Students

College chapter raising funds to send dancers to THON 2020

Penn College Benefiting THON, a student organization linked to the annual dance marathon at Penn State, is in the midst of raising funds – and awareness of pediatric cancer – with an aim to be represented at February’s main event. THON raises money for pediatric cancer research and covers every expense for families that have children diagnosed with cancer and treated through Penn State’s Hershey Medical Center. The organization goes beyond covering hospital bills: families can receive counseling and housing support, for instance, and the children get different visitors (such as music therapists) throughout their convalescence.

Faculty & Staff Students

2019 holiday cards

Holiday cards created by student organizations and Penn College departments, artistically delivering “Season’s Greetings” across the campus community, went on display Monday on the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center lawn. (The first 32 photos are from student groups, followed by nine entries from college offices.)

Building Construction Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Ceremony marks college’s contribution to veterans memorial

Markley (left) listens as Howard Wilt, a Marine veteran of the Korean War and chair of the memorial commission, reads the award inscription.

Lugg and Reed accept plaques on behalf of the college's role in the veterans memorial. — Lugg and Reed accept plaques on behalf of the college’s role in the veterans memorial.

A memorial brick casts in stone the institution's timeless commitment to veterans. — A memorial brick casts in stone the institution’s timeless commitment to veterans.

Veterans gather with Penn College students, administrators and faculty in unified appreciation of those honored at the solemn site.

“God bless these students and their instructors,” the manager of the Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park project said this past weekend, presenting a pair of awards honoring Penn College’s involvement with the expansive monument in Williamsport’s West End. Army veteran John O. Markley offered those remarks early Friday evening during a brief, informal ceremony attended by a number of construction students and instructors Harry W. Hintz and Glenn R. Luse. He also thanked “two more people who made it happen” – college President Davie Jane Gilmour and Carol A. Lugg, dean of construction and design technologies – who helped the commission realize its 15-year dream by greenlighting the off-campus enterprise. Lugg and Michael J. Reed, vice president for academic affairs/provost, were presented with plaques “in grateful recognition of your enduring commitment and leadership to the ongoing improvements and expansion of the stone wall and memorial brick display” at the West Fourth Street park. Work continues at the site, which is scheduled to be dedicated during next year’s Memorial Day weekend.

Faculty & Staff Nursing Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Empathy hits close to home for nursing students

A faculty member's reversed ostomy equipped a nursing lab with surplus supplies and gave classmates a valuable life lesson. — A faculty member’s reversed ostomy equipped a nursing lab with surplus supplies and gave classmates a valuable life lesson.

Students in the Fundamentals of Nursing course learned more about the experiences some of their future patients will face, courtesy of a donation of excess medical supplies after a faculty member recovered from a serious health issue. Dulcey J. Frantz, assistant professor of nursing, underwent chemotherapy for bowel cancer and had to use an ostomy bag. “Fortunately, she was able to have a reversal to her ostomy and is doing well,” explained Tushanna M. Habalar, instructor of nursing, who teaches the course. Since she no longer needs the bags, Frantz donated her extra supplies to the class. Every student applied an ostomy bag – with applesauce in it to simulate a bowel movement – and wore it for 24 hours, journaling about the experience. An ostomy is a surgical procedure in which an artificial opening is made to permit the drainage of waste products either into an appropriate organ or to the outside of the body.
Photo provided

Dental Hygiene Nursing & Health Sciences Students

Student poster presentations earn honors at state conference

Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students Tyler J. Wetzel-Haynes (left), of Ono, and Pavel Dariychuk, of Leola, present their fourth place-winning poster, “Locked in on Dental Implants” at the Keystone Dental Health Conference in Kind of Prussia.

Two informative posters presented by Pennsylvania College of Technology dental hygiene students placed in the top 10 during the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists’ Association’s annual conference.

A poster titled “Locked in on Dental Implants,” presented by Pavel Dariychuk, of Leola, and Tyler J. Wetzel-Haynes, of Ono, placed fourth among 58 entries from across the state.

Jordyn Kahler’s poster, “Knowledge is Power: Oral Health Literacy,” placed sixth. Kahler is from York.

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

Alumni authenticity reinforces lab instruction

Attentive students absorb field expertise ... — Attentive students absorb field expertise …

... during a visit to PennDOT's local district office this month. — … during a visit to PennDOT’s local district office this month.

About 40 students in Technical Drawing-Related Disciplines classes (CCD237) recently took a field trip to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s District 3 office in Montoursville, where alumni employees showed them real-world examples of road and bridge design, along with firsthand applications of cutting-edge technology. Presentations were offered by William C. Harrison III, a 1999 graduate in electronics technology: computer automation maintenance emphasis, assigned to PennDOT’s Computer Aided Design and Drafting Support Unit; and Jonathan R. Richardson, a 2007 surveying technology alumnus, employed as a survey technician. Their insight supplemented material in the course, which is required in Penn College’s two-year engineering CAD technology and four-year engineering design technology degrees. Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor of engineering design technology; and Shane A. Schreck and Kendra N. Tomassacci, instructors of engineering design technology, accompanied the students. “We are very fortunate that our local employers provide opportunities to visit their facilities, as it is very beneficial students connect their classroom experience to real-world applications,” Walker said.
Photos provided

Faculty & Staff Students

Canvassing the neighborhood

Disability Services enlists a multigenerational band of collaborators.

A pre-winter tradition continued Wednesday at the General Services building along Reach Road, where employees and students celebrated Penn College’s rich diversity by fashioning 41 oversized wooden holiday cards. The completed handiwork will be installed outside the Breuder Advanced Technology and Health Sciences Center shortly before Thanksgiving, and a lighting ceremony – which will also illuminate the main campus decorations and a veterans tree near Madigan Library – will accent the display at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Faculty & Staff Students

’tis the season

With wintry weather possible even in fall, the time is ripe for faculty/staff and students to get (re)acquainted with the college’s guidelines for emergency closings, delays and early dismissals. Keep your cellphone charged, your gloves and boots handy, and your subscription to the PCT Alerts messaging system up-to-date. And, above all, make safe and sound decisions about traveling in poor conditions.

Architectural Technology Construction & Design Technologies Faculty & Staff Students

Preservation students tour city’s historic ‘Herdic Row’

Classmates stand outside the Peter Herdic House Restaurant, among the impressive Victorian structures that form Williamsport's Millionaires' Row. — Classmates stand outside the Peter Herdic House Restaurant, among the impressive Victorian structures that form Williamsport’s Millionaires’ Row.

An architectural detail catches the camera's eye. — An architectural detail catches the camera’s eye.

Liz Miele and Hannah Ramsauer recently hosted Historic Preservation (BSD410) students on a site visit to the adjacent properties that comprise “Herdic Row” in Williamsport: the Peter Herdic House restaurant, Peter Herdic Inn and a third building that was recently purchased by the Miele family.

“It is always so valuable to get the students out of the classroom to reinforce topics discussed in class,” said Rob A. Wozniak, an associate professor of architectural technology (who also provided photos). “While on site, Ms. Ramsauer shared her love for the history, including some of what was done to restore the structures.”

Events Faculty & Staff Gallery Makerspace Students

Gallery artist-in-residence bridges tradition, technology during workshops

Repko interacts with students during a “Bridging the Gaps” workshop, where participants built bridges representing the past, present and future as they relate to the artist’s work.

“Jeff Repko was the ideal choice for our first artist-in-residence in the ‘Material Matters’ series as his work combines traditional materials with digital fabrication methods,” said Penny Griffin Lutz, director of The Gallery at Penn College. In addition to a public reception for his exhibit, “In Proximity,” Repko’s five-day residency (Nov. 5-9) featured workshops in the gallery and The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College. “His artistic vision was a perfect fit for Penn College’s community of makers,” Lutz added. “He took advantage of the equipment in the makerspace to begin a new sculpture, and he enjoyed the one-on-one time he spent with students, educators and the public during hands-on workshops. Jeff felt so welcomed by our campus community!” “In Proximity” is on display through Dec. 11 in The Gallery at Penn College, on the third floor of Madigan Library. Hours are 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. The gallery is closed Mondays and Saturdays and will be closed Nov. 27-Dec. 1. The “Material Matters: Past, Present, Future” series will include two additional short-term artist residencies over the next two years and is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

General Information Students

Penn College earns ‘Guard Friendly’ designation

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s commitment to its students in the National Guard has been saluted by a statewide organization dedicated to those who serve.

The Pennsylvania National Guard Associations has named Penn College a PNGAS Guard Friendly School. The college is among only 30 schools to receive the designation out of 488 institutions eligible for Pennsylvania Educational Assistance Program funds.

“This is a great honor. We take considerable pride in the proactive way we assist students currently serving our nation and those who have served,” said Chester M. Beaver, Penn College’s coordinator of veteran and military services. “It’s rewarding to have our efforts recognized by this designation.”

Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Community Challenge breaks records

Reed (at left in white sweatshirt) shouts final instructions at the start of the trail run, including the invite to the Habalars’ home for post-race nourishment.

Saturday’s Community Challenge attracted over 400 participants from seven states and raised close to $20,000 – breaking both participant and financial records for the annual event supporting the Salvation Army of Williamsport.

“The Community Challenge attracts so many good-hearted people, from running champions to first-time hikers who are looking for a supported challenge through beautiful and rugged terrain,” said Michael J. Reed, an event organizer and Pennsylvania College of Technology’s vice president for academic affairs/provost. “Over 17 miles of trails are used for the event, and we change the courses every year so participants experience a new challenge and get exposed to more of the beautiful landscape. Our volunteers put in so much time and effort to ensure everything goes as planned. This year was a lot of fun with many smiles, strong feelings of accomplishment, and only a few bumps and bruises. The cause, coupled with the unique race experience, truly made Saturday a special event.”

Civil Engineering & Surveying Construction & Design Technologies STEM Students

Veteran chosen as college’s October ‘Student of the Month’

Regina M. Peluzzo, characterized by a faculty member as “the model student for civil engineering technology,” has been chosen as October’s “Student of the Month” at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

“Civil engineers primarily serve people, specifically by providing infrastructure that leads to stronger communities and better quality of life,” an instructor said of Peluzzo’s academically challenging major. “Gina is preparing for her career as a civil engineer by being a dedicated student and through her service to others.”

An Air Force veteran of five years (and counting), the honoree has twice put her education on hold for overseas deployments.

Faculty & Staff Students

College’s military family honored on Veterans Day

Penn College's military family honored for Veterans Day

On this Veterans Day, PCToday honors the Penn College students, faculty and staff who have served (or continue to serve) the United States.

Alumni Faculty & Staff Students

Employee’s ‘value of service’ reflected in YWCA recognition

Katie L. Mackey, academic skills specialist at Pennsylvania College of Technology, is one of 15 new inductees into the YWCA Northcentral Pennsylvania’s Women of Excellence program.

“While Katie’s commitment to improving the lives of others is evident through her work at Penn College since 2005, Katie’s value of service to others has been a theme throughout her entire life. Katie is selfless in all of her interactions,” her college nominator wrote. “She role-models the values of Woman of Excellence in her professional and personal roles. Katie’s resume illustrates the broad impact she has through our community, from working to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for students at Penn College, to the United Way, Family Promise, their children’s activities, and more.

“We are so grateful that she chooses to spend the majority of her day at Penn College, where she is respected and highly valued.”

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