News about Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications

Working Their Way Through College

Students band in Bookmarks Café to finalize projects and cram for finals.

Crosby presents in Penn's Inn.

With holiday lights twinkling in the background, students settle in at Madigan Library – fortified with snacks and other long-haul survival provisions.

The end-of-semester crush is here, and campus is bustling with activities from presentations and projects to finals. Among the many senior capstones presented in recent days was one by Gaven D. Crosby, of Benton. Crosby and seven other seniors in Penn College’s emergency management technology major were charged with applying classroom concepts and best practices to develop a program or research paper that solves an issue or problem in the field. Crosby interned with the Army National Guard Homeland Response Force and collected data to determine the adaptability of the Department of Defense’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response to non-CBRN disasters. Of course, the grand finale of the semester will be Fall Commencement, set for Saturday, Dec. 16.

Thirteen Students Selected for Penn College NOW Scholarships

Penn College presented scholarships to 13 first-year students who took Penn College NOW courses. From left are Tavor T. Wadsworth, of Williamsport; Vincent R. Keene, of Downingtown; Kayley E. Johnson, of Bloomsburg; Monica A. McCarty, Penn College’s dual enrollment specialist; Michael L. Gardner, of Williamsport; Warren E. Knipe, of Liberty; and Tanya Berfield, the college’s manager of college transitions. Additional recipients not in the photo are: Cheyenne N. Greene, of Jersey Shore; Deontae Z. Johnson, of Selinsgrove; Kylee E. Kelley, of Lock Haven; Tyler W. Miller, of Montgomery; Luke B. Walter, of Millmont; Brittany M. Weiskopff, of Blossburg; Clayton T. Welch, of Benton; and Jeremy M. Wolfgang, of Allenwood.

Pennsylvania College of Technology recently recognized 13 first-year students who received Penn College NOW scholarships.

The recipients completed Penn College courses during high school as part of the college’s Penn College NOW dual-enrollment program. The group was honored during an Oct. 27 reception.

To be eligible, students must have successfully completed at least one Penn College NOW course, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Penn College NOW classes, enroll in Penn College as a full-time freshman student for the fall semester after high school graduation, and maintain a 2.5 GPA at Penn College as an enrolled student.

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Last updated December 5, 2017 | Posted in Accounting & Finance, Art and Graphic Design, Automotive, Baking, Pastry & Culinary Arts, Building Construction, Business & Hospitality, College Transitions, Construction & Design Technologies, Dental Hygiene, Electrical, Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology, Emergency Management, Engineering Design Technology, Health Sciences, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies, Welding | One Comment

Penn College’s Cup Runneth Over

Reed and Strickland pass the Community Cup to the college president …

... who showcased it in her office reception area.

A ceramic sign of hard work and athletic energy, the Community Cup was presented to Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour on Tuesday morning by Michael J. Reed, dean of sciences, humanities and visual communications, and Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management/associate provost. Penn College captured the Community Cup earlier this month at the Community Challenge, a trail race supporting the Salvation Army of Williamsport. The event, featuring three runs – 5K, 10K and half-marathon courses – attracted considerable support from students, staff and faculty, as well as members of the extended college family. The Community Cup is a traveling trophy; the current chalice was crafted by Penn College’s own David A. Stabley, a ceramics and wood sculpture instructor.

Collaboration Crafts Logo for Penn College Brewing Major

Bubbles rising in a fermentation tank are featured in the logo, a melding of science and art.

A collaboration of art and science has crafted a logo for the new brewing and fermentation science degree at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The logo, designed by Morgan N. Keyser, of Dillsburg, a 2017 graduate of the college’s graphic design major, is being used on various materials, including glassware promoting the brewing and fermentation science associate degree major that launched for the Fall 2017 semester.

“I thought this was a great example of interdepartmental program synergy,” said Timothy L. Yarrington, instructor of brewing and fermentation science. “Branding can be the key to success in the brewing industry.”

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A Year-End Reminder of Year-’round Blessings

Dining Services' Daniel S. Falzone enjoys the festivities with daughters Julianna and Maria.

Ameira Phipps, big sister to Amecca Phipps, has an equally big smile!

Three generations celebrate the season at a decidedly family-friendly event. "Mimi" Janice and "Pappy" Robert Murphy, visiting from Pittsburgh, join their granddaughters, Macy (foreground) and Maura, and daughter-in-law Ashley R. Murphy, director of admissions.

Jointly exercising their creative side are Zaeed Minor and his mother, Shaunice M. Douglas, a pre-nursing student.

Families celebrated the end of the fall semester with the children and staff of the Dunham Children’s Learning Center this past week. Not only were there delicious snacks prepared by the children, there were craft activities for the youngsters to do with their parents.  Students from Penn College’s early childhood education major provided assistance.
Photos by Tia G. La, student photographer

Challenge Accepted! College Wins Community Cup, Helps Raise $17,000 for Salvation Army

An aerial view shows runners bundled up and starting out.

The Salvation Army of Williamsport will receive about $17,000 to be used for essential services to local families, thanks to Saturday’s Community Challenge.

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s commitment to the event resulted in the college winning the Community Cup, a traveling trophy presented to the organization with the greatest participation. Penn College logged 30 registered guests and 22 volunteers, including students enrolled in the Community and Organizational Change course and a number of student-athletes. The Penn College cross-country team served as an event sponsor.

“The volunteers from the human services program and athletics were incredible and helped to make a very special event,” said Michael J. Reed, dean of sciences, humanities and visual communications, who serves as vice chairman of the local Salvation Army Board of Directors.

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Faculty Pitch Health Careers at Regional ‘Awareness Day’

Wellsboro students learn about dental hygiene careers, straight from the mannequin's mouth.

Justin M. Ingram uses brains to make students mindful of their vocational options.

Shawn A. Kiser, Penn College’s director of dental hygiene, and Justin M. Ingram, assistant professor of biology, collaborated to provide hands-on recruitment at the 2017 Tioga County Health Career Awareness Day. The event was held Nov. 8 at Wellsboro Area High School. Ingram provided an overview on the human brain; Kiser provided the opportunity for students to “clean” a mannequin’s teeth and place dental sealants. The event attracted about 150 area high school students.
Photos provided

Penn College Emergency Management Interns Help Communities

Penn College emergency management technology students, including Autumn M. Devine (foreground), of Mars, engage in a disaster response exercise at the Emergency Operations Center in Williamsport.

Twelve students enrolled in emergency management technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently applied their skills during rewarding internships in Pennsylvania and New York.

The internships supplement the hands-on education the students receive in the classroom and at community-based training exercises.

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Faculty Retiree to Be Among ‘First Friday’ Exhibitors

Patrick Murphy's "Curly” (Caran d’ache on Strathmore, 16 inches by 25 inches)

Patrick Murphy, who retired in 2009-10 as an associate professor of advertising art, will be among the featured artists during downtown Williamsport’s November First Friday. “Time and Recollection,” showcasing Murphy’s artwork, will open at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Gallery 425, 425 Market St. Murphy earned a master’s degree from Parsons School of Design/Bank Street College of Education in New York City, and holds a bachelor’s degree from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre. He served as an adjunct faculty member at Luzerne County Community College and worked as a freelance illustrator and technical illustrator for 10 years. He joined the Penn College faculty in 1979 and received Master Teacher honors (the college’s highest faculty award) in 1989.

Human Services Class Assists Community Challenge

Community Challenge trophies and ornaments, crafted by Penn College ceramics instructors David A. and Deborah L. Stabley stand ready for the Nov. 11 trail races.

Racing to the finish, students in a human services class at Pennsylvania College of Technology are focused on completing an important assignment – helping to coordinate the third annual Community Challenge, benefiting the Salvation Army of Williamsport, which assists about 400 area families each month.

Set for Saturday, Nov. 11, the year’s Community Challenge features 5K, 10K and half-marathon trail races at the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority’s watershed property, 1600 Mosquito Valley Road, DuBoistown. Nearly 225 runners, ages 4 through 74, have already signed up to participate, with registration open until midday Wednesday, Nov. 8.

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A Sun-day in Name Only … but, Oh, What a Day!

Pottstown residents Tom, Kim and Jason Francis pause during their soggy stroll for a portrait in campus exploration.

Umbrellas were the most coveted accessory, but nowhere near as essential as the information that visitors to Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Fall Open House carried home. Held across the institution’s awe-inspiring campuses, the autumn tradition delivered tours, priceless exchanges with helpful members of the campus community, valuable exposure to student life with those who live it and close-up views of the newest majors at a 103-year-old institution that never shows its age.

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Last updated October 29, 2017 | Posted in Admissions, Alumni, Business & Hospitality, College Store, Construction & Design Technologies, Events, Faculty & Staff, General Information, Health Sciences, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications, Sports, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies | This gallery contains 51 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

‘Career Day’ Opens Doors of Exploration for Curious Teens

Automated manufacturing technology student Aren T. Way (right) of Jersey Shore, demonstrates an industrial-scale robot during a session on “Industrial Robotics, Hydraulics and Pneumatics, and CNC Machine Tools.”

More than 900 high schoolers, hailing from 28 school districts, spent Thursday on campus for the College Transitions Office’s Career Day. Faculty and students from all six of the college’s academic schools and all three campuses spent their Fall Break day off providing close to 50 career-exploration sessions for the visitors, exposing them to dozens of the college’s “degrees that work” offerings. A few of the districts traveled as much as two hours to attend. Among the highlights was a half-day session by the Penn College accounting, finance and business administration departments and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants that featured not only information about Penn College’s technology-laden degrees, but talks by guest speakers Michael Colgan, CEO of PICPA, and Joseph Siebert, president of PICPA, about future work in these fields as firms must protect clients’ financial information, and accountants can aid investigations via “forensic accounting.” Following the presentations and a Q&A with a panel of Penn College accounting and finance students, the 200 high school participants attended an etiquette lunch in the Field House.

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Last updated October 13, 2017 | Posted in Business & Hospitality, College Transitions, Construction & Design Technologies, Events, Faculty & Staff, Health Sciences, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies | This gallery contains 19 photos. | Tagged as |

In Penn College Fashion, Student Puts Know-How to Use

Shakeem J. Thomas

Pennsylvania College of Technology students regularly apply their skills to help others – even before graduation.

That’s the case with Shakeem J. Thomas, an emergency management technology student from Brooklyn, New York, who’s lending a hand in the nearby Queens neighborhood of Broad Channel where residents are still recovering – five years later – from Hurricane Sandy. Working with CAC BHL Joint Venture, LLC, a company contracted under New York City’s “Build It Back” program, Thomas is helping with the rebuilding effort.

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Lecture, Reception Mark Continuation of Gallery Exhibit

Steven Brower

Projected images enhance an informative lecture by Brower, held in the SASC conference room ...

... just across Hagan Way from a companion exhibit on the third floor of Madigan Library.

His interest raised, a patron lowers his cellphone to get a photo in the college gallery.

The Penn College community attended a graphic design lecture and reception for a poster exhibit on Wednesday. The lecture, delivered by Steven Brower – an award-winning graphic designer, author and educator – was in the Student & Administrative Services Center’s first-floor presentation room. Among Brower’s works are books on legendary musicians Louis Armstrong and Woody Guthrie. The reception for the National Poster Retrospecticus followed in The Gallery at Penn College. The display of 100 posters, which runs through Oct. 11, includes pieces by nationally recognized artists as well as a collection of posters created by Penn College graphic design alumni (when they were students).
Photos by Tia G. La, student photographer

Professor’s Physics Manual Brings Real-World Understanding to Subject

During a 2004 study abroad trip, LeBlanc (in white shirt) joins students at a cultural site in Japan. LeBlanc led six Penn College study abroad courses in Japan, where students visited Tsuyama National College of Technology. Photo courtesy of LeBlanc

From the Fall 2017 Penn College Magazine: Physics faculty member Joseph E. LeBlanc lived in three other nations before making his home at Penn College, where he finds creative ways to make physics meaningful to students. Read “Life’s Work.”

Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University