News about Students

To the accompaniment of seasonal songs from the nearby Madigan Library clock tower, two employees from Penn College’s Major General Fred F. Marty Veterans and Military Resource Center finished decorating the Veterans Holiday Tree near the main campus entrance on Friday afternoon. Chet Beaver, coordinator of veteran and military services, and Nick J. Hammer, a work-study student, lent their capable hands to hanging seven strings of stars – one star for each of the 238 military personnel in the college family – and seven glass balls containing commemorative ribbons sold in a Veterans Club fundraiser. This year’s ornament, in appropriate Wildcat blue, contains 42 ribbons bearing the names of their purchasers’ designated honorees. The annual Giving Tree ribbon sale benefits The Fisher House Foundation, which oversees a network of comfort homes, where families of wounded veterans can stay at no cost while their loved ones are receiving treatment. Watch PCToday later this semester for more photos, including the Veterans Holiday Tree at night.

Lynda Livingston, a member of the Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors, has established an automotive scholarship at the college in memory of her father.

The Pepper-Livingston Memorial Automotive Scholarship honors the memory of Duane F. Pepper, who owned and operated Pepper’s Body Shop in Franklin Township, Bradford County.

The scholarship supports incoming students from Lycoming or Bradford counties who are pursuing their education in automotive majors at Penn College. It is renewable for up to four years and includes support to offset costs for recipients to complete their automotive internships.

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One of Penn College’s tastiest traditions returned Thursday night, providing 430 students with a Midnight Breakfast to fuel their finals study sessions. In accordance with COVID-19 precautions, this year’s meal was served takeout only and included a breakfast sandwich, home fries, bacon, beverage and a snack. Dining Services also filled a large Keystone Dining Room table with giveaways, along with a drawing for a drone and other prizes.
Photos by Amy S. Lingg, Dining Services marketing assistant

When Jenn Ulmer began her first week of full-time employment as a brewer at Berwick Brewing Co., Brienne Allen, a fellow female brewer of note from Massachusetts, was also at the Columbia County facility conducting research.

Timothy L. Yarrington, brewing instructor at Pennsylvania College of Technology, says Ulmer and Allen are two more examples of women making progress in the male-dominated field.

“Women are entering the field in greater numbers to the benefit of the brewing industry,” Yarrington said. “Increased diversity in the industry strengthens the industry and expands its appeal.”

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Numerous plastics professionals scattered across the globe share a bond beyond their career choice – a degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology. Three of those graduates are reminded daily of that connection. They are enjoying thriving careers at the same multibillion-dollar corporation.

Bryan T. Robinson, of Gilbertsville; Hannah G. Maize, of Riverside; and Alexa M. Korinchak, of Hellertown, are engineers at the North American headquarters for Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials in Reading.

A leading manufacturer of high-performance thermoplastic materials, Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials is a subsidiary of the Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. The 195,000-square-foot Reading plant produces stock shapes in the form of rods, plates and tubes that are machined into parts by end users representing multiple industries, from aerospace and defense to food and beverage.

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Pennsylvania College of Technology welding students enjoyed an early holiday treat, compliments of the ESAB Demo Van.

About 30 students received hands-on experience with ESAB’s latest innovations, showcased during the van’s recent visit. ESAB is a world-leading producer of welding and cutting equipment and consumables. The college’s 55,000 square-foot welding facility contains several ESAB products.

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The annual poinsettia sale at Penn College’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center greenhouse begins Wednesday and runs until this year’s limited inventory is sold. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays (closed Saturday and Sunday), and all sales are on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices are $10 for 7-inch plants and $8 for 6-inch plants. There will be no early sales or holds, and everything is “cash and carry.” (The ESC is at 203 Allenwood Camp Lane,  Montgomery – about 10 miles south of main campus, just off Route 15.)
Photos by Marci M. Hessert, office assistant to the assistant dean of diesel technology and natural resources

The Cunningham family – all eight siblings attended Pennsylvania College of Technology or its predecessor, and four served as college employees – recently pledged $200,000 to the Tomorrow Is in the Making: Legacy Campaign for Penn College to bolster student scholarships at the institution.

The siblings’ commitment is in honor of Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour, who has announced she is retiring in June 2022. Additionally, it honors the memory of the siblings’ parents, Jean and Donald M. Cunningham Sr.; brother, David ’81; and sister, Carol ’78.

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Adding to its history of support for Pennsylvania College of Technology students and alumni, Larson Design Group developed a computer-aided design workshop that was offered to civil engineering and surveying majors during the spring and fall semesters.

“Larson Design Group’s support of our students through these workshops exemplifies its commitment to developing tomorrow’s industry professionals,” said Chris S. Macdonald, Penn College’s assistant director of corporate relations. “The experience provided our students with different perspectives for the methods used and offered them valuable resources in preparation for their careers. We are extremely grateful for Larson Design Group’s partnership and appreciate the mutually beneficial outcomes achieved with these workshops.”

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The latest in an series of timely discussions, informal and informational, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, in Penn’s Inn (Bush Campus Center, second floor).

Craig A. Miller, associate professor of history/political science at Penn College, will moderate discussion of major issues before the U.S. Supreme Court this term.

Of particular interest is whether the United States can sue Texas in federal court to prohibit enforcement of a state abortion law, and whether New York’s denial of concealed-carry licenses for self-defense violates the Second Amendment. (Miller provided the links so attendees can review the relevant facts and listen to the attorneys’ oral arguments to the justices.)

Hot food and beverages will be provided; the event is free and open to the community.

Three members of the Penn College cheerleading squad painted festive images on the office windows of the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority at 253 W. Fourth St. on Monday night. (“Festive” except the Grinch, of course, but – spoiler alert – we suspect his heart will warm in time.) Pictured (from left) are Meghan E. Miller, of Summerhill, pre-dental hygiene; Carli M. Witman, Annville, pre-radiography; and Alyssa K. Snyder, Coal Township, pre-surgical technology.
Photo by Jeremy R. Bottorf, coordinator of campus recreation

Fulfilling a community service component of its semester activities, Penn College’s One World Club recently collected and donated food to help a local nonprofit fill baskets for its clients over the holidays. “We felt that AIDS Resource was in line with our club’s mission of inclusivity and supporting everyone,” said club adviser Rob Cooley, associate professor of anthropology and environmental science, who joined Angelyvette Santana, president, in delivering the items to the 500 W. Third St. agency. “The club’s mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space for all members of our Penn College community regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or ability,” said Santana, a senior radiography student from Scranton. “We discuss and focus on multicultural/intersectional issues going on in the world or at school, as well as celebrate what makes us all unique – not different.”
Photo provided

CMT Materials has provided $5,000 in support of upgrades to a roll-fed thermoformer used for instructional purposes at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The company, based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, with additional sites in the Netherlands and Southeast Asia, is a Corporate Tomorrow Maker partner with Penn College. CMT Materials has worked with the college’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center for a number of years on workshops, student projects, training and testing.

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What began as a way to connect creatively during the pandemic has resulted in four impressive wood sculptures being donated to Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Four art faculty members launched the endeavor in the summer of 2020, and their finished art pieces were recently moved into locations across campus.

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Dining Services kicked off the holiday season Thursday with “Turkey Bowling” and a turkey dinner. The Keystone Dining Room invited students to try their hand at “bowling” a 10-pound frozen turkey in exchange for a bag of candy corn and a chance to win one of five homemade pumpkin pies. Events of the day continued at Capitol Eatery with a full Thanksgiving meal that included herb roasted turkey with mulled apple cider glaze, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato bake, green bean casserole, baked corn, orange cranberry sauce, Cajun cornbread stuffing with chorizo, maple roasted vegetables, bourbon pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, apple cider and a harvest spinach salad.
Photos by Amy S. Lingg, Dining Services marketing assistant