Honor Students' Achievements Recognized During Saturday Inductions

Stepping off on its end-of-semester march toward graduation, a period characterized by several of the day's administrative and faculty speakers as a rewarding affirmation of why they chose careers in education, Pennsylvania College of Technology held induction ceremonies for three academic honor societies Saturday.

Gathering in the Klump Academic Center, the Thompson Professional Development Center and at celebratory receptions in various campus locales, student VIPs – reminded of the college's "degrees that work" brand – were acknowledged for their investment of the latter in pursuit of the former.



Phi Theta Kappa
Seventy-one students were accepted into the college’s Beta Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for students in two-year majors. Each semester, the chapter extends membership invitations to associate-degree students who have completed at least 12 hours of course work in which they have a GPA of 3.5.

The guest speaker was Carl F. Gravely, whose multiple degrees from Penn College include a 2008 bachelor's in building automation technology. A 2005 PTK inductee, who served as chapter president and vice president during his enrollment, he is employed as a building automation project engineer with Honeywell International Inc.

"I sure do miss Penn College," said Gravely, who went on to a master's degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and whose work takes him to higher-education venues from Virginia to New York City. A frequent observation on those visits to other campuses? "That's not how Penn College does it."

Gravely (who, prior to graduation, received 47 job offers from 32 companies) urged the students to "always remember where you came from," as the connections to his alma mater – to faculty, Alumni Relations and Career Services; to the "friends you should never forget" – have resulted in vitally helpful advice throughout his real-world adventures.

This year’s inductees, many of whom attended the morning ceremony, are:

Adnan K. Aljumah, Williamsport, pre-emergency medical services; Katie E. Arthur, Hughesville, baking and pastry arts; Rebekah A. Aunkst, Hughesville, surgical technology; Loyal R. Beiler, New Berlin, pre-nursing; Tyler W. Bodder, Perkasie, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology; Adam M. Bosley, York, architectural technology; Christopher R. Burke, Fanwood, N.J., building construction technology; David A. Burkhart II, Linden, legal assistant-paralegal; Erin R. Campbell, Mainesburg, architectural technology; Samuel R. Cole, Ulster, civil engineering technology; Kristen J. Conklin, Pine Grove Mills, pre-dental hygiene; Tyler H. Covert, Sandy Hook, Conn.

Patrick D. Crowley, Howard, radiography; Kyle A. Csorba, Hamilton, N.J., building construction technology; Meghan C. Cunningham, Williamsport, general studies; Brandi L. Davis, Berwick, baking and pastry arts; Nicholas A. Depermentier, West Point, diesel technology; Cody D. Dunmire, McVeytown, pre-radiography; Amy K. Esposito, Williamsport, early childhood education; Emily K. Fetterolf, New Berlin, health information technology; Nathan M. Galbraith, McClure, electronics and computer engineering technology: robotics and automation emphasis;  John A. Gandolfo, Mechanicsburg, automotive technology: Ford ASSET emphasis; Dana J. Gause, York, dental hygiene; Alicia M. Hall, Jersey Shore, business management.

Nolan T. Hansen, Northampton, building construction technology; Gretchen A. Hayes, Muncy, health information technology; Matthew J. Horner, Marion, automotive technology; Brad B. Hosler, Tamaqua, automotive technology; Deborah L. Jackson, Salladasburg, nursing; Max A. Jureckson, Lancaster, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology; Theodore N. Kendris, Bloomsburg, automotive restoration technology; Jessica M. Keyser, Macungie, baking and pastry arts; Victoria L. Kostecki, Center Valley, baking and pastry arts; Karen A. Lahr, Elysburg, health information technology; Nicole C. LoFurno, Glen Mills, baking and pastry arts; Jessica A. Long, Shoemakersville, health information technology.

Ashley G. Maietta, Hughesville, nursing; Alexandria V. Martin, Mifflinburg, nursing; Stormie B. Mauck, Lock Haven, legal assistant-paralegal; Markos A. Mavrakis, Huntingdon Valley, automotive technology, Ford ASSET emphasis; John T. May, Landisville, automotive technology: Ford ASSET emphasis; Jonathan R. Mister, James Creek, aviation technology; Nathan W. Mitchell, Windber, automotive technology; Christopher J. Morrin, Morrisville, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology; Melissa C. Moses, Milton, health information technology; Christina M. Nelson, South Williamsport, legal assistant-paralegal; Kara L. Odorizzi, West Hazleton, early childhood education; Aaron C. Oyler, Lancaster, aviation technology.

Cameron T. Patch, Cowansville, building construction technology; Spencer L. Pehonsky, Bradford, building construction technology; Katherine J. Rebeck, Williamsport, general studies; Emilie L. Reed, Coopersburg, dental hygiene; Taylor A. Reed, Shamokin, baking and pastry arts; Alison M. Rote, Lewisburg, culinary arts technology; Cory M. Roth, Ephrata, building automation technology; Alyssa A. Sanfelice, Williamstown, N.J., baking and pastry arts; Nychol M. Shook, Bellefonte, nursing; Christopher J. Steele, Marksleyburg, heavy construction equipment technology: operator emphasis; Jeri A. Sukits, Williamsport, nursing; Morgan J. Tannery, Millersburg, pre-dental hygiene.

Jeremy L. Thorne, Sugarloaf, landscape/horticulture technology: landscape emphasis; Christine M. True, Williamsport, legal assistant-paralegal; Timothy M. Unverdorben, Pine Grove, electrical technology; Nicole E. Varney, Lewisburg, legal assistant-paralegal; Austin D. Votta, Perkasie, automotive technology: Ford ASSET emphasis; Deborah J. Waycaster, Watsontown, health information technology; Danielle A. Weinburger, Tamaqua, legal assistant-paralegal; Olivia G. Wetzel, Trout Run, occupational therapy assistant; Sean C. Whitehouse, Reading, architectural technology; Carrie A. Williams, State College, baking and pastry arts; and Charlene M. Woodley, Bloomsburg, pre-occupational therapy.

Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs/provost, and Tom Gregory, associate vice president for instruction, offered remarks. The coat of arms was presented by 2012-13 chapter President Alana N. Bohn, a dental hygiene major from Lebanon; and, in their last year as faculty co-advisers to the chapter, Anne K. Soucy, assistant dean of construction and design technologies, and Susan Slamka, assistant professor of human services/psychology, presided over the induction. They will be succeeded in the 2013-14 academic year by Laurie K. Kiss, mathematics instructor, and Joseph Loehr, associate professor of mass media communication/English-composition.

Alpha Chi
Thirty-seven new members were welcomed into the Pennsylvania Xi Chapter of Alpha Chi, which is open to all baccalaureate-degree majors and restricted to the top 10 percent of Penn College's junior and senior classes.

Nawaf AlOhali, Saudi Arabia, plastics and polymer engineering technology; Brice R. Ambron, Slatington, physician assistant; Jason K. Beall, Beaufort, S.C., automotive technology management; Shane M. Beckman, Linden, accounting; Jennifer A. Bickel, Montoursville, nursing; Cory L. Buckles, South Williamsport, business administration: small business and entrepreneurship concentration; Cody E. Buterbaugh, Conestoga, building automation technology; Zachary J. Buterbaugh, Conestoga, accounting; Matthew G. Cummings, Mountville, electronics and computer engineering technology; Jaclyn T. Delauretis, Hazleton, physician assistant; Sarah J. Desjardins, Lewisburg, building science and sustainable design: building construction technology concentration; Ashley D. Evans, West Decatur, pre-physician assistant; Kimberly S. Filko, State College, graphic design.

Matthew J. Freer, Creedmoor, N.C., physician assistant; Rachelle N. Horning, Milton, legal assistant-paralegal studies; Julia K. Hough, Philipsburg, pre-physician assistant; Polikseni Hysi, Clifton, N.J., dental hygiene: health policy and administration concentration; Justine M. Kline, Middleburg, physician assistant; Taylor R. Lapointe, Pelham, N.H., information technology: information assurance and security concentration; Andrew S. Manley, Cogan Station, information technology sciences: gaming and simulation; Brittany L. Mase, Liberty, graphic design; Ross A. McCartney, Westerville, Ohio, information technology: web and applications development concentration; Donald E. McCoy, Watsontown, information technology: network specialist concentration; David J. Munn, Athens, welding and fabrication engineering technology; Christine Paterson, Montoursville, accounting.

Charles Pluviose, East Stroudsburg, pre-physician assistant; Jody R. Raup, Shamokin, nursing; Ryan D. Roth, Lebanon, computer aided product design; Kyle J. Shirk, Lebanon, electronics and computer engineering technology; Christiana M. Snyder, Williamstown, health information management; April L. Start, Williamsport, nursing; Adam C. Swan, Lititz, information technology: information assurance and security concentration; Kevin J. Walty Jr., Richmond, Ky., applied health studies; David M. Warnaka, Bellefonte, electronics and computer engineering technology; Melissa L. Warner, Stroudsburg, building science and sustainable design; Cody J. Wood, Berwick, building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration; and Max K. Wundschock, Perkasie, aviation maintenance technology.

Opening and closing remarks were delivered by Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs/provost, and Tom Gregory, associate vice president for instruction, respectively; also speaking was chapter President Rebecca R. Miller, a graphic communications management major from Williamsport. The newest members were inducted by co-sponsors Gerald “Chip” D. Baumgardner, associate professor of business administration/management, and Walter J. Shultz Jr., director of the Office of Instructional Technology.

Delta Mu Delta
Eight students joined the Lambda Nu Chapter of Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society for business students in the top 20 percent of their respective class.

This year's inductees are:

Nyala Roberts Allen, Williamsport, accounting; Shane M. Beckman, Linden, accounting; Cory L. Buckles, South Williamsport, business administration: small business and entrepreneurship concentration; Zachary J. Buterbaugh, Conestoga, accounting; James W. Daniels, Williamsport, technology management; Thomas J. Mallonee, Halifax, technology management; Allyson J. Lynch-O'Malley, King of Prussia, technology management; and Christine Paterson, Montoursville, accounting.

Taking part were Gerri F. Luke, associate professor of business administration/management and marketing; Terry A. Girdon, professor of business administration/management; Ruth E. Hameetman, instructor of business administration/management; chapter Vice President Richard M. Norgard, a technology management student from West Caldwell, N.J.; and Paula Neal, of Canton, chapter secretary, who holds two degrees from the School of Business and Computer Technologies and is coordinator of instructional design and development in the Office of Instructional Technology.

Final remarks were offered by Tom Gregory, associate vice president for instruction, closing out his appearance at all three of the day's ceremonies.