News about Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

A half-hour Zoom conversation among three Pennsylvania College of Technology graphic design majors, moderated by instructor Nicholas L. Stephenson, provides potential students and their families with valuable insight on the collaborative and rigorous four-year program. Join Ali D. Petrizzi, of Langhorne; Joey M. Morrin, of Morrisville; and Hailee B. Mercy, of Felton, as they discuss their decision to attend Penn College, their classes and projects, their adaptation to online-only learning, what they like best about their chosen career field, and much more.

Students from Ceramics and Sculpture courses completed their semester at Penn College, remotely, with masks and robots.
David A. Stabley’s Ceramics ll and Sculpture students built robots with found objects and junk items from around their homes; his Ceramics l students turned natural materials into masks; and Deborah L. Stabley’s Ceramics l students made masks from found household items. “Since actual clay and wood sculpture work ended at Spring Break, we felt our students needed to get involved in a hands-on project, realizing supplies would be limited or non-existent,” the Stableys said. “The outcomes were amazingly creative and resourceful.”
Photos provided

Pennsylvania College of Technology alumni are using their skills in a variety of ways to help others during the global pandemic, including a graphic design alumna living and working in England.

Eliza R. Whyman, ’17, a designer at MediaCom in Manchester, designed and illustrated six visually appealing and puzzling brain teasers for Brits to enjoy during shelter-in-place orders.

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Although the COVID-19 pandemic is upending the norm in most sectors of society, students and faculty in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s emergency management and homeland security major remain steady, observant and engaged in their education as they watch the historic crisis unfold and their career field move to center stage.

“I do tell students jobs will be aplenty as there will be a lot of money thrust at health care, public health, emergency management, homeland security, other critical infrastructure sectors and private sector consulting for preparedness measures moving forward,” said David E. Bjorkman, instructor of emergency management/social science.

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In keeping with other creative adjustments being made during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s annual graphic design student exhibit has moved online for the first time in its 12-year history.

Graphic Design 2020 showcases the portfolio work of 17 seniors: Charles A. Blake, West Chester; Andrew Caccese, Reading; Seifeldien A. Elerman, Dover; Adam Foelker, Myerstown; Kennedy L. Englert, Williamsport; Zoey J. Graybill, McAlisterville; Gavin E. Hain, Myerstown; Emily N. Latshaw, Danville; Meredith A. Long, Trevorton; Anthony M. Niemeyer, Red Lion; Ali D. Petrizzi, Langhorne; Madison P. Shrout, Petersburg; Justine A. Stage, Montoursville; Jessica L. Stanford, Marion Center; Hunter L. Tompkins, Richfield; Shaina T. Vanderveer, Monroeton; and David A. Walker Jr., Waynesboro.

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Creatively adapting to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania College of Technology graphic design student chapter of AIGA has launched tutorials on YouTube and are hosting graphic design alumni Zoom talks.

Although initially intended as student-to-student sharing of various design tips and tricks, the short tutorials are also available for public viewing on the AIGA Penn College YouTube channel.

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This semester’s Penn College ceramics students missed out on making bowls for Williamsport’s annual Soup and a Bowl event, an important fundraiser for the Central PA Food Bank. The campus community can help those students leave their legacy, however, by filling a virtual empty bowl with an online shopping trip to the food bank by May 8.

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Answering the program director’s cry on social media for transparency film, familiar to anyone who uses or remembers overhead projectors, a faculty member in the School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications spearheaded the roundup of hundreds of additional sheets for donation to Geisinger Radiology.

The film can be used to make face shields for front-line health care providers.

“They had run out of material and weren’t able to order a supply in a timely manner,” noted Sarah S. Moore, instructor of human services and restorative justice. She reached out to Joanna K. Flynn, dean of curriculum and instruction, and Michael J. Reed, vice president for academic affairs/provost.

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Sixteen design projects created by graphic design students at Pennsylvania College of Technology have been honored in the national Flux Student Design Competition.

“This is, by far, the best showing we’ve ever had in this contest,” said Nicholas L. Stephenson, instructor of graphic design at Penn College. “Additionally, we are listed as winners among some of the best design schools in the country.”

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Get an insider’s look at Penn College’s graphic design program through an engaging video created and edited by Luke A. Bierly, a 2019 alumnus of the major.

“A graphic designer isn’t just somebody who’s solid in art, or can draw, or can build websites,” instructor Nicholas L. Stephenson says in the three-minute piece, which has been added to the college YouTube channel. “A graphic designer has to be somebody who understands solving problems and about coming up with ideas.

“I’m enormously proud of what the students have done here,” the faculty member adds. “I’m constantly humbled by the incredible work and the incredible understanding of design, and ability to produce really good graphic design.”

Pennsylvania College of Technology students and instructors will again add their talents to the offerings at a popular fundraiser designed to help feed the hungry in our community.

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The Pennsylvania Association for Infant Mental Health’s Central Region members held a networking breakfast on Friday in Penn College’s early childhood education lab. A highlight of the gathering was the presentation, “Sensory Processing: Separating Fact From Fiction,” delivered by Elizabeth A. Dixon, clinical director of the college’s occupational therapy assistant program. Dedicated to supporting children under 5 and their families, the PA-AIMH Central Region’s membership comprises about 45 clinicians and practitioners from a wide range of early childhood organizations. Friday’s networking opportunity, the association’s largest event so far, was organized by PA-AIMH regional board members Jillian T. Scanlon, instructor of education and early childhood education at Penn College, and Shashi DeHaan, mental health coordinator for SUMMIT Early Learning, Mifflinburg.

Penn College’s inspiring majors made their customary splash throughout the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg (Jan. 4-11), as a rotating regiment of subject experts satisfied each day’s crowds – intellectually and nutritionally – at the nation’s largest indoor agricultural expo. In addition to the photo gallery below, the college’s involvement was covered by the Pennsylvania Cable Network and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, which featured the schools of Nursing & Health Sciences and Business & Hospitality in its editions.

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A New Year’s tradition – Pennsylvania College of Technology’s eye-opening participation in the nation’s largest indoor agricultural attraction – is about to be renewed.

Knowledgeable students and employees will busily represent the college at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, and personify the event’s 2019 theme of “Imagine the Opportunities.”

“We always look forward to showcasing the excitement of our academic programs. This is a great opportunity to introduce Farm Show visitors to the opportunities a Penn College degree provides,” said Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management/associate provost. “With so many visitors from across the commonwealth, we also enjoy connecting with our alumni attending the event.”

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Pennsylvania College of Technology’s brewing and fermentation science instructor joined three other academic colleagues in delivering a talk at the three-day Master Brewers Conference, held recently in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Timothy L. Yarrington presented “Brewing Education and Industry: Evolving Together” along with Katie Fromuth, fermentation science and technology lab manager, Colorado State University; Kaylyn Kirkpatrick, brewing extension associate, Cornell University; and Peter Johnston-Berresford, brewing instructor, Olds College, Alberta.

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