News about Faculty & Staff

Award-Winning Documentary Series Explores Why Math Matters

Filming “Working Class: Game On! Why Math Matters” led Christopher J. Leigh, video production coordinator at Penn College, to scale a mountain in the Shawangunk Ridge, an internationally famous rock climbing area within the Mohonk Preserve in New York state. Leigh interacts with members of the Shawanpunk climbing team featured in the documentary.

Mountain climbers, a superhero and the legendary video game pioneer who founded Atari join with faculty to explain the importance of mathematics when Pennsylvania College of Technology’s award-winning public television series returns this fall.

“Working Class: Game On! Why Math Matters” explores the link between math, computers and technology and helps connect the study of math with real-world experiences that engage student interests.

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Music Club Sponsoring Eight-Week Exploration of Faith

Table topics: Material in the SASC lobby sets the agenda for the weeks to come.

Speaker William F. Covert Jr., an adjunct member of the college's mathematics faculty, continues the conversation with Rachel Bouscaren, of Williamsport.

Cullen S. Berfield, the reigning "Penn College Star," adds music to the mix.

Event organizer James C. Hendrie (center), a software development and information management major, talks with an attendee.

“Bible on Trial,” a two-month series of conversations, sponsored by the Penn College Music Club and held at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the Student & Administrative Services Center’s first-floor presentation room, began this week. The opening topic in the program, which provides students with a venue for informal discussion of spirituality, was “The Bible and Validity Testing.” Scheduled for future consideration are: Sept. 12, “Creation vs. Evolution”; Sept. 19, “Everything Metaphysical (Angels and Demons)”; Sept. 26, “Free Will vs. Determinism”; Oct. 3, “Love & Relationship vs. Rules & Religion”; Oct. 10, “Jesus – Myth, Man, Martyr or More?”; Oct. 17, “The Bible and Sex”; and Oct. 24, “The Bible and Mind-Altering Substances.”
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer

Got Books? Make Art!

Old books await "upcycling" ...

... in a second-floor display at Madigan Library.

Gallery challenge puts old books back in circulation.

Students, faculty and staff are invited to transform old books into art through an exciting artistic endeavor: “Old Books/New Lives.” A project of The Gallery at Penn College and Madigan Library, the effort offers used books for “upcycling” into works of art. A growing trend, upcycling is the practice of converting old or discarded items into useful or beautiful objects. The resulting creations will be displayed on the first floor of the library in January and February, a complement to a juried exhibition of altered books showcased in The Gallery at Penn College. That exhibit, “Books Undone,” will include works from artists around the country. To help support budding book artists, a series of workshops will be offered on campus this semester, and participants are also welcome to work on their projects independently. Books are available at an “Old Books/New Lives” display table on the second floor of the library. “We are pleased to invite the campus community to participate in this unique ‘upcycling’ challenge,” said Penny Griffin Lutz, gallery director. Lutz adds that a search of #Bookart will offer plenty of ideas, and a selection of inspirational books are on hold for viewing at the library’s Circulation Desk. Works can be handed in anytime during the Fall 2017 semester, but are due by Dec. 7. Questions can be emailed to the gallery.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer

Penn College to Celebrate New Era for Wildcat Athletics

A new era in athletics

Wildcat Athletics at Pennsylvania College of Technology enters a bold new era this fall, competing as a full member of NCAA Division III.

To celebrate, the college is holding a free, family-friendly event on Sept. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. on the Field House lawn. Participants can learn more about Wildcat Athletics teams, meet the new Wildcat mascot, celebrate the launch of the Wildcat Club, and enjoy music and refreshments. Registration is appreciated.

Afterward, at 7 p.m., attendees can cheer on the Wildcat women’s soccer team as it faces crosstown rival Lycoming College on the Athletic Field, or the Wildcat women’s volleyball team, as it competes against Penn State Abington in Bardo Gym.

“Our Wildcat athletes are an integral part of student life, contributing on the playing field and off,” said President Davie Jane Gilmour. “With full NCAA Division III membership, our student-athletes now can compete for national championships, further enhancing institutional pride. This event will celebrate the significant role Wildcat Athletics plays in the full college experience offered on campus.”

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Rules of Engagement

The Wildcat Events Board makes it clear how much fun involvement can be.

The Field House was at the center of several recent events that featured the very heart of Penn College: its students. This past week’s Fall Fusion and Part-Time Job Fair catered to those looking for occasional employment and/or ways to get involved with campus and community organizations, and a dodgeball tournament among First Year Experience classes provided stress relief after the opening weeks of the fall semester. (Finishing in first- to fifth-place, respectively, were I Love Kitties, Paul’s Disciples, The Winning Team, Lightning McLean and Team HA.)

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Last updated September 5, 2017 | Posted in Events, Faculty & Staff, Students | This gallery contains 28 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Penn College Welcomes New Employees

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

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Plastics Professionals Converge on Penn College Campus

Mark Strachan (in green shirt), senior technology director for First Quality Packaging Solutions in West Palm Beach, Florida, and former chairman of the Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Division, reviews results of a temperature change with participants at the Eighth Annual National Hands-On Thin-Gauge/Roll-Fed Thermoforming Workshop at Penn College’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center.

Plastics professionals representing 13 companies, nine states and Canada attended the Eighth Annual National Hands-On Thin-Gauge/Roll-Fed Thermoforming Workshop at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center.

Mark Strachan, senior technology director for First Quality Packaging Solutions in West Palm Beach, Florida, and former chairman of the Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Division, served as keynote instructor for the 24 participants. Penn College faculty and staff assisted Strachan throughout the three-day workshop.

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Three Weeks Down? Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

Students delight in creating personal fabric pieces – patches that reflect a campus organization, department, culture, etc. – for a representative quilt that will be sewn and displayed at the college.

“PC3,” a three-week opportunity for student fun and games (while making friends AND adhering to the class schedule), draws to a close … but not before PCToday photographers document another round of campus activities to kick off a new academic year. Recent days have offered a full slate of events, including the pet-friendly Hot Dog, You’re Here! meet-and-greet, a Multicultural Lawn Party, a Second Saturday Jamboree and Sex Ed Boot Camp.

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Last updated August 30, 2017 | Posted in Events, Faculty & Staff, Students | This gallery contains 1 photo. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Closing Out a Classic With Some of Our Own

Cromley, Moroff enjoy a LLWS reunion.

Emergency medical personnel, reporting for duty at Howard J. Lamade Stadium

Before we shelve the PCToday scrapbook from this year’s Little League Baseball World Series, let’s thumb through a few more pages featuring members of the Penn College family. Among the ex-Little Leaguers on hand when the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals met at BB&T Ballpark on Aug. 20 was Bucs infielder Max Moroff. And among those happiest to see him was Marlin R. Cromley, a campus employee who was the team’s host when Moroff’s Maitland, Florida, team faced Newtown in the U.S. semifinal at the 2005 series. “Always a wonderful time to meet up with a former player,” said Cromley, a cashier/customer service associate in The College Store, who this year was “uncle” to the Asia-Pacific team representing Seoul, South Korea. “Not to mention meeting a former player that makes it to the majors!” Cromley is one of two team hosts who work at the college; Bruce A. Sechrist, a General Services horticulturist at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, this year was assigned to the Midwest team from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As noted earlier, the series’ health care team was at the ready for players and fans alike – including scores of students from Penn College’s School of Health Sciences. Representing the college on Sunday’s championship day are (from left) emergency medical services major Keith M. Ray, Montoursville; Bambi A. Hawkins, interim director of paramedic technology programs; and EMS students Michelle K. Waughen, Montgomery; James A. Babinetz, Doylestown; and Abdullah F. Qindil, Houston.
Photos provided

College Pitches In With Sign Language Assistance

From left, Sarah S. Moore, Travis Mikulka and Korey T. Keyser sign "L," "L," and "W.S." for Little League World Series during their "awesome" weekend of teamwork.

Two members of the Pennsylvania College of Technology family offered their sign language assistance at the annual Challenger Division exhibition game, held Saturday as part of the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport.

Sarah S. Moore, disability services and deaf services specialist, and Korey T. Keyser, a senior in aviation maintenance technology from Waldorf, Maryland, pitched in to aid Travis Mikulka, a deaf catcher for Freehold Township Little League from New Jersey.

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Penn College Appoints Associate Director of Admissions

Audriana L. Empet

Audriana L. Empet has been named associate director of admissions at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Empet, of Corning, New York, comes to Penn College from Cornell University’s Center for Technology Licensing, Ithaca, New York, where she was employed as a communication and outreach officer and, prior to that, as a communication and event specialist.

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Math Matters: Atari Founder, Faculty Contend There’s a Better Way

At a Penn College Career Day, a middle-schooler learns the color-coded programming language that will make an Ozobot dance. (Photo by Tia G. La, student photographer)

From the Fall 2017 Penn College Magazine: If students don’t like math or aren’t grasping the concept, it’s the responsibility of educators to help them understand before they move on, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell contends. Penn College faculty in mathematics, electronics, and information technology provide insight on why math matters.

Penn College Welcomes New Employees

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

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Thousands Answer the ‘Play Ball’ Call on College Night at BB&T

Reserved seats burst with Wildcat pride.

Three nights after hosting Major League Baseball’s Little League Classic between the Pirates and Cardinals, BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field welcomed another crop of VIPs: the students, employees and alumni who attended Wednesday’s “Penn College Night.” An enthusiastic crowd of 2,178 watched a doubleheader between the Williamsport Crosscutters and the Auburn (New York) Doubledays, with the hometown favorites holding their opponent scoreless in both seven-inning games (2-0 and 3-0). Fans enjoyed giveaways, between-inning entertainment, $1 hot dogs, the company of classmates and co-workers, and ideal temperatures in the mid-70s.

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Penn College Administrators Gift Wildcat Mascot Outfits

Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management and associate provost, and Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs, are providing funding for two new Wildcat mascot outfits at Penn College. The mascot outfits are based on the new Wildcat Athletics logo, seen here at center court in Bardo Gymnasium.

A bold new Wildcat Athletics logo was introduced at Pennsylvania College of Technology in April, and two senior administrators on campus are providing funding for the college to purchase two new Wildcat mascot outfits based on the updated design.

Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management/associate provost, and Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs, are making the gift in support of the Wildcat Athletics program at the college.

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