Don't put off until 'tomorrow' what you can learn today!

Published 07.07.2022

News
Nursing & Health Sciences
Events
Student News
Faculty & Staff
The Gallery at Penn College
Innovation & STEM
Business, Arts & Sciences
Engineering Technologies

The first installment of Penn College's My Tomorrow day camp (June 28 to July 1) provided middle-schoolers with a hands-on canvas on which to envision their own futures. The program, sponsored for the second year by the Soars Family, allowed students to explore any number of pathways – all of which lead to rewarding careers in fields that are never out of favor. Another session, equally popular given the sold-out registration, is set for July 12-15.


– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor;
and Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor


Young chemists experiment with the pH scale ...

Young chemists experiment with the pH scale ...

... assessing where liquids land within the acidic-to-alkaline range.

... assessing where liquids land within the acidic-to-alkaline range.

Chet Beaver (right), coordinator of veteran & military services, hosted “Chillin’ with Chet” each morning in the Field House, offering military-style and other obstacle courses to jump-start the youngsters' day. The activity continued on the Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course, with an assist from Spyke M. Krepshaw (left), assistant professor of web & interactive media.

Chet Beaver (right), coordinator of veteran & military services, hosted “Chillin’ with Chet” each morning in the Field House, offering military-style and other obstacle courses to jump-start the youngsters' day. The activity continued on the Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course, with an assist from Spyke M. Krepshaw (left), assistant professor of web & interactive media.

A helping hand among tomorrow’s leaders

A helping hand among tomorrow’s leaders

With mentors like Krepshaw, one can’t help but have fun!

With mentors like Krepshaw, one can’t help but have fun!

Cody R. Englehart (left), a Challenge Course facilitator and human services & restorative justice student,

Cody R. Englehart (left), a Challenge Course facilitator and human services & restorative justice student, "spots" campers to ensure safety on the seesaw.

With adroitness to

With adroitness to "spare," a camper topples pins with a bowling ball attached to an excavator bucket.

Girls wave before they take off in the large diesel truck for a drive around campus (honking the horn included).

Girls wave before they take off in the large diesel truck for a drive around campus (honking the horn included).

Chris S. Weaver, assistant professor of diesel equipment technology, takes obvious pride in his young mentee.

Chris S. Weaver, assistant professor of diesel equipment technology, takes obvious pride in his young mentee.

Sparking curiosity with coding robots called Ozobots!

Sparking curiosity with coding robots called Ozobots!

 A detailed map sets a colorfully coded course for a 'bot to follow on its Thursday morning drive through a hand-drawn town.

A detailed map sets a colorfully coded course for a 'bot to follow on its Thursday morning drive through a hand-drawn town.

Creative solutions always arise in the Woodlands Bank Innovation Lab.

Creative solutions always arise in the Woodlands Bank Innovation Lab.

All on a summer's day, Ozobots double as accessories to a boy's sunglasses.

All on a summer's day, Ozobots double as accessories to a boy's sunglasses.

Melissa A. Webb, technology instructor and information literacy/course coordinator, works with a young Tomorrow Maker.

Melissa A. Webb, technology instructor and information literacy/course coordinator, works with a young Tomorrow Maker.

Liquid nitrogen, poured over ice cream mix by Chef Todd M. Keeley, assistant professor of baking and pastry/culinary arts, makes for a showy demonstration – and a uniquely tasty treat.

Liquid nitrogen, poured over ice cream mix by Chef Todd M. Keeley, assistant professor of baking and pastry/culinary arts, makes for a showy demonstration – and a uniquely tasty treat.

An industrial-size salad spinner provides a challenge.

An industrial-size salad spinner provides a challenge.

Pizza-dough pro Christopher R. Kelley, a dining service leader, tosses dough – not only in the air, but behind his back – to the delight of My Tomorrow explorers.

Pizza-dough pro Christopher R. Kelley, a dining service leader, tosses dough – not only in the air, but behind his back – to the delight of My Tomorrow explorers.

Campers get hands-on experience stretching the dough for their personal pizzas.

Campers get hands-on experience stretching the dough for their personal pizzas.

Honing the toss technique …

Honing the toss technique …

... and the slap technique.

... and the slap technique.

Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts, supervises the final pizza topping station – with options for pepperoni, peppers and onions.

Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts, supervises the final pizza topping station – with options for pepperoni, peppers and onions.

Scrubbed and gowned for the OR in surgical technology.

Scrubbed and gowned for the OR in surgical technology.

In surgical technology, participants begin donning the accessories necessary for working in a surgical suite.

In surgical technology, participants begin donning the accessories necessary for working in a surgical suite.

After a thorough hand (and arm) scrub, the last step is to get gowned and gloved – with help from Scott A. Geist (left), director of surgical technology.

After a thorough hand (and arm) scrub, the last step is to get gowned and gloved – with help from Scott A. Geist (left), director of surgical technology.

In the radiography lab, campers get a hands-on feel for “Pixy,” the manikin used by radiography students to gain experience taking real X-rays. Pixy contains manmade bones and organs to provide realistic images.

In the radiography lab, campers get a hands-on feel for “Pixy,” the manikin used by radiography students to gain experience taking real X-rays. Pixy contains manmade bones and organs to provide realistic images.

Joined by Chris L. Eckenrod, director of radiography, participants point out the foreign objects (including a flashlight) they added before taking Pixy’s X-ray.

Joined by Chris L. Eckenrod, director of radiography, participants point out the foreign objects (including a flashlight) they added before taking Pixy’s X-ray.

In the Paramedic Lab, middle schoolers practice what to do when a friend has a severe cut on their leg. (Step 1: Cover with gauze – or whatever fabric can be found.)

In the Paramedic Lab, middle schoolers practice what to do when a friend has a severe cut on their leg. (Step 1: Cover with gauze – or whatever fabric can be found.)

Participants provide chest compressions and apply an automated external defibrillator.

Participants provide chest compressions and apply an automated external defibrillator.

Brady L. Breon, director of paramedic programs, talks participants through an emergency scenario.

Brady L. Breon, director of paramedic programs, talks participants through an emergency scenario.