News about Students

Automotive Student Awarded $2,500 ‘Garage Gurus’ Scholarship

A Pennsylvania College of Technology student has received one of a dozen $2,500 tuition scholarships awarded by Federal-Mogul Motorparts through its Garage Gurus technical education network.

Among the 2018-19 beneficiaries is Joseph R. Waldeyer, of Manasquan, New Jersey, enrolled in Penn College’s four-year automotive technology management major.

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Penn College Plastics Student Earns Scholarship

Haven K. Bontz

The Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Division has honored a Pennsylvania College of Technology student with a national scholarship.

Haven K. Bontz, of Cooperstown, Venango County, is the recipient of the Bill Benjamin Memorial Scholarship. Bontz is a junior seeking a bachelor’s degree in plastics and polymer engineering technology.

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Attendees Add to Toolkit at Heavy-Gauge Thermoforming Workshop

Program manager Christopher J. Gagliano (left) conducts a laboratory session in the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center's Thermoforming Center of Excellence.

The Plastics Innovation & Resource Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently hosted 11 industry professionals from six states for its Ninth Annual National Hands-On Heavy-Gauge/Sheet-Fed Thermoforming Workshop.

The three-day program featured presentations from renowned experts and hands-on instruction in forming, trimming, assembly, techniques, materials, tooling, diagnostics, and machine maintenance and safety.

“The PIRC provides a unique opportunity to present both theory and practice in heavy-gauge thermoforming by allowing the participants to use their classroom instruction on a state-of-the-art former,” said keynoter James “Jay” M. Waddell, from Plastics Concepts & Innovations LLC. “Participants were able to use multiple forming techniques and learned how to adjust the equipment to achieve the best results.”

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Two Penn College Students Among SkillsUSA Medalists

Penn College's SkillsUSA national contingent ...

... includes medalists Landon J. Miller (left) and Owen R. Dougherty.

Two Penn College students won medals at the 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Announced as winners Friday evening were Landon J. Miller, an automated manufacturing technology major from Loganton, who captured the gold in CNC Milling Specialist, and Owen R. Dougherty, of Allison Park, enrolled in building automation technology: heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology concentration, who took the silver in HVAC-Refrigeration. Watch PCToday for more on the past week’s competition.
Photos provided

Plastics Professionals Sharpen Skills at Penn College

The Ninth Annual National Hands-On Thin-Gauge/Roll-Fed Thermoforming Workshop at Penn College offered a mix of classroom and lab sessions for 33 participants, who learned from keynote instructor Mark Strachan, college faculty and staff, and guest speakers.

The latest training initiative offered by the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology advanced the skills of plastics professionals representing a dozen companies, eight states and Canada.

The Ninth Annual National Hands-On Thin-Gauge/Roll-Fed Thermoforming Workshop offered a mix of classroom and lab sessions for the 33 participants, who learned from keynote instructor Mark Strachan, Penn College faculty and staff, and guest speakers.

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Penn College Students Dominate Scholarship List

Recent scholarships from the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies reflects Pennsylvania College of Technology’s standing as a national leader in applied technology education.

Penn College students received nine of 22 awards from the PMMI Scholarship in Memorial of Claude S. Breeden, Glenn Davis and Art Schaefer. The $4,000 scholarships honor students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, plan for a career in packaging and processing machinery manufacturing, and show industry involvement through internship and career development activities.

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Campers Enjoy the Not-So-Lazy Days of Summer

A summer of refreshing, enlightening exploration

The hunger for knowledge continued for hundreds of young women and men who explored the hands-on world of Penn College’s summer camps mere weeks after their school year ended.

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Last updated June 25, 2018 | Posted in Business & Hospitality, Construction & Design Technologies, Events, Faculty & Staff, Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, Nursing & Health Sciences, Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications, Students, Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies | This gallery contains 32 photos. | Tagged as | Leave a comment

Plastics Professionals Converge on Penn College Campus

The 20th Annual Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop at Penn College’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center attracted a group of industry professionals representing 28 companies in 11 states and Kuwait.

Plastics industry professionals representing 28 companies, 11 states and Kuwait enhanced their knowledge at the 20th Annual Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center.

Forty participants attended the three-day session led by extrusion experts Chris Rauwendaal and Kirk M. Cantor. President of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Inc. in Auburn, California, Rauwendaal has more than 40 years of industry experience. Cantor, a professor of plastics and polymer technology at Penn College, has taught extrusion for 30-plus years.

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Bloodmobile Visit Tops Goal, Bolsters Summer Intake

The American Red Cross this week launched a "Missing Types" campaign to recruit blood donations. The messages draw attention to a shortage of blood types on hospital shelves by removing the letters A, B and O from branding materials.

Penn College faculty, staff and students have once again met the challenge to meet patients’ needs during a critical blood shortage in the north-central region. College Health Services and the American Red Cross report that 41 units were collected during Tuesday’s Bloodmobile stop on main campus, surpassing the day’s goal and positively impacting 123 lives. The next Red Cross visit will be from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 5-6 in Penn’s Inn (Bush Campus Center, second floor). Online appointments are available for those wishing to reserve a day/time to donate. “Thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to make a difference,” said Carl L. Shaner, director of college health services.

Inside Look: Nursing Care of Children

With Carra M. Rishel, of Danville, a child learns how IVs work.

Throughout the spring semester, students in the Nursing Care of Children course shared a unique learning opportunity with homeschool students, each group learning from the other.

Over the course of the semester, small groups of nursing students invited small groups of homeschoolers to campus. Each student group developed a short education session – topics included fire safety and tooth care – then engaged the children in checking blood pressures and heart rates, testing hearing, and other activities.

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Wildcats’ Williams Honored for Service to Conference Advisory Committee

Hanna Williams

The North Eastern Athletic Conference has selected Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Hanna Williams as its 2017-18 Female Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Member of the Year. She joins Keuka College’s Dakota Skinner, who was recognized as the NEAC Male SAAC Member of the Year earlier this week.

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Tuesday’s Bloodmobile Aims to Alleviate Summer Donor Shortage

American Red CrossIn order to meet patients’ needs over the critical summer months, College Health Services and the American Red Cross encourage the Penn College community to donate during Tuesday’s Bloodmobile stop on main campus. The visit will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of the Bush Campus Center, and successful donors will be rewarded with free pizza and beverages. Every unit of blood collected has the potential to save three lives; online appointments are being accepted.

Students Tour Landmark Yuengling Brewery

Brewing and fermentation science students pause during a tour of Yuengling at its historic site in Pottsville. From left are: Brown, Miller, Yarrington, Callahan, Hampton and Tuller.

Callahan enthusiastically describes operational principles to the students.

A plaque outside, adorned with the brewery's iconic eagle, affirms Yuengling's place in the nation's history.

In addition to experiencing the brewery’s modern operation, the students’ tour included a walk through time.

A visit to America’s oldest brewery was on tap for brewing and fermentation science students on Wednesday. Along with their instructor, Tim Yarrington, the students received an in-depth tour of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. in Pottsville. John Callahan, Pennsylvania brewing manager for Yuengling, gave the Penn College contingent an inside look at the plant’s modern operation and historical artifacts. Students on the tour were Luke H. Brown, of Beaver; Ian M. Miller, of Williamsport; Ryan J. Hampton, of Williamsport; and Eric J. Tuller, of Montoursville.
Photos by Tom Speicher, writer/video editor

Rotomolding Pros Share Perspective at Hands-On Workshop

Participants in the 10th annual Hands-On Rotational Molding and Advanced Materials Workshop take turns in Penn College’s polymer testing lab with Noah L. Martin (in checked shirt), of South Williamsport, a student and Plastics Innovation & Resource Center research assistant.

Marking a decade of intensive staff development for rotational-molding professionals, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center recently hosted more than two dozen employees in another of its renowned industry conferences.

A total of 27 people from 15 companies – representing eight states and Alberta, Canada – attended the 10th annual Hands-On Rotational Molding and Advanced Materials Workshop on the college’s main campus on May 22-23.

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Penn College Women Welders Aim for National Recognition

An all-female team from Penn College will compete for gold in welding fabrication at the SkillsUSA National Championships in late June. From left are Natalie J. Rhoades, Weedville; Joelle E. Perelli, Bath; and Erin M. Beaver, Winfield. The three students are seeking bachelor’s degrees in welding and fabrication engineering technology.

Pennsylvania College of Technology students vying for gold at the SkillsUSA National Championships is common. An all-female welding team representing the school at the prestigious competition is not.

Thanks to three talented female welding and fabrication engineering technology students, it may be in the future. The trio aim to be trendsetters at the college and nationally.

“I told them that they shocked Pennsylvania when they went to Hershey and won gold. I truly believe that if they stay focused and put in the time and effort, they could very well shock the nation,” said Jacob B. Holland, the welding instructor instrumental in forming the all-female team for SkillsUSA’s welding fabrication competition.

Erin M. Beaver, of Winfield; Joelle E. Perelli, of Bath; and Natalie J. Rhoades, of Weedville, defeated all-male counterparts at the district and state levels to advance to the SkillsUSA National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, June 25-29. The annual event showcases the best career and technical education students, who compete in about 100 categories from computer programming to culinary arts.

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