Two Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty members have again been chosen to serve on the graduate/undergraduate academic jury for the Industrial Designers Society of America.
For the second year, Thomas E. Ask, a professor of industrial design, and Andrea M. McDonough, an adjunct member of the industrial design faculty, are evaluating design projects and papers that have won regional competitions and advanced to final IDSA national competition.
Nearly two dozen students from Pennsylvania College of Technology jump-started their careers by securing a key industry certification related to computer-aided design.
The 22 students – representing six majors from the School of Engineering Technologies – passed the SolidWorks Certified Associate exam and obtained SolidWorks CSWA Certification. SolidWorks is a prominent solid modeling computer-aided design and engineering program used in manufacturing industries worldwide.
An article by 2019 alumna Nina M. Hadden, recounting the challenging and rewarding opportunities that her Penn College education has brought about, has been published by the Industrial Designers Society of America. “This wonderfully creative major encompasses so many different outlets and allows you to explore just about any field you could think of,” she wrote of her four-year degree. “Though there are what could be considered ‘traditional’ jobs, I have learned that there are actually many careers that an industrial design major can go into.” Hadden’s piece fittingly mentions the quality of the college’s faculty, as Thomas E. Ask, professor of industrial design – adviser to the Society of Inventors and Mad Scientists – was elected in 2019 as IDSA’s Northeast District Educator. In that capacity, he represents all industrial design programs at colleges and universities within the region.
From the Fall 2020 Penn College Magazine: Work is a thrill ride for industrial designer Cory D. Karges, ’14, whose designs for Sign Producers Inc. are seen by millions at theme parks Universal, Disney and others. Read “Designer of Signs.”
Pennsylvania College of Technology students proved their workforce acumen by earning industry certifications related to computer-aided design.
The students – representing three majors from the School of Engineering Technologies – passed exams dedicated to SolidWorks, a prominent 3D CAD software tool. The tests require candidates to meet several hands-on challenges, representing various aspects of the software.
An industrial design student at Pennsylvania College of Technology has “rolled the dice” with his senior project. And his move looks like a winning one.
Cullen S. Berfield, of Jersey Shore, has designed a board game for his capstone. Complete with innovative rules, dice, player pieces, boards and cards, the unique endeavor marries his affinity for strategy games with his artistic instincts.
“I’ve always loved board games because they bring people together,” Berfield explained. “Bringing people together for a chunk of time, whether it be for a half hour or a few hours, is something that I find special.”
Walking amid the collage of colors highlighting attractions and the buzz of anticipation emanating from thousands of patrons, Cory D. Karges resembles a typical tourist. In his untucked brown polo shirt, jeans and white sneakers, he purposely blends into the sun-soaked crowd at the Universal Orlando Resort.
But his connection to the famous destination and other world-renowned parks stands out.
The Pennsylvania College of Technology graduate is the design manager for the company responsible for much of the creative signage – from bold marquees to tiny arrow markers – that complement and enhance the inviting themes of Universal’s various thrill rides, restaurants and hotels.
“When you go into the park and you’re standing next to something that you’ve made, and a family comes up and takes a picture of it, you’re like, ‘Oh that’s cool!’ The thing that I made that nobody thinks about is probably in hundreds, thousands of pictures on Facebook and Instagram,” Karges said. “It’s way better for me than making widgets, that’s for sure.”
On Tuesday evening, in a cooperative effort between the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies and the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies, students enrolled in Ergonomics and Kinesiology (BIX220) explored several aircraft at the Lumley Aviation Center. Jason P. Zielewicz teaches the course, which is a study of human factors as they relate to design. The industrial design students sat on the flight deck of Penn College’s Boeing 727 to delve into the complexity of its controls and how they correspond to the pilot’s seating position. The students also got a look at the flight deck of the school’s Dassault Falcon 20 business jet, and viewed several smaller airplanes and helicopters. They will use the knowledge gained at the aviation center to refine their design-concept assignments. At the end of the course, the students will build a full-scale design of an automobile, aircraft or spacecraft, and test it using anthropometric people.
Information and photo by Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of aviation
A foundation promoting manufacturing careers awarded one-third of its recent scholarships to Pennsylvania College of Technology students.
A dozen Penn College students were among 36 nationwide who received manufacturing scholarships from Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs. The scholarships, valued between $1,500 and $2,500, are for Fall 2019.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” said David R. Cotner, dean of Penn College’s School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, which is home to the recipients’ majors. “To have the college dominate a national scholarship list speaks volumes about the quality of our students and our various academic programs.”
Pennsylvania College of Technology engineering design students, as well as students from several other majors, distinguished themselves by passing prominent industry certification exams related to computer-aided design during the 2018-19 academic year.
Most of the students became certified SolidWorks associates, while two students added certifications for AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor, respectively.
“Encouraging students to obtain CAD certifications is a standard practice within our department,” said Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of engineering design technology. “Their performance on the exams validates their skill sets, reflects their hard work in class and reveals their dedication to their future profession. The certifications help them stand out in the job market upon graduation.”
A book written by a Penn College professor of industrial design has been chosen among the field’s 100 best works “of all time” by BookAuthority.
Thomas E. Ask’s “Engineering for Industrial Designers & Inventors: Fundamentals for Designers of Wonderful Things,” published in 2016 by O’Reilly Media, is ranked 25th on the recently compiled list.
BookAuthority is described as the leading site for nonfiction recommendations, curating the books recommended by the world’s most successful CEOs, business leaders and experts.
The industrial design major at Pennsylvania College of Technology is intended to elicit students’ creative potential. For three students on the cusp of graduation, that goal has been met, as evidenced by their senior projects.
Nicole Bamonte, of Williamsport; Nina M. Hadden, of Murrysville; and Abigail M. Meredick, of Danville, have spent countless hours during the past several months drawing on their education and practical experiences to develop prototypes of marketable products. The results are three inspired creations: a collapsible dresser, dog training system and surgical instrument.
The empowering combination of applied technology education and financial support was celebrated Sunday afternoon, as Pennsylvania College of Technology hosted its second annual Scholarship Luncheon in the campus Field House.
“I am overwhelmed by the collective energies in this room to transform tomorrow,” President Davie Jane Gilmour said, addressing students, families and donors alike. Announcing that the coming academic year will include the largest total amount of scholarships awarded in any one year during the college’s history, she thanked attendees for their significant role in helping students succeed.
Autodesk recognized the contributions of a Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member to its support network during the recent Expert Elite Global Summit in Las Vegas.
The multinational software corporation honored J.D. Mather, assistant professor of engineering design technology, as 5-Year Top Expert Elite Autodesk Forums contributor for submitting nearly 500 screencast videos to the Autodesk Knowledge Network, a repository of educational content for the Autodesk community.
Some people spend a lifetime searching for that elusive “dream job.” Thomas Proske spent a summer experiencing his, thanks to an internship at a prominent toy maker.
The Pennsylvania College of Technology industrial design student worked on the design team at K’NEX in Hatfield. A division of Basic Fun, K’NEX is the maker of iconic construction toys pieced together by colorful, interlocking plastic components.
“It was pretty much, ‘Here, go make stuff,’” said Proske, a sophomore from Laceyville. “I didn’t know that they were going to sit me down and have me build all day. It was such an awesome job.”