Caterpillar Foundation, Dealers Contribute $110,000 to Penn College
Published 10.26.2003
The Caterpillar Excellence Fund − a partnership of the Caterpillar Foundation, participating dealers and schools − has benefited Pennsylvania College of Technology once again with contributions totaling $110,000 for the College's Diesel Technology and Heavy Construction Equipment Technology programs.
The Caterpillar Foundation contributed $25,000, and five regional dealerships donated shares of $17,000 each to assist the programs in the 2003-04 academic year.
The participating dealers are: Alban Tractor Co. Inc., Baltimore; Beckwith Machinery Co., Murrysville; Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc., Harrisburg; Giles & Ransome, Bensalem; and H.O. Penn Machinery Co. Inc., Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
This is the ninth year that Penn College has been awarded the Caterpillar funds. Including the previous years' donations, the total funding received exceeds $1 million.
"The Penn College partnership with Caterpillar Inc. and regional dealers is an outstanding example of business and education working together to develop the skills of our youth, who will become the foundation of our future workforce," said Dr. Wayne R. Longbrake, dean of Penn College's School of Natural Resources Management. "The partnership is truly a benefit to the students of the Heavy Construction Equipment Technology program and Pennsylvania College of Technology."
The primary objective of the Caterpillar Excellence Fund is to increase the pool of qualified service technicians. The funds help to recruit excellent students and retain them through scholarship assistance.
The contributions also will fund equipment purchases in Penn College's Heavy Construction Equipment and Diesel Technology programs and enable faculty to attend Caterpillar-sponsored training.
The Heavy Construction Equipment and Diesel Technology majors are based at the College's Schneebeli Earth Science Center campus near Allenwood. The majors have an advisory board of industry professionals, as well as a student club that participates in and hosts a variety of contests that build students' skills and interest for the career field.
For more information about the programs offered by Penn College's School of Natural Resources Management, call (570) 320-8038, send e-mail or visit on the Web.