With the new year upon us, Pennsylvania College of Technology winter sports teams now turn their attention to the spring semester and second half of their respective seasons. The men’s basketball team resumes play at 4 p.m. Thursday at SUNY Delhi, the women’s basketball team picks up at 5 p.m. Thursday at Misericordia University and the wrestling squad hits the mats at 10 a.m. Saturday in the North-South Duals at Ursinus College.
News about General Information
Farm Show offers ‘inspiring’ look at college’s varied majors
Throngs of visitors will soon converge on Harrisburg to celebrate the commonwealth’s agricultural prominence, and Pennsylvania College of Technology students and employees will be there to help honor the event’s 2019 theme of “Inspiring Pennsylvania’s Story.”
B.R. Kreider & Son establishes two Penn College scholarships
A pair of scholarships established by a Lancaster County excavating and paving firm will assist students enrolled in diesel and automotive majors at Pennsylvania College of Technology with their education costs.
B.R. Kreider & Son Inc., based in Manheim, has funded the “Pin Oak Service Center, a Sister Company of B.R. Kreider & Son, Inc. Diesel Technology Scholarship,” and the “Pin Oak Service Center, Automotive Technology Scholarship.”
Dent Fix donates aluminum repair station to Penn College
Reflecting the increasing use of aluminum by automakers and affirming the value of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s industry partners, Dent Fix Equipment has donated a self-contained aluminum dent-repair station for use by the institution’s collision repair and automotive restoration students.
“This equipment package provides all the necessary tools to complete aluminum repairs to an industry standard,” said Shaun D. Hack, instructor of collision repair. “This adds value to the collision repair technology, collision repair technician and automotive restoration technology majors by adding skill sets that will be desired by potential employers.”
Penn College Board of Directors welcomes new member
M. Abraham Harpster has been appointed to the Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors by The Corporation for Penn State.
A co-owner of Evergreen Farms Inc., Spruce Creek, the largest dairy farm operation of its type in the Northeast, Harpster is also a member of the Penn State University Board of Trustees, having been elected by delegates from Agricultural Societies in July 2013.
Board approves synthetic turf field, welcomes new member
The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday authorized a project to install a synthetic turf field for Wildcat Athletics, accepted audited statements for Fiscal Year 2018 and welcomed a new member to its ranks.
The board approved a request from the college administration to borrow funds from reserves to move forward with the synthetic turf field project, which features a 123-by-85-yard field, base, drainage and associated improvements. The field will allow for play through a variety of temperatures and in wet, dry and frozen conditions. Installation is anticipated to begin soon after the Spring 2019 Wildcat Athletic sports schedule is finished. Completion is due in time to accommodate the Fall 2019 sports schedule.
Read the college’s 2017-18 Impact Report: ‘Guarantee Momentum’
“Guarantee Momentum,” the Pennsylvania College of Technology 2017-18 Impact Report, is available online and is set to arrive in mailboxes in the coming days. Read the President’s Message and review the college’s efforts to empower industry, inspire innovation, prepare tomorrow makers and more.
Selflessness ensures tradition’s seamless continuity





A holiday present first delivered in 2010 by Patrick M. Breen keeps on giving at the Dunham Children’s Learning Center, thanks to the generosity of his widow. Breen – who died in June – was a first-shift custodian in the Bush Campus Center (where the childcare facility once was housed) and a mutual attachment among him, the youngsters and staff was quick to form. When the CLC moved to the Hager Lifelong Education Center eight years ago, Breen maintained the connection by installing a train set in a nearby conference room. Honoring the custom and her late husband’s memory, Laura Breen has donated the train layout, which shipping/receiving worker Eric W. Huffman recently set up and made operational. “This continues Pat Breen’s tradition of bringing his display to the center each December,” an appreciative CLC director Barbara J. Albert said. “The children love seeing the train, and even our 1-year-olds point to the door of the room and say ‘Train’ as they come and go each day.”
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer, and Michelle M. Cowher, assistant group leader
Penn College grapplers continue to find success
While early-season woes continued for the Pennsylvania College of Technology men’s and women’s basketball teams, the college’s wrestlers continued to find success.
‘Why Science Matters’ Art Challenge seeks K-12 entries
Albert Einstein once said, “The greatest scientists are artists as well.”
Pennsylvania College of Technology and WVIA Public Media, producers of the “Working Class” public television series, invite elementary, middle and high school students to enter the “Why Science Matters K-12 Art Challenge.”
College establishes advanced credit agreement through ProStart
This fall, Pennsylvania College of Technology entered an advanced credit agreement with the ProStart program to pave the way for high school students to get a head start on their degree, eliminate duplication of instruction and, ultimately, make a college degree more affordable.
ProStart, administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, is a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that cultivates tomorrow’s restaurant and food service industry leaders. The curriculum was developed by industry and academic experts and reaches more than 90,000 students in 1,700 high schools and career and technical education centers.
Community Challenge raises $17,000-plus for Salvation Army





For the second year in a row, Penn College won the Community Cup at Saturday’s Community Challenge. Better news: the event raised over $17,000 to benefit the Salvation Army of Williamsport. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Community Challenge goes directly to the local Salvation Army’s efforts to aid approximately 400 families a month in Lycoming County. Held on the Williamsport Water Authority’s watershed outside DuBoistown, the Community Challenge featured 5K, 10K and half-marathon trail races, with 265 competitors finishing. Penn College’s 45-member team of runners, walkers and volunteers – including students, employees and family members – was enough people power to secure the Community Cup, a traveling trophy presented to the organization with the greatest participation. “It was an exhausting and wonderful weekend,” said Michael J. Reed, an active event organizer who also serves as dean of the college’s School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications and vice chairman and chair of PR/special events for the Salvation Army of Williamsport’s Board of Directors. Also at the Community Challenge, a Salvation Army truck was on site to collect gently used winter coats, hats and gloves. For the second year, Penn College ceramics instructors David A. and Deborah L. Stabley crafted Community Challenge race awards in the form of ceramic trophies and holiday ornaments.
Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer
Penn College women begin hoops play Saturday
Despite fielding a team that is relatively young – nine of 13 players are new to the program – Pennsylvania College of Technology women’s basketball coach Lauren Healy believes that player depth and athleticism will result in good things this season.
The Wildcats open at 8 p.m. Saturday against Susquehanna University at the Susquehanna Trailways Tipoff Tournament. Also competing are Nazareth College and Westminster College. Penn College’s 16-game North Eastern Athletic Conference schedule begins Nov. 28.
State Senate Appropriations Committee chair tours campus
State Sen. Patrick M. Browne, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Pennsylvania College of Technology on Thursday.
Browne, who represents the 16th District – which includes Allentown and other municipalities within Lehigh County – came to campus after presenting an election and legislative update at a breakfast sponsored by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
He was invited by fellow Appropriations Committee member Sen. Gene Yaw, who also serves as chairman of the Penn College Board of Directors. Yaw also hosted the Chamber legislative update event, held at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.
Penn College hosting FAFSA completion sessions
The Financial Aid Office at Pennsylvania College of Technology is aiding college students, prospective students and families in completing the 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The college is hosting free FAFSA completion sessions on its main campus for staff to assist with the online application. The FAFSA is required by colleges and universities to determine student eligibility for federal and state grants, loans and some scholarships.
The sessions are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 24, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Both will be in Room 1049 of the college’s Student & Administrative Services Center. Students currently enrolled or planning to attend any college or university are invited. Students who are 23 or younger should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.