran of the Korean War and chair of the memorial commission, reads the award inscription.

Lugg and Reed accept plaques on behalf of the college's role in the veterans memorial. — Lugg and Reed accept plaques on behalf of the college’s role in the veterans memorial.

A memorial brick casts in stone the institution's timeless commitment to veterans. — A memorial brick casts in stone the institution’s timeless commitment to veterans.

Veterans gather with Penn College students, administrators and faculty in unified appreciation of those honored at the solemn site.

“God bless these students and their instructors,” the manager of the Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park project said this past weekend, presenting a pair of awards honoring Penn College’s involvement with the expansive monument in Williamsport’s West End. Army veteran John O. Markley offered those remarks early Friday evening during a brief, informal ceremony attended by a number of construction students and instructors Harry W. Hintz and Glenn R. Luse. He also thanked “two more people who made it happen” – college President Davie Jane Gilmour and Carol A. Lugg, dean of construction and design technologies – who helped the commission realize its 15-year dream by greenlighting the off-campus enterprise. Lugg and Michael J. Reed, vice president for academic affairs/provost, were presented with plaques “in grateful recognition of your enduring commitment and leadership to the ongoing improvements and expansion of the stone wall and memorial brick display” at the West Fourth Street park. Work continues at the site, which is scheduled to be dedicated during next year’s Memorial Day weekend.

Architectural Technology Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Preservation students tour city’s historic ‘Herdic Row’

Classmates stand outside the Peter Herdic House Restaurant, among the impressive Victorian structures that form Williamsport's Millionaires' Row. — Classmates stand outside the Peter Herdic House Restaurant, among the impressive Victorian structures that form Williamsport’s Millionaires’ Row.

An architectural detail catches the camera's eye. — An architectural detail catches the camera’s eye.

Liz Miele and Hannah Ramsauer recently hosted Historic Preservation (BSD410) students on a site visit to the adjacent properties that comprise “Herdic Row” in Williamsport: the Peter Herdic House restaurant, Peter Herdic Inn and a third building that was recently purchased by the Miele family.

“It is always so valuable to get the students out of the classroom to reinforce topics discussed in class,” said Rob A. Wozniak, an associate professor of architectural technology (who also provided photos). “While on site, Ms. Ramsauer shared her love for the history, including some of what was done to restore the structures.”

Civil Engineering & Surveying Construction & Design Technologies STEM Students

Veteran chosen as college’s October ‘Student of the Month’

Regina M. Peluzzo, characterized by a faculty member as “the model student for civil engineering technology,” has been chosen as October’s “Student of the Month” at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

“Civil engineers primarily serve people, specifically by providing infrastructure that leads to stronger communities and better quality of life,” an instructor said of Peluzzo’s academically challenging major. “Gina is preparing for her career as a civil engineer by being a dedicated student and through her service to others.”

An Air Force veteran of five years (and counting), the honoree has twice put her education on hold for overseas deployments.

Building Construction Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Manufacturer opens plant to college’s concrete program

Lehigh Hanson's massive horizontal rotary kilns were among the highlights of a plant visit by concrete science students and faculty. — Lehigh Hanson’s massive horizontal rotary kilns were among the highlights of a plant visit by concrete science students and faculty.

Penn College students and faculty were recently invited by Doug Cassatt, of the Lehigh Hanson Heidleberg Cement Group, to tour the company’s Fleetwood Cement Manufacturing facility. “The students were introduced to the sophisticated process of cement production by an extremely knowledgeable Lehigh Hanson staff, from the raw material in the quarry to the final packing facility where the product is loaded and transported by truck or rail,” said Joseph F. DiBucci, a concrete science technology major and president of the ConCreate Design Club. The plant boasts numerous recycling processes – water pumped from the quarry provides an active supply for the borough, for instance, and 7,000 to 10,000 tires per day are used as a heat source – and $16 million was spent for equipment to cut down or eliminate carbon emissions in the production process. The Berks County facility is equipped with a “state of the art” lab to analyze the chemical makeup so the customer is given the best product possible. “One of the main attractions was the horizontal rotary kilns that broke down the raw material to clinker at a temperature of 2,500 degrees,” added DiBucci, from Glenshaw. “The visit was an eye-opening experience that demonstrated the amount of work that is required to produce cement, the most widely used building material in the world.” The tour was followed by a luncheon and discussion. The college’s School of Construction & Design Technologies offers a two-year degree in concrete science technology, unique to the East Coast.
Photo provided

Building Construction Construction & Design Technologies Events Faculty & Staff Students

Jewelry-makers draw inspiration from concrete lab

Raw materials await artisans' hands — Raw materials await artisans’ hands

Students and employees beautifully explored concrete's versatility. — Students and employees beautifully explored concrete’s versatility.

A jewelry workshop, a recent fundraiser for Penn College’s ConCreate Design Club, allowed participants to personalize a small concrete pendant that could be placed on a necklace or keychain. “The workshop was the first one carried out by the club and we plan on having more throughout the year,” said Joseph F. DiBucci, the organization’s founder and president. “The club is focused around teaching students and faculty about the multiple uses of concrete with a more hands-on approach.”
Photos by Tim Wegman, student photographer

Building Construction Construction & Design Technologies Students

Penn College ROTC cadet honored for performance

Penn College Army ROTC cadet Austin S. Weinrich (right), of Jenkintown, receives the RECONDO badge for displaying superior skills at Advanced Camp. Held at Fort Knox, Ky., Advanced Camp is considered ROTC’s most significant training experience. Weinrich was one of 14 cadets out of approximately 600 in the 4th Regiment to receive the RECONDO Badge. Presenting the RECONDO badge is Brigadier General Antonio V. Munera.

An Army ROTC cadet from Pennsylvania College of Technology distinguished himself with an exemplary performance at a key training and evaluation event and by participating in a selective overseas training mission.

Austin S. Weinrich, of Jenkintown, who is seeking a bachelor’s degree in residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration, earned the RECONDO badge for displaying superior skills at Advanced Camp, considered ROTC’s most significant training experience.

Held at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the 37-day camp challenges cadets to demonstrate proficiency in basic officer leadership tasks at squad and platoon levels through five phases; ranging from reception, staging and onward movement to redeployment and reintegration. Successful completion is required for commissioning.

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