College to Offer Hands-On Activities, Demonstrations at Farm Show

Published 12.17.2007

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Representatives from Pennsylvania College of Technology's academic schools will be on hand throughout the 92nd Pennsylvania Farm Show, with the schools offering activities and demonstrations to visitors each day of the event, scheduled for Jan. 5-12 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

On opening day, Saturday, Jan. 5, the schools of Integrated Studies and Transportation Technology will staff the college's display booth. Faculty and students from the School of Integrated Studies' graphic communication department will offer a hands-on activity in dye sublimation, which is used to transfer images to clothing, mugs, metals and other surfaces.



The School of Transportation Technology will offer hands-on activities from each of its three departments. From 10 a.m. to noon, automotive instructors will demonstrate an industry scan tool and give participants the opportunity to use it and interpret results. From noon to 2 p.m., visitors can try their hand at hand pinstriping with collision repair faculty, and from 2 to 4 p.m., they can calculate the center of balance as weight is displaced differently within a scale-model Velocity aircraft.

On Sunday, Jan. 6, the Penn College Alumni Association will offer breakfast to alumni and their families in the VIP Room at 9 a.m. Reservations are required; e-mail or call (877) PCT-ALUM (728-2586) by Dec. 21.

Also on Sunday, the School of Hospitality will staff the Penn College booth, where culinary faculty and students will test to see whether visitors' hands are clean enough to safely handle food.

On Monday, Jan. 7, with help from the School of Construction and Design Technologies, participants can learn basic construction techniques by building their own toolbox.

The School of Natural Resources Management will host a heavy-equipment remote-control rodeo for visitors. While they stop by to learn about the college's horticulture, forestry and electric power generation programs, visitors can try to win a prize in the rodeo.

Culinary arts students and faculty will be among those who demonstrate their culinary techniques live on the Culinary Connection stage throughout the day. In addition to participating in faculty and student demonstrations at noon and 2 p.m., the students will assist guest chefs and cookbook authors Bill Scepansky, corporate chef, Four Seasons Produce Co. (1 p.m.); Paul Francis, executive chef, Colonial Country Club (3 p.m.); and Dawson Flinchbaugh, owner, Flinchy's Restaurant Bar and Deck (4 p.m.).

On Tuesday, Jan. 8, students and faculty from the School of Hospitality will again help staff the Culinary Connection stage with faculty and student cooking demonstrations at noon and 2 p.m. At 5 p.m., students will participate in the School Cooking Challenge, during which they'll have 30 minutes to create a dish using only products sold on the Farm Show floor. The students will also assist guest chefs and cookbook authors in their demonstrations, including John Reis, executive chef/food and beverage director, Hilton Harrisburg and Towers (1 p.m.); Douglas Kirkland, sous chef, Messiah College (3 p.m.); and Eric Moyer, chef, Lehigh Country Club (4 p.m.).

In Penn College's display booth, School of Health Sciences programs will offer hands-on activities. Guests can experience how people with disabilities can continue to be independent with occupational therapy assistant faculty; try their hands at an appendectomy, hysterectomy and skin stapling with surgical technology faculty; and see if they have what it takes to save a life: practice inserting a breathing tube or pace and defibrillate a heart using a human simulator with emergency medical services faculty.

On Wednesday, Jan. 9, the School of Business and Computer Technologies will help visitors explore where the future of business and information technology may be heading over the next seven years, including avatars, cyber security and exciting changes on the horizon for network specialists.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, the School of Natural Resources Management again will host a heavy-equipment remote-control rodeo for visitors.

On Friday, Jan. 11, faculty and students from the School of Integrated Studies will return to the Penn College booth with a hands-on printing activity.

They will be joined by the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies, with faculty offering hands-on activities that will allow visitors to: program a robot to pick up and place objects; design and create a sign using plastics thermoforming technology; practice welding skills with a welding simulator; check out the latest instruments surveyors are using in the field; and learn about 3-D computer aided drafting and rapid prototyping technology.

On Saturday, Jan. 12, the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies and plastics thermoformer will return to allow guests to design and create their own signs.

Penn College Admissions and Alumni Relations Office representatives will be available throughout the week.

For more detailed information about Penn College's 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show activities, visit online .

For more information about Penn College's academic majors, representing more than 100 different career fields, visit on the Web, e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.