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‘Dream Week’ encourages community strength through cooperation

Pennsylvania College of Technology students and employees are invited to participate in a series of virtual events and community outreach to mark Dream Week, the annual observance that honors the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King through the national celebration of his Jan. 18 birthday.

“The theme for this year’s Dream Week is ‘Better Together,’ focusing on how we can support one another during these trying times,” said Sammie L. Davis, Penn College’s coordinator of diversity and student engagement. “In addition to the events, we are encouraging folks to give back by making donations at local nonprofits during the week. The pandemic has really highlighted the need that already existed in Williamsport, so what better time to give back than during Dream Week!”

Alumni Civil Engineering & Surveying Engineering Technologies Students

Calculator loan program benefits veteran, active-duty students

A veteran student’s donation of a calculator upon her graduation from Pennsylvania College of Technology sparked the launch of a calculator loan program for other veteran and active-duty military students at the college.

Regina M. Peluzzo, a U.S. Air Force veteran who earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering technology (summa cum laude) in May 2020, donated her TI-84 calculator to the Major General Fred F. Marty Veterans & Military Resource Center at the college, knowing it might be helpful to another veteran student.

Peluzzo’s thoughtful gesture inspired grant funding from Walmart Foundation and private support from the Marty family to establish a calculator loan program for fellow veterans.

Students

Fall 2020 Dean’s List released

Pennsylvania College of Technology has issued its Fall 2020 Dean’s List.

Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Capturing the calm before the storm

In the days and nights before more than 2 feet of snow prevented many employees (yes, even photographers!) from setting foot on campus, a few signs of the season were captured by Penn College’s talented eyes on the ground. To cap a 2020 full of hindrance and hardship – and, thanks to campuswide cooperation, one of ultimate perseverance – PCToday presents a few reminders that even the worst years end in hopefulness for better times.

Dental Hygiene Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Student poster presentations earn honors at state conference

Pennsylvania College of Technology students achieved second- and fourth-place honors in the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists’ Association’s “informative posters” event for college students.

A poster titled “Transforming Treatment for Transplant Patients,” presented by Tara L. Roupp, of Lewisburg, and Kimberly R. Bergenstock, of New Columbia, placed second among more than 40 entries from across the state.

Taking fourth place was “Going Green: Innovative Products for Periodontal Prevention and Maintenance,” presented by Madilyn G. Serenko, of Williamsport, and Erin K. Gohn, of Spring Grove.

Business, Arts & Sciences Emergency Management & Homeland Security Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Emergency management student thrives outside comfort zone

Brooke M. Strubel, of Strasburg, Lancaster County, seen here at the Willing Hand Hose Co. in Montoursville, where she lived and worked while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in emergency management and homeland security at Pennsylvania College of Technology, also works full time at Ephrata Community Ambulance.

Juggling full-time college classes by day and full-time emergency medical technician work by night, Brooke M. Strubel is earning her Bachelor of Science degree in emergency management and homeland security in just two and a half years. For a young woman who recommends getting out of your comfort zone to achieve your highest potential, this past year, intensified by a global pandemic, has offered an ideal environment in which to enhance her people-centered skills.

“I never thought that I’d be working during a pandemic … but it’s an experience that I won’t forget,” said the soon-to-be Pennsylvania College of Technology graduate from Strasburg. “Challenges get you out of your comfort zone, and that is the area in which you will find yourself, your passions, your strengths and, yes, even your weaknesses. This is the area in which you will thrive and improve. Everything you learn advances your knowledge and leads to personal and professional growth.”

College Relations Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course creates educational, recreational opportunities

Concept drawings tentatively demonstrate what portions of the Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course at Penn College may look like upon completion.

The Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course, currently under development at Pennsylvania College of Technology, will provide the campus community and beyond with stimulating outdoor activities to foster leadership and team-building skills.

Funded by a generous gift from Brent and Daria Fish – longtime supporters of the Penn College Foundation and its annual fundraising activities like the Golf Classic and Dinner and Auction – the challenge course will eventually connect the college campus to the Greater Williamsport area via the Susquehanna Greenway extension project.

Alumni Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff Industrial Design Students

Alum’s newsletter article retraces ‘young designer’s journey’

Hadden designed the 3D-printed memento gifted at the Fall 2018 dedication of The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College – just one of the ways in which she's left her mark. — Hadden designed the 3D-printed memento gifted at the Fall 2018 dedication of The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College – just one of the ways in which she’s left her mark.

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.

Alumni Automotive Engineering Technologies Events Faculty & Staff Students

Graduating automotive major commissioned as Army officer

Ana Coste pins gold bars onto the uniform of her son, Andrew Placencia, of Reading, during his commissioning as an Army second lieutenant in a Dec. 12 ceremony at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

A Pennsylvania College of Technology senior was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in an outdoor ceremony held Saturday morning at the college.

Joined in person on the Bush Campus Center patio by family members and online by livestreaming well-wishers, Andrew Placencia, of Reading – a Bald Eagle Battalion ROTC cadet earning a degree in automotive technology management – will be branched into the Army Ordnance Corps.

Faculty & Staff Students

Board OKs ERP choice, accepts financial audit for Fiscal 2020

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved the selection of a Florida company to provide ERP (enterprise resource planning) software/systems to the college and accepted the audited financial statements for the college for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The college will engage with Boca Raton-based Anthology for the implementation of CampusNexus, a comprehensive package of administrative software tools and systems to support business operations and engage with students. Anthology was created earlier this year after the merger of three companies: Campus Management, Campus Labs and iModules.

President Davie Jane Gilmour said the new ERP will replace a collection of systems, some of which are more than 30 years old.

Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff Information Technology Students

Retired Penn College professor dedicates IT book to students

A recently retired Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member is sharing her information technology expertise and appreciation for former students through her latest book.

Lisa Bock, who retired in May as an associate professor of computer information technology, has written “Identity Management With Biometrics,” a 368-page book that describes how to select the right biometric system and details the steps for implementing identity management and authentication.

Faculty & Staff Students

Habitat home dedication video acknowledges college’s help

Matheau A. Davenport, an engineering design technology major (and an engineering CAD technology alumnus) leaves a Wildcat calling card.

The Clay County (Florida) Habitat for Humanity chapter recently celebrated a virtual dedication for its newest homeowner, who moved with her 3-year-old son into a house on which Penn College students and staff worked over an “alternative spring break” in March. “At this site specifically, the students installed all the windows and did some other work at the property,” said Sammie L. Davis, coordinator of diversity and student engagement, in sharing the chapter’s celebratory news on YouTube. “The story of the family moving in is super touching. You will see some familiar faces in the video, too, and they mention Penn College at the end for contributing.” Davis was joined on the trip (taken before COVID-19 precautions affected the spring semester) by Residence Life’s Cathy E. Gamez, coordinator for Dauphin Hall, and 16 student volunteers.

Alumni Engineering Technologies Honda Students

Automotive alum makes ‘PACT’ to earn public’s trust

A 2015 graduate of Penn College’s two-year automotive technology: Honda PACT emphasis, Alain Johnson is straddling two worlds: sharing through his day job what he has learned, while working to add a bachelor’s degree to his toolkit. A technical training instructor for American Honda Motor Co., Johnson recently discussed his career path in a blog post – from growing up in Jamaica to honing his workplace philosophy on campus. His advice for tomorrow’s automotive technicians? “Always do right by your customers no matter what role you play. The experiences you have with others will ultimately have an impact on your success within your career.”

Brewing & Fermentation Science Business, Arts & Sciences Faculty & Staff Students

Yuengling scholarship includes Penn College brewing program

With the objective of encouraging and supporting women in the brewing industry, the Pink Boots Society and D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. have partnered to fund a scholarship and included Pennsylvania College of Technology’s brewing and fermentation science program in the initiative.

The Diversity in Brewing Scholarship provides exceptional women of color in the brewing industry up to $10,000 in scholarship funds to further their brewing education. Students can apply for the scholarship through six brewing programs, including Penn College’s one-year certificate program. Two scholarships are available for Fall 2021; award amounts vary per program, with $9,250 designated for a Penn College scholarship applicant.

Architecture & Sustainable Design Engineering Technologies Events Gallery Students

Online exhibit highlights globally inspired architectural designs

A restaurant in Argentina, an aquarium in Ireland and a resort in Singapore are just a few of the awe-inspiring architectural design concepts created by Pennsylvania College of Technology students and available for viewing in an online exhibit titled “Architecture & Sustainable Design.”

The virtual display opened Dec. 4 on the website of The Gallery at Penn College and showcases the talents of 15 seniors in the college’s Bachelor of Science degree major in architecture and sustainable design: John H. Bernbaum, Waynesboro; Collin J. Egelhoff, Loganton; David B. Fischetti, Mechanicsburg; Stephanie A. Flick, Wind Gap; Kristina M. Holland, Mechanicsburg; Taylor J. Hurst, Etters; Liam W. Jones, Reading; Chad M. Karper, Hummelstown; Olivia Kleman, Shamokin; Austin J. Kohl, Pittsburgh; Damon T. Liuzzo, Carbondale; Keegan B. Mack, Kingsley; Drew P. Miller, Williamsport; Donald J. Reisch, Lititz; and Dylan T. Spanier, Dillsburg.

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