HVAC Students Represent College at National Conference, Expo

Four heating, ventilation and air-conditioning students represented Pennsylvania College of Technology at the 38th Annual ACCA Conference and Indoor Air Expo, held March 28-30 at the San Jose (Calif.) Convention Center.

Steven A. Quinn, of Perkiomenville; Eric J. Hager, of Mars; and Brian D. Woods, of Industry, all enrolled in the bachelor-degree HVAC major; were joined by Jesse T. Markeveys, of Doylestown, a student in the associate-degree HVAC major; and Stephen D. Manbeck, instructor of HVAC technology in the college's School of Construction and Design Technologies.

"All in all, the trip was a success," said Manbeck, who also serves as adviser to the Penn College chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, formed in 2003 as the association's first student chapter in the country. "Students were able to see and learn about the latest trends and technology in the field, while networking with employers from all over the country. All of the students received offers from employers. Contractors were impressed with Penn College and its HVAC program."

The students were able to participate in the Indoor Air Expo, at which many of the industry's original equipment manufacturers highlighted the newest technology in the field.

Students from both Penn College and Michigan's Ferris State University also were invited to participate in an open roundtable discussion with contractors from across the country. They are the only two colleges in the country that offer a four-year HVAC program, which bridges a key training gap between technicians and engineers.

ACCA, an industry organization dedicated to promoting professionalism among heating and air-conditioning contractors, plays a huge role in informing contractors of new technology, codes, legal issues and industry news. It also provides many training opportunities to contractors.

The mission of its Penn College student chapter is to uphold the same standards as the national organization and to provide leadership and training opportunities and to promote professionalism among the college's HVAC students. For more about the organization, visit online.

For more information about the academic programs offered by the School of Construction and Design Technologies at Penn College, call (570) 327-4518, send e-mail or visit on the Web.