News about Landscape/Horticulture

“Because tomorrow begins today,” Penn College campuses welcomed scores of high school students for six more Pre-College Programs in recent days. (A variety of programs focused on more of the college’s academic majors were held in June.) The past week’s schedule included three new summer offerings – Diesel Truck & Heavy Equipment, Fundamentals of Emergency Response, and Thingamajig Fabricators – joining returning favorites Automotive Restoration; Design, Build & Grow Landscape & Horticulture; and Graphic Design Summer Studio. All told, the college hosted 211 high schoolers for two sessions of overnight camps this season and 40 middle schoolers during two weeks of My Tomorrow day camps.

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Aided by its knowledgeable team of General Services horticulturists and foresters, along with academic programs in both of those disciplines, Pennsylvania College of Technology has been chosen as a national “Tree Campus” for the sixth consecutive year.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging employees and students in conservation goals.

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If you can use scissors and a knife, you’re all set to experience Penn College’s popular Art of Floral Design course, newly added to the “Your Class in 60 Seconds” series. A favorite among students across the curriculum, and taught by the award-winning Karen R. Ruhl, the elective (HRT260) allows imaginations to run free and masterpieces to organically materialize. “This course will meet you where you are and build on your natural abilities,” the video notes. “It might even take you outside of your comfort zone!”

Prices have been slashed in half at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center greenhouse sale, continuing from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays (closed Saturday and Sunday). Inventory is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and supplies are limited. Everything is cash and carry; there will be no early sales or holds.

Shoppers can take advantage of these deals while supplies last: whole flat of cell packs, $7; hanging baskets, $6; perennials (7-inch), $3; 6- or 7-inch pots, $2; cell packs (four or six), $1; and 4-inch pots (terra cotta color), $1. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, face masks are mandatory and no more than 14 people at a time will be permitted entry.
Photos by Marci M. Hessert, office assistant to the assistant dean of diesel technology and natural resources

Students at Penn College’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center planted a Vanderwolf pine tree for Arbor Day. Observed across the country on the last Friday of April, the holiday fosters a healthy reverence for trees – whether celebrating, nurturing or climbing them! Pictured are Aaron Larson (left), a forest technology major from Erie, and Grant Walters, of Dover, enrolled in landscape/horticulture technology: landscape emphasis.
Photo by Carl J. Bower Jr., assistant professor of horticulture

Whether working below ground level or well into the treetops, Michael A. Dincher’s students get to experience the wide scope of arboriculture.

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Four virtual workshops in April, continuing Penn College’s series of free community presentations, will provide expert advice on topics as richly varied as the institution’s curriculum portfolio.

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The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation has awarded $1,000 scholarships to each of four Pennsylvania College of Technology landscape/horticulture technology students on behalf of industry benefactors.

Honored virtually during NALP’s 45th annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition from March 15-19 were Nick Bianchi, of Archbald, recipient of The Ruppert Landscape Company Scholarship; Erick V. Kennedy, of Williamsport, RM Landscape and Lemcke Family Scholarship; Joanne S. Kim, of Williamsport, Chapel Valley Landscape Co. – The Reeve Family Scholarship; and Cyra E. Sterner, of Williamsport, Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction Scholarship.

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A trio of Pennsylvania College of Technology students have each received $5,000 scholarships from the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association Foundation, which annually recognizes outstanding achievement at institutions offering degrees in horticulture, nursery production, landscape contracting or related fields.

Awarded three of the foundation’s four 2020-21 scholarships were Nick Bianchi, of Archbald, landscape/horticulture technology: landscape emphasis; Rebecca Cornish, of Lewisburg, dual-majoring in business administration: management concentration and landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis; and Erick V. Kennedy, of Williamsport, landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis.

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Eight Pennsylvania College of Technology students have passed the state Department of Agriculture’s Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification exam, administered in November at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center.

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Pennsylvania College of Technology’s horticulture department delivered 450 poinsettia plants to UPMC Susquehanna on Thursday for distribution to health care workers.

The plants are annually grown in the Schneebeli Earth Science Center greenhouse for a holiday sale, but ongoing COVID-19 concerns prompted the traditional event’s cancellation. Instead, senior administration agreed that the poinsettias should be donated to front-line workers in hopes of bringing some seasonal cheer in the midst of their selfless service.

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Three faculty members at Pennsylvania College of Technology were presented with Excellence in Teaching Awards at the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

As part of the Distinguished Teaching Awards program at Penn College, President Davie Jane Gilmour presented Excellence in Teaching Awards to Carl J. Bower Jr., assistant professor of horticulture; Barbara F. Di Marco, assistant professor of mathematics; and Heather S. Dorman, instructor of physician assistant.

Distinguished Teaching Awards are presented to full-time faculty at Penn College who have been nominated by their students and colleagues for excellence in instructional performance. There have been 115 recipients since the program began in 1982: 33 Master Teacher Awards and 82 Excellence in Teaching Awards.

“From day one, teaching has been at the core of who we are,” Gilmour said. “As is obvious through comments from their students and colleagues alike, Carl, Barb and Heather are among the very best at putting that mission into practice.”

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For the fifth consecutive year, Pennsylvania College of Technology has attained Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to urban forestry.

The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.

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Plants nurtured throughout the pandemic by the horticultural hands at Penn College’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center brought a burst of National Nurses Week sunshine to UPMC Susquehanna campuses Thursday. About 850 potted flowers and hanging baskets, originally cultivated for a plant sale, were delivered to Williamsport, Divine Providence, Muncy, Lock Haven, Cole (Coudersport) and Wellsboro hospitals for distribution to nurses – among the tireless health care workers on the front line of a global health crisis. A troupe of ESC faculty and staff,  General Services employees and a college alumnus/retiree loaded and unloaded the colorful cargo at hospital campuses in Lycoming and Clinton counties; UPMC handled transport to the Northern Tier locations. Helping to keep the greenhouse stock thriving in students’ absence were horticulture faculty; Wyatt C. Forest, laboratory assistant for horticulture; and Sean C. Golden, a landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis student and work study employee.

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Michael A. Dincher, assistant professor of horticulture, and Wyatt C. Forest, laboratory assistant for horticulture, planted two sugar maples and a sawtooth oak at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center pond for Arbor Day. The tree planting was part of an online instructional video for Dincher’s Arboriculture class. Observed in the United States on the last Friday of April, the holiday encourages the planting, nurturing and celebrating of trees. Penn College has repeatedly been honored by the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree Campus USA” program for establishing and sustaining healthy community forests.
Photo provided