News about Events

Penn College Calendar

For a list of all events on campus, go to the Calendar.

Career Day focuses teens’ attention on tomorrow’s potential

Students from North Penn-Mansfield High School have fun with therapy tools in the occupational therapy assistant lab.

Approximately 600 students from high schools across the state attended Career Day on Thursday, trying their hands at Penn College’s “degrees that work.” Faculty, staff and several students, giving up time from the Fall Break, provided 34 options for tours, demonstrations and hands-on activities. In addition, employees, students and vendors engaged another 800 high-schoolers in “PA Build My Future” activities.

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Young nursing professionals network at ‘Sip and Snap’ event

Nursing's Oct. 8 "Sip and Snap" event provides an inviting venue for networking in Le Jeune Chef.Penn College’s Bachelor of Science Nursing Honor Society, in collaboration with UPMC Susquehanna and the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, recently hosted a “Sip and Snap” event for young nursing professionals at Le Jeune Chef Restaurant. Participants had the opportunity to network, have their resumes reviewed by UPMC Susquehanna, gather interview tips and obtain a quality photograph for use on social media sites. Thirty-one nurses and students attended the event, which included a signature beverage and a Classical Cuisine buffet. The digital headshots were taken in the Thompson Professional Development Center by Mark W. Wilson, graphic design instructor, and graphic design students Luke A. Bierly, of Centre Hall, and Kennedy L. Englert, of Williamsport.
Photo by Duncan Rodriguez, a 2017 nursing alumnus

Hundreds of secondary students attend PA Build My Future

Drilling five wood screws into a board, a student from Northern Tier Career Center attempts to “beat the clock” in a timed Pennsylvania Builder Association contest.

​PA Build My Future – coordinated by Penn College’s Building Construction Technology Department, College Transitions, and the School of Construction & Design Technologies – hosted approximately 800 secondary students and their chaperones on campus Thursday. The day was designed to allow scores of businesses to engage the students through hands-on activities that display the breadth of opportunities in the construction and design industry, from skilled trades to management. Indoor exhibits were in the Carl Building Technologies Center, Hager Lifelong Education Center and Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center; outdoor exhibits were offered on campus parking lots. WNEP’s Kristina Papa visited campus for the event, which is an outgrowth of a Homebuilding Education Leadership Program grant through the National Housing Endowment. Her report aired during Thursday evening newscasts, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Watch PCToday for more on the day’s activity.)

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Start building a Penn College future at Oct. 28 Open House

The Madigan Library (left) and Bush Campus Center are two of the facilities that visitors to Pennsylvania College of Technology may tour during Fall Open House on Sunday, Oct. 28.

Students looking for a bold next step in their educational journey are encouraged to attend an Oct. 28 Open House at Pennsylvania College of Technology, where “future made by hand” is a template for success.

“Visiting a college campus should be an experience. At Open House, students are able to touch, see and explore their future,” said Claire Z. Biggs, assistant director of admissions. “From the state-of-the-art labs to the knowledgeable faculty and staff, Penn College is the place to be if you want to be a tomorrow maker.”

The college will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for prospective students and their families to explore more than 100 bachelor’s, associate and certificate programs. Free bus service will be available on the main campus in Williamsport, and shuttles will transport guests to and from the nearby Lumley Aviation and Schneebeli Earth Science centers throughout the day.

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Weeklong celebration puts focus on CLC’s daily importance

Everyone's favorite mascot pays a visit to the Children's Learning Center.

Through a variety of activities this past week, Penn College’s nationally accredited Dunham Children’s Learning Center celebrated the services and support it offers to youngsters, families and the campus community. The center, which also serves as a learning laboratory for early childhood education students, joined its counterparts across the country in observing National Campus Children’s Centers Week (Oct. 8-12).

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Foul play’s the thing at Madigan mystery dinner

Cookbook author Marjorie Richmond (portrayed by Elaine Pfeil) – whose eventual murder would continue the audience participation – shows off her book, "A Party to Die For."

Penn College’s Madigan Library hosted its first-ever Murder Mystery Dinner on Friday, serving a delightful meal prepared by the School of Business & Hospitality and spiced with a tongue-in-cheek performance by actors from Williamsport’s Community Theatre League. Through interactive improvisation, the cast presented “Murder, Medium Rare,” spilling secrets and dropping hints to aid the guests’ determination of whodunit.

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Acquired tastes

You've heard of cupcakes – one of the next available items may be Ghirardelli Mug Cakes.

These new Hershey's ice cream flavors are pretty cool.

Pepsi representative Chelsea Smith pours a new product for Jaquela Dyer, of Dover, Del., majoring in business administration: sports and event management concentration.

New cold-brew flavors ... including seasonal favorite Pumpkin Spice

A packed thoroughfare of free samples

A Wildcat Sampling event, in which students help Dining Services decide what items to bring to their convenience stores and retail line, was held from 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday in the Bush Campus Center hallway. Approximately 12 vendors offered free servings of their wares, some of which will eventually be sold on campus.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer

CLC celebration includes fall story time at college library

Smith takes her young audience on the windblown journey of "Leaf Man," sharing the colorful collages that adorn each page.

T-shirts, brightly bragging of the center's four-star accreditation, are sported by the enthralled library visitors.

The children delivered a handmade "thank you" and commemorative greeting cards that they're handing out to students and employees in their campus travels this week.

"The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything" gets the full read-aloud treatment from Line – complete with every "clomp," "wiggle," "shake," "nod," "clap" and "boo" that lead to the surprise ending.

Hugs were plentiful as youngsters lined up to show their gratitude.

Preschoolers from the Dunham Children’s Learning Center visited Penn College’s Madigan Library on Tuesday morning for story time. Tommie L. Smith, library operations/public services assistant, and April N. Line, library support services assistant, each read an autumn-themed book to the boys and girls gathered on the first floor. The visit is among the activities scheduled during National Campus Children’s Centers Week (Oct. 8-12).

The third time’s a charmer!

Enjoying the autumnal alumni evening (from left): Timothy D. Haldeman, ’11, manufacturing engineering technology; Michael D. Ferraiolo, ’10, aviation technology, and ‘11, aviation maintenance technology, and guest, Melyssa McHale; and Whitnie-rae (Mays) Haldeman, ’12, advertising art, and ’14, applied technology studies.

The disparate threads of Homecoming and Parent & Family Weekend were woven together again this fall, producing another seamless tapestry of fun and reconnection for graduates, current students and families. The third annual combined celebration kicked off with a Friday bonfire, tent party and Hall of Fame Banquet; continued Saturday with a presidential breakfast, Williamsport bus and trolley excursions, lab tours, a golf outing and on-campus sporting events, arts and crafts, and an alumni reunion at downtown nightspots; and concluded Sunday with more athletics and a fond farewell (until next year)!

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School of Nursing & Health Sciences hosts celebration

Pennsylvania College of Technology welcomed several School of Nursing & Health Sciences alumni back to campus to speak at an event celebrating the school’s name change, its academic majors, and milestone anniversaries for two programs: occupational therapy assistant (30 years) and physician assistant (20 years). From left are Megan Wright, ’12, a physician assistant practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation; Brian Webster, ’06, a nurse practitioner specializing in emergency and family nursing; President Davie Jane Gilmour; Sandra L. Richmond, dean of nursing and health sciences; and Michele “Mindy” Tedesco, ’88, a registered occupational therapist specializing in home health care.

The School of Nursing & Health Sciences at Pennsylvania College of Technology held a multifaceted celebration on Oct. 4 by hosting an open house of its facilities and welcoming accomplished alumni, who reflected on how their education has shaped their careers.

“We come together … to celebrate the positive impact all 10 of our nursing and health sciences programs have on our students’ lives, the professions in which they work, and the communities they serve,” said Sandra L. Richmond, dean of nursing and health sciences.

Of particular significance during the celebration was a change to the school’s name: from the School of Health Sciences to the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, and the anniversaries of the occupational therapy assistant program, whose first students graduated 30 years ago, and the physician assistant program, which graduated its first students 20 years ago.

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Students make four-legged affection connection

A teeming ground floor marks library's "pet project."

Warm eyes survey the crowd for frazzled friends.

(Yup. That's the spot. Right below the ear and above the neck. Ahhhhhhh.)

Radiating an aura of relaxation

Therapy dogs, an ever-popular outlet for students’ anxiety, returned to campus Wednesday to effortlessly ease the stress of midterms. The traditional activity is just one way that Madigan Library meets its mission of health literacy among members of the Penn College family. The dogs will return Dec. 5 during Finals Week.
Photos by J.J. Boettcher, student photographer

Motivational speaker rewrites meaning of ‘Be a man’

The ACC Auditorium draws a healthy crowd ...

... as Ehrmann emphasizes, through the prism of sports, the good choices and personal responsibility that should more widely define masculinity.

Faculty members Katrina A. Sinclair and Craig A. Miller facilitate discussion after the movie in Penn's Inn ...

... aided by Community Peer Educator David A. Gadalla (standing at right).

A former defensive lineman brought a vital message to Penn College this past week, reminding audience members that “man” is just part of the broader concept of “humanity.” Challenging myths and misinformation about masculinity, many of them furthered through his college and NFL career, Joe Ehrmann made two appearances on campus: a Monday screening of “The Mask You Live In,” a documentary in which he is featured, and a Wednesday presentation (attended by an impressive number of Wildcat student-athletes).
Photos by J.J. Boettcher, student photographer

Gallery builds community through ‘mindful’ interaction

High school visitors settle into a quiet meditation corner in The Gallery at Penn College to participate in Meredith Grimsley’s workshop focused on healing through vulnerability, empathy and stitch.

High schoolers enjoy the “Create Your Own Dreamcatcher” workshop.

A peaceful symbol for all time

Grimsley (standing) reads a healing poem as participants experiment with stitching while wearing blindfolds.

A “Thought Cloud,” located under the Madigan Library’s first floor open staircase, offers visitors a way to reflect on the “Mindful” exhibit and share positive messages with others.

About 250 community members have participated in educational workshops offered in conjunction with the exhibition, “Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art,” on display in The Gallery at Penn College through Thursday, Oct. 11. The gallery has hosted students from Williamsport Area, Loyalsock Township, South Williamsport Area and Muncy high schools for two one-day sessions, offered a day of workshops for veterans, and conducted a series of public workshops. All outreach efforts were free and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. “Guest artists offered workshops that helped demonstrate how the arts can support positive mental health by reducing stress and give voice to a difficult subject matter and emotions,” said Penny Griffin Lutz, gallery director. “Workshops incorporated mindfulness techniques while focusing on creative art making. By employing the arts, we attempted to build community by bringing residents and artists together to address a societal issue. We aimed to open a dialogue that supported creativity, community and healthy living, and empowered participants.” Lutz gave special thanks to the guest artists who participated: Kevin Basl, Patricia Broderick, Brittany Dincher, Lynn Estomin, Meredith Grimsley, Jeremiah Johnson, Sydney Katona, Nathan Lewis, Andrea McDonough Varner, Beth Moser, Nina Riggle, Brian Spies, Cathy Stechschulte, and Paula Swett.

Free oral cancer screening available at Penn College on Oct. 6

Members of the Pennsylvania College of Technology chapter of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, along with dentist and dental hygienist volunteers, will provide free oral cancer screenings on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9-11 a.m.

The event will be held in the college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, on the second floor of the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center. This is a walk-in event; no appointments are necessary.

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Sixth annual tradition proves ‘Old habits dye hard’

Student Natascha G. Santaella, of Williamsport, and Gary T. Pandolfi, refrigeration, heating and plumbing mechanic, send color coursing through the Veterans' Fountain.

Student leaders outside the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, with the newly tinted fountain spraying behind them, are (from left) Santaella; Everett B. Appleby, of Wilkes-Barre; David A. Gadalla, of Mechanicsburg; Patrick C. Ferguson, of Williamsport; Jerry A. Hudak, of Archbald; and Alexandra D. Petrizzi, of Langhorne.

Homecoming and Parent & Family Weekend (Oct. 5-8)Members of the Student Government Association and the Wildcat Events Board presided over the customary dyeing of The Veterans’ Fountain on Monday morning, joined by Student Activities and General Services to give the water its Wildcat Blue hue for Homecoming and Parent & Family Weekend. It’s the perfect time to show Wildcat pride, reconnect with friends, spend time with family and tour campus. Highlights include athletic events with food trucks, breakfast with President Davie Jane Gilmour, an alumni and friends tent party, and family activities on Friday and Saturday nights.

Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State