Penn College’s Community Peer Educators led a celebration and dialogue about Earth Day on Monday, setting an example for environmental stewardship through a number of activities in a fittingly pleasant outdoor setting. The observance – marked nationally since 1970 – will continue with an organized Williamsport cleanup on Sunday, arranged by Diversity & Community Engagement and beginning at 1 p.m. on the Klump Academic Center patio.
Chef Manuel Uribe, sous chef of Chicago’s Terzo Piano and a faculty member in the Jerome J. Drosos School of Culinary Arts at Triton College, headlined Penn College’s 2019 Visiting Chef Series, lending his knowledge and skill as he guided students in preparing a Mediterranean-themed dinner. He was joined by Rachel Erceg, lead pastry chef for Terzo Piano. In addition to providing valuable hands-on experience for students, the dinner that culminated the chefs’ multiday stay on campus provides scholarship funds for hospitality students.
The 2018-19 Student Activities Awards, presented this past week in the Keystone Dining Room, honored Penn College students, their faculty/staff mentors and the campus organizations that thrive through their involvement.
The campus community turned out for Thursday’s closing of “Every Which Way,” a collection of mailable sculptures and interactive installations by Abraham Ferraro, on display in The Gallery at Penn College for the past month. The final day included a free, public reception from 4:30 to 6:30 and a talk by the artist at 5:30. Next on the gallery’s season schedule are a pair of exhibits featuring the work of graphic design majors (April 30 to May 10) and students in the building science and sustainable design program (May 16-23).
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer
Two honor society chapters at Pennsylvania College of Technology held induction ceremonies this past week.
It was the best weather year yet for Penn College’s Wildcat Egg Hunt, which attracted more than 125 children from infancy to age 10 along the campus mall on Saturday afternoon. “It was nice to be able to be out in a T-shirt for once,” said Chet Beaver, coordinator of veteran and military services, who added that it took members of the Omega Delta Sigma veterans fraternity about 10 hours to fill more than 4,000 eggs for the fifth annual adventure. “We can see on our end that it has become a legacy event,” Beaver also said, noting that some families have attended every year since the tradition began outside The Victorian House in 2015. “At the start, 0-3 was by far the biggest age group. Now, the 4- to 6-year-olds dominate, with about twice the number of the younger ones. In a couple of years, I bet the 8- to 10-year-olds will rule, as their numbers are going up.” Chef Charles R. Niedermyer II, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts, once again worked with students to provide cookies and other snacks, and additional goodies were contributed by Dining Services and a member of the Financial Aid Office staff.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer
About 35 area high school girls met their potential destiny during Penn College’s annual “Framing Your Future” event Friday, gaining hands-on exposure to the vast career opportunities represented by the School of Construction & Design Technologies. The college’s Women in Construction club inspired the ninth through 12th graders and coordinated the activities, which included a networking lunch and group sessions in the architecture/sustainable design, building construction and HVAC/plumbing labs.
Penn College’s Wildcat Dance Team held a spring “Take the Stage” benefit Saturday afternoon in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium, the first of two performances within the week. Team members showcased numerous genres of dance throughout the production, accompanied by choreography of equally diverse style. The production will be reprised for students, staff and faculty only in a free performance at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer
Penn’s Inn served as an accommodating venue for Tuesday’s Grad Finale, catering to students destined for the three commencement ceremonies to be held May 17-18. Students were encouraged to stop by the second floor of the Bush Campus Center from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to pick up graduation tickets, purchase caps and gowns, pose for fun photos, and snag some last-minute pointers on everything from veterans’ benefits to continued involvement with their alma mater. Additionally, Jostens and Snap-on were on hand to share information about class rings and tools.
Photos by J.J. Boettcher, student photographer
Penn College kicked off its fifth annual Pride Week with a flag-raising ceremony outside the Hager Lifelong Education Center on Monday afternoon. Organized by Diversity & Community Engagement and open to all members of the campus community, the celebration ushered in a number of activities throughout the week, including: a “Paint the Rock” event at 2 p.m. Tuesday; an open-mic Pride Cafe at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Wrapture; Safe Zone training for employees; a paint-it-yourself “Wears Your Pride?” T-shirt workshop at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Bush Campus Center, Room 161; an adults-only Drag Show at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Thompson Professional Development Center’s Mountain Laurel Room; and resources and giveaways at a weeklong Pride Table in the CC lobby.
Photos by J.J. Boettcher, student photographer
Less than 24 hours after freezing April showers and overhead gloom shrouded the area, far more seasonal conditions prevailed for a Spring Open House that more than lived up to its name. Rising temperatures were matched by warm smiles and abundant goodwill in every corner of Penn College’s campuses, where students, employees and alumni helped inquisitive visitors spend a Saturday to remember.
Thirty-two graduates of Williamsport Technical Institute, a precursor to Pennsylvania College of Technology, were among the 70 attendees at Friday’s 19th annual reunion. Combining coffee and continental breakfast, presentations, lunch, and optional tours of the makerspace and brewing lab, the event allowed WTI alumni and their guests to get reacquainted with one another and their alma mater, as well as to talk with current students about the exciting developments since they left campus. Established in 1941, WTI gained a national reputation for its defense training during World War II and for retraining returning veterans for new positions in business and industry. A number of those veterans, who didn’t experience a commencement ceremony or the recognition accorded today’s graduating servicemen and women, were movingly presented with red, white and blue honor cords in gratitude for their military experience. Among those participating in the reunion were President Davie Jane Gilmour; Kimberly R. Cassel, director of alumni relations; Chet Beaver, coordinator of veteran and military services; and student veterans Keenan A. Bayus, software development and information management, Skyler B. Snyder, automotive technology, and Cody R. Harriman, emergency management technology.
The Student Government Association at Pennsylvania College of Technology will host its annual Silent Auction on Friday, April 26, to benefit the Student Leader Legacy Scholarship Fund.
The auction will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the first floor of Madigan Library. All proceeds from the event – which is open to the public – go directly toward the fund, which awards at least two scholarships annually to students who play leadership roles at the college.
Members of the Penn College community – 124 strong, featuring a heavy turnout by Wildcat student-athletes – combined for 609,700 “Yards for Yeardley” in a national effort to spotlight healthy relationships. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, the college family walked, jogged, sprinted, rollerbladed and skateboarded the campus mall in memory of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia lacrosse player beaten to death in 2010 by her ex-boyfriend. Student Affairs and Wildcat Athletics organized the event, which included wristbands, T-shirts and a successful “Stick It to Love” note-posting campaign. The group’s total yardage, accrued through laps that began and ended at the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center fountain, translates to nearly 350 miles.
Four women delivered messages of inspiration and hope at Friday’s “Students Speak!” event in the Thompson Professional Development Center, part of Penn College’s observance of National Women’s History Month. Sharing their powerful – and empowering – stories for an appreciative audience were: Brianna E. Milden, of Nazareth, enrolled in information technology: network specialist concentration; Jennifer Nicholson, of Lock Haven, applied health studies: radiography concentration; Dessa D. Valisno, of Lock Haven, information technology: technical support technology emphasis; and Alane D. Zellars, Williamsport, human services. (Student Lynaugh H. Bobst, a human services major from Cogan Station, was prepared to participate, but was unable to attend.) The well-received event, held for the first time this year, was organized by Diversity & Community Engagement.