News about General Information

Subterranean Senatorial History Surfaces in Automotive Lab

Retired from legislative duty in 1912, when a faster monorail system ferried Washington, D.C., VIPs through a 760-foot tunnel, the 1908 Studebaker averaged 225 trips a day at the height of its civil service.

Students (joined at right by Klinger, instructor of collision repair) equip the handsome cherry-bodied vehicle with batteries which, but for increased storage capacity, are largely unchanged from the turn of the 20th century.

Because the car moved backward and forward along its "subway" route, the driver would switch seats to face the direction of travel.

While students donned gloves to work on the vehicle, a similar protective covering was placed on the vehicle's original Firestone tires.

Van Stavoren, an assistant automotive professor, works with restoration students Alex M. Koser (left), of Mount Joy, and Nicholas C. Howland, of Woodbridge, Va.

An electric 1908 Studebaker, one of two original vehicles built to shuttle passengers underground from the Old Senate Building to the U.S. Capitol (including such literal heavyweights as President William Howard Taft) is being prepped by students for a prestigious weekend event. The vehicles were nicknamed “Peg” and “Tommy” during their heyday; the former is on display at the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana, and the latter is on loan to Penn College from the William E. Swigart Jr. Automobile Museum in Huntingdon. Patricia B. Swigart, vehicle owner and one of the earliest supporters of the college’s automotive restoration technology major, has never seen “Tommy” operated under its own power – a situation that restoration students and faculty hope to remedy at the Elegance at Hershey this Friday through Sunday. Electrical students in Christopher H. Van Stavoren’s Introduction to Restoration Procedures course installed 10 batteries in the vehicle during a Tuesday class in the Parkes Automotive Technology Center. Faculty colleague Roy H. Klinger said the students’ involvement in researching and preserving the Studebaker will be documented by the Historic Vehicle Association, which recognizes the cultural significance of the automobile. Preston T. Rose, a May restoration graduate, researched a 1932 McGee Roadster that was recently displayed on the Washington Monument mall as part of the HVA’s national register of historic vehicles.

WDCE’s Mechatronics Training Program Reaches Milestone

Mechatronics Apprenticeship Training offered by Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Pennsylvania College of Technology celebrated the conclusion of its first year of programming in May.

Designed to meet Pennsylvania Department of Labor requirements for competency-based classroom instruction, the training incorporates several features that make the program truly cutting-edge.

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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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Stunning Tilework Masterfully Adds to ATHS’ Attractive Entranceway

Southern exposure: The artist stands over a striking addition to the ATHS.

Stabley's original sketch lies atop plastic containers of mosaic tile.

The mosaic’s angles mimic the atrium’s skylight.

Stabley works on taping prior to grouting the piece.

Thousands of artistic pieces, set to inspire

Penn College’s main campus is home to yet another magnificent mosaic, designed and crafted by David A. Stabley, instructor of ceramics and wood sculpture. On Friday, Stabley put the finishing touches on the piece, gracing the atrium of the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center. The atrium’s walls recently received a fresh coat of green paint, and the mosaic’s green and brown hues complement the surroundings. The artwork took Stabley less than two weeks to install. He was assisted by Roza Breneisen. Stabley hopes to add mosaic enhancements to the atrium’s second-floor walkway “walls” that bookend the current piece. A number of other Stabley-created mosaic installations can be found around campus, including the Capitol Eatery, and on the walls of the Hager Lifelong Education Center and the Physician Assistant Center.

Penn College Partners with STEM Premier

Gathered on the Penn College campus to commemorate the partnership among the college, STEM Premier and UGI Utilities Inc. are, from left, Shelley L. Moore, director of career services; Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management/associate provost; John Welch, STEM Premier co-founder; Ann Blaskiewicz, community relations manager north for UGI Utilities Inc.; and Ashley R. Murphy, director of admissions.

With backing from UGI Utilities Inc., Pennsylvania College of Technology is enhancing its commitment to the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce.

The college has partnered with STEM Premier, the first online platform connecting STEM students from middle school through college to academic institutions, corporate entities and governmental agencies. The program helps students design career pathways, schools recruit top achievers and employers develop a talent pipeline.

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Penn College Retains National ‘Tree Campus’ Designation

Holding a banner proclaiming Penn College's ongoing “Tree Campus USA” designation are (from left) Don J. Luke, director of facilities operations; Andrea L. Mull, horticulturist/grounds and motorpool supervisor; and Carl J. Bower Jr., assistant professor of horticulture. Not pictured is Andrew Bartholomay, assistant professor of forestry, another collaborator in the college's stewardship success.

For the second straight year, Pennsylvania College of Technology has been honored with Tree Campus USA recognition for its commitment to urban forest management and environmental stewardship.

A national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree Campus USA honors colleges and universities for effective forest management and for engaging employees and students in conservation goals.

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Penn College to Offer Computer Courses for Beginners

Adults who want to learn more about using today’s technology may enroll in introductory courses to be taught in July at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s main campus.

The classes, offered through Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Penn College, require little or no previous computer knowledge.

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Practical Nursing Information Sessions to Be Held

Excellent career opportunities for licensed practical nurses exist in area hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, personal-care facilities and human-service organizations.

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Outreach Practical Nursing Program, located in the Wellsboro Area School District, will host an information session for those interested in nursing as a career. The session will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, in the former music room of the school district’s administration building.

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Volkswagen Owners Club Funds New Penn College Scholarship

James Yemzow, of the Harrisburg Area Volkswagen Owners Club, accompanied by another HAVOC member, Patricia Shaffer (left) presents a check for the club’s scholarship to Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour.

The Harrisburg Area Volkswagen Owners Club has established a scholarship at Pennsylvania College of Technology for students enrolled in a unique major that features the restoration of classic and antique automobiles.

The new scholarship will benefit students enrolled in the automotive restoration technology Associate of Applied Science major offered by the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies at Penn College.

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Students’ Civic Projects Funded at Youth Leadership Graduation

Some members of this year's Penn College Youth Leadership Program class gather at the close of their on-campus graduation ceremony.

Pennsylvania College of Technology recently hosted a ceremony for graduates of its annual Youth Leadership Program, announcing winners of the initiative’s Social Change Competition.

Thirty 11th-graders from 10 secondary schools participated throughout the year in the program, designed to educate and motivate them to understand community needs and take an active leadership role in addressing them. This is the seventh year that Penn College has operated the program, which was facilitated by Anthony J. Pace, director of student activities; Sal Vitko, assistant director of student activities for student organizations/orientation; and Shelley L. Moore, director of career services.

As part of the Youth Leadership experience, each school team is challenged to identify a need in its community, develop a plan to address it, propose that plan to judges and, if funded as one of the top proposals, implement it.

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On Deck for Cuban Delivery, Baseball Gear Bound to Be a Hit

Preparing the donations for delivery takes a team effort. From left are Nicholas D. Reitz, Semeon R. DeBarros, Robert L. Sloss, Thomas M. Malason Jr, Andrew A. Smith, Vander Vere, Brendon J. Dibble, Andrew J. Brady, Colin D. McOdrum and Austen J. Caron.

Cuba-bound donations, including Penn College memorabilia

McOdrum cleans donated sneakers.

Service with Greek smiles from DeBarros, Reitz and Smith.

Donations of used baseball equipment gathered this spring as part of an effort to help young baseball players in Cuba are almost “home.” The donations are in Austin, Texas – at Maya Exploration Center – awaiting the nonprofit travel organization’s next trip to Cuba, according to Curt Vander Vere, assistant professor of mathematics at Penn College. Vander Vere spearheaded the collection and was assisted by members of Greek Life. In addition to a number of students, employees and community members contributing, the donation drive received three used bats and two boxes of used baseballs from the Wildcat baseball team as well as Penn College shirts, caps and backpacks donated by the college administration. Vander Vere had traveled to Cuba in July with the Maya Exploration Center’s “Ancient Explorations” branch and saw the need for youth baseball equipment at a makeshift game on the grounds of Ernest Hemingway’s former home in a suburb of Havana. The math professor says he’s eager to see and share images of young Cubans playing with the Penn College-collected equipment in the future.
Photos by Grace F. Clark, student photographer

President Embraces ‘Endless’ Opportunities on Other Side of Summer

On the eve of graduation, amid the annual celebration of first-rate faculty and staff, Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour brought down the curtain on 2016-17 with a grateful and optimistic look ahead. Following Employee Recognition Week festivities, she briefly catalogued the year’s successes and initiatives – a new athletics logo, innovative marketing and fresh administrative faces, among them – and observed the campus community’s good fortune to educate and encourage tomorrow’s leaders. “Daily, we live in a world with a culture of respect and an eye for the future,” the president said. “Our responsibilities are many, our opportunities are endless and our mission is strong.”

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Penn College’s ‘Working Class’ TV Series Earns Second Telly Award

"Working Class" earns second Telly Award“Working Class: Build & Grow Green,” produced by Pennsylvania College of Technology and WVIA Public Media, has earned a 2017 Bronze Telly Award.

It is the second episode produced for the “Working Class” public television series and the second to win a Bronze Telly. “Working Class: Dream & Do” earned the award in 2016.

Acknowledged as a premier award for film and video productions, the Telly Award honors outstanding local, regional and cable programming. The 37th annual competition in 2017 considered more than 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents.

“As a national leader in applied technology education, Penn College has earned a reputation for combining academics with practical, hands-on education that prepares students to enter and advance in the world of work,” said Davie Jane Gilmour, president of the college. “The award-winning ‘Working Class’ series allows us to share our mission and passion for inspired learning with a public television audience.”

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Six-Hour Noncredit Course Aims to Enhance Sales Skills

Businesspeople who desire to build their client relationship competence could benefit from a two-day noncredit course scheduled on successive Wednesdays in June by Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

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Courses to Enhance Supervisory Skills of Front-Line Leaders

A pair of multi-session programs, to be offered by Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Pennsylvania College of Technology, are designed to develop supervisory skills.

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