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Alumni Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff General Information Students Welding

Penn College welding faculty, students build ‘Living Chapel’

The Living Chapel measures about 45 feet long by 30 feet wide, with heights ranging between 10 and 15 feet. The structure will remain at the Botanical Garden of Rome until social distancing rules permit a stay at the Vatican before being moved to its permanent location in Assisi, Italy.

A massive structure meant to encourage the “ecological awakening of humanity” can trace its foundation across the Atlantic Ocean to the welding expertise and facilities offered at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Nine instructors and 15 students spent 10 weeks fabricating the structural framework for the Living Chapel, unveiled this week at the Botanical Garden of Rome during Global Catholic Climate Movement activities. Its formal unveiling via streaming video is scheduled for June 5, U.N. World Environment Day.

When social distancing rules permit, the open-air sanctuary – made of aluminum and recyclable and repurposed materials – will be placed at the Vatican before being moved to its permanent home in Assisi, Italy, the birthplace of St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology, whose small church provided the footprint for the Living Chapel.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, what it’s going to mean to everybody,” said James N. Colton II, assistant professor of welding, who led the Penn College fabrication team. “It’s definitely a big deal.”

Dental Hygiene Faculty & Staff General Information Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Speaker provides timely inspiration to dental hygiene students

Last week, the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s dental hygiene program held a special event for its first- and second-year students, engaging an international motivational speaker who is well-known in the dental field to speak with students via videoconference.

“Our students have been going through such turmoil during this COVID-19 pandemic, that we felt the need to lift their spirits,” said Shawn A. Kiser, the college’s director of dental hygiene.

Diesel & Power Generation Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff Heavy Equipment Students

Diesel instructor receives Caterpillar ‘Pathfinder’ award

A member of the diesel equipment technology faculty has been honored by Pennsylvania College of Technology and Caterpillar Inc. with the annual “Pathfinder to Excellence” award.

John D. Motto, an instructor at the college’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood, is the latest recipient of an award presented since 2003 to someone who “develops effective teaching techniques, enhances learning materials, demonstrates a keen sensitivity to student needs and maintains high academic standards.”

Digital Media & Marketing Students

Lycoming Housing launches improved website with student help

A recent real-world project by students at Pennsylvania College of Technology represented a valuable learning and portfolio-building experience for the students, and well-timed good fortune for a local nonprofit that had been looking for just the services the students could provide.

“Well over a year prior to Penn College contacting us, Lycoming Housing had begun to seriously look into starting what, to us, was sure to be a long and arduous process of replacing our old and outdated website,” explained Andy Gerrity, of Lycoming Housing Authority.

Aviation Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Penn College aviation students receive industry scholarships

Four Pennsylvania College of Technology students were recently awarded aviation scholarships: two from the Helicopter Foundation International/Helicopter Association International and two from Women in Aviation International.

All four are enrolled in the four-year aviation maintenance technology major, based at Penn College’s Lumley Aviation Center in Montoursville.

Admissions Scholarships Students

Penn College transfer scholarships available to PTK members

Active members of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society who transfer to Pennsylvania College of Technology may be eligible for financial assistance.

The college will award five $2,500 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Student Scholarships beginning in the Fall 2020 semester. Each is renewable for the duration of full-time study to complete a baccalaureate degree, provided the recipient maintains a minimum 2.5 graduation GPA.

Students

Penn College discounting tuition for active-duty military

Pennsylvania College of Technology is offering a discounted tuition rate of $250 per semester credit hour for active-duty military during the 2020-21 Academic Year.

Continuing its tradition of supporting the nation’s heroes, Pennsylvania College of Technology is offering discounted tuition for active-duty military during the 2020-21 Academic Year.

Active-duty military can receive a discounted tuition rate of $250 per semester credit hour, up to a maximum of 18 credit hours or $4,500 per fiscal year.

Alumni Students

Alum answers call for students impacted by pandemic

With students and parents alike experiencing the financial fallout of the devastating pandemic, a college alumnus – whose Williamsport Area Community College forestry degree was a crucial initial step toward a successful career in civil engineering – is leading by philanthropic example. John Urick, a 1974 graduate of Penn College’s immediate successor institution, recently routed his stimulus deposit to an Emergency Scholarship Fund administered by the college’s Institutional Advancement Office. Urick has a history of donating to his alma mater, from which a son, granddaughter and three cousins also have graduated. “I feel obligated to help current students in their pursuit of useful life skills,” we writes in a recently published blog entry. “Giving now, though, at this moment, is critical. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, large numbers of students are in jeopardy of not finishing their education because of financial stress caused by losing critical part-time jobs, compounded by some parents their losing jobs. The thought of students’ education being disrupted and their lives changed forever is unbearable to me.” Those inspired to join him in empowering students are encouraged to consider a gift to the emergency fund.

Faculty & Staff Students

Penn College grads commissioned in online ROTC ceremony

Six Pennsylvania College of Technology seniors were among eight Bald Eagle Battalion Army ROTC cadets commissioned as second lieutenants Saturday during a virtual ceremony, the culmination of their four-year transformation from cadets to officers.

With family members and other supporters joining them in person and on computer screens, Penn College students sworn into service are Hayden N. Beiter, of Cogan Station; Casey A. Curtin, of Berwick; Alex Hackenberg, of Middleburg; William M. Johnson, of Glen Mills; Jordan H. Murray, of Chambersburg; and Austin S. Weinrich, of Jenkintown. Curtin is a plastics and polymer engineering technology major; Hackenberg is enrolled in information technology: network specialist concentration; and Beiter, Johnson, Murray and Weinrich are graduating this year in residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration.

Engineering Design Technology Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies Plastics & Polymer Students

Student uses know-how, home equipment to make face shields

Brackets for face shields to be used by health care workers are cut from a polycarbonate sheet on a CNC router. Pennsylvania College of Technology student Matthew Semmel, of Palmerton, modified his CNC router to cut the pieces between classes while studying from home.

Between classes, a Pennsylvania College of Technology student modified a computer numerical control router that he typically uses for woodworking projects to help manufacture more than 300 face shields for distribution to hospitals in his area.

Matthew A. Semmel, of Palmerton, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in engineering design technology and an associate degree in plastics and polymer technology. Due to the pandemic, he – like all other Penn College students – has been taking classes remotely since mid-March to comply with the state’s stay-at-home order and social distancing guidance.

Architecture & Sustainable Design Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Gallery Students

Online architecture exhibit showcases students’ talents

Celebrating the talents of graduating seniors, Architecture & Sustainable Design 2020 is viewable on The Gallery at Penn College’s webpage.

The online exhibit showcases the work of students earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s building science and sustainable design major.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a May 14 opening reception was planned for the exhibit in The Gallery at Penn College; however, a shift from the physical space to an online showing was required.

Art & Graphic Design Faculty & Staff Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications Students

Graphic design students offer perspective in remote roundtable

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.

Faculty & Staff Industrial Design Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies Students

Penn College student creates board game for senior project

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.”

Alumni Faculty & Staff Landscape/Horticulture Students Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies

A grateful college brings May flowers

Special delivery, in care of committed caregivers

Plants nurtured throughout the pandemic by the horticultural hands at Penn College’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center brought a burst of National Nurses Week sunshine to UPMC Susquehanna campuses Thursday. About 850 potted flowers and hanging baskets, originally cultivated for a plant sale, were delivered to Williamsport, Divine Providence, Muncy, Lock Haven, Cole (Coudersport) and Wellsboro hospitals for distribution to nurses – among the tireless health care workers on the front line of a global health crisis. A troupe of ESC faculty and staff, General Services employees and a college alumnus/retiree loaded and unloaded the colorful cargo at hospital campuses in Lycoming and Clinton counties; UPMC handled transport to the Northern Tier locations. Helping to keep the greenhouse stock thriving in students’ absence were horticulture faculty; Wyatt C. Forest, laboratory assistant for horticulture; and Sean C. Golden, a landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis student and work study employee.

Alumni Faculty & Staff Students

Student Development Assistants team up with alumni to honor faculty

Recognizing the impact that faculty have had on their Pennsylvania College of Technology experience and that of their peers, Student Development Assistants expressed their gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8).

Handwritten notecards, emails, social media posts, videos and a blog were shared while Penn College students were completing coursework remotely.

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