Interaction, involvement emphasized during students’ campus welcome

Another whirlwind Welcome Weekend is history, providing instant memories for first-year and returning students; their families; and the faculty, staff and classmates who will share their Penn College experience. “The degree is why you’re here,” said President Davie Jane Gilmour, speaking at her final fall convocation, ” but I encourage you to connect with one another and the campus as you write this new chapter in your book of life.” PCToday has you covered, from Friday’s steamy move-in to Monday morning’s “don’t hit snooze” start of classes.

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor; Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday;
Kimberlee R. Rusczyk, manager of social media/online marketing; and Kollin G. Kisner, student photographer

A newly bustling campus puts out the “Welcome” mat.

Fireworks light up the sky over the Field House and illuminate the site of Sunday night’s convocation: UPMC Field and the M&T Bank Gate.

President Gilmour greets coaches and their families (on left) and students (on right). Assistant Director of Athletics Matt J. Blymier, buoyant at the return of Wildcat sports – and Wildcat sports fans – remarked that it had been 649 days since the stands had been filled.

The Public Relations & Marketing team (from left) of Shelley Bamonte, Kimberlee R. Rusczyk and Christopher J. Leigh serve up a delightful activity: The Newly Wildcat Game!

“What will be the first thing your Mom does when she gets home?” Clearly, Matthew L. Davis – an aviation maintenance technology major from East Stroudsburg – and mother Camille have differing views!

Resident assistant Abby E. George takes a dance break (or is that breakdance?) at Campus View Apartments. The Harrisburg resident holds an associate degree in baking & pastry arts and is enrolled in applied management.

Amid the sound of applause and the clap of Wildcat blue thundersticks, students are greeted by staff and faculty as they enter UPMC Field.

The college’s new LEAP Center, where dedicated staff help students navigate the challenging transition to college, saw constant traffic during a Saturday open house at its first-floor space in the Student & Administrative Services Center. Joette M. Siertle (right), LEAP adviser-early alert, was among the team members reassuringly facilitating first-year students’ readiness for Monday’s start of classes …

… while Melissa M. Stocum, LEAP adviser-mentoring, provides one-on-one guidance to a co-worker’s advisee.

A posse of Admissions counselors applaud, greeting students whose arrival resulted from their recruitment efforts.

With smiling eyes that’ll cure any case of the “moving-in hangries,” Dining Services’ Terri L. Ryan (left) and LaToya C. Simmons greet Saturday’s breakfast crowd at Capitol Eatery.

A happy family pauses on the verge of a new adventure.

Hailing from San Clemente, Calif., Robert A. Luna, Student Government Association president, delivers an inspiring speech about student involvement. “Come together and solve the problems of tomorrow,” he urged, “and leave things better than you’ve found them.”

Smartly shielded from the sun, Charlee R. Marshall, of Snow Shoe, talks with a fellow student leader between campus tours. Marshall, a construction management major, is a senior resident assistant and a goalkeeping scholar-athlete on the women’s soccer team.

Power pose! Brooke Estelle, a dental hygiene student and CRU member from Trappe, brings some much-appreciated muscle to move-in day.

Adam J. and Sarah R. Yoder, alumni and college employees, bring the fun. He’s an industrial technology specialist with Workforce Development; she’s the coordinator of admissions operations.

Boscoe, a 10-year-old Dogo Argentino, laps up all the attention during a visit by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs …

… and he isn’t shy with kisses, either! Wildcat soccer players BillieGean D. Hennessy (right), of Holtsville, N.Y., and Shannon K. O’Day, of Honesdale, delight in the mutual attention.

Who says college students don’t clean?!?!?

It’s a family affair! Sisters and nursing students Cassie S. (second from left) and Macy R. Eamigh, of Woodland, move into Campus View with the help of their parents, Amy and John. Dad graduated from the college in 1994 with a diesel technician degree, and the girls’ brother, John L., graduated in 2020 with a degree in information technology: network specialist concentration.

Normally at home on the basketball court, Wildcat athlete Ja’Quela Dyer, of Dover, Del., lines up a putt.

Resident assistants Christine A. Limbert, of Curwensville, and Andy P. Luzeckyj Jr., of Southampton, exuberantly finish singing the alma mater.

Who wants to stare at four blank walls?

Whether via old-school wall display …

… or through handheld help, Dauphin Hall directional signage pointed the way.

Pretending to be overwhelmed by a campus map is the father of Jack L. Lenosky as the family gets their bearings on the campus scene. Lenosky is a Wildcat soccer player and heating, ventilation & air conditioning design technology freshman from Moon Township.

Welcoming residents to The Village are RAs Zachary M. Beekley (left), Christopher J. Bajek and Rebecca E. High (in bin).

Mini-golfers Brooke Seana (left) and Courtney L. Petrilak, both of Waymart – classmates in high school and, now, in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Methinks this one looks a bit young …

… she’s the daughter of Travis D. Heap, assistant women’s basketball coach! Heap and a heaping helping of players pitched in to assist on move-in day.

The Center for Career Design on Madigan Library’s third floor greeted visitors, including Cody A. Patchell (right), of State College, a transfer student in metal fabrication technology. Explaining the center’s many beneficial services are Loni N. Kline, vice president for college relations, and Ethan M. McKenzie, a College Relations fellow.

Blue skies accompanied movers, a beautiful visual despite the crushing humidity.

Foggy fun accompanied Saturday night’s Glow Dance Party in the Rose Street Commons Courtyard.

Before you dive back into this recap of a gloriously hectic Welcome Weekend, PLEASE stop and smell the flowers.

Offering collegial support outside the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center on Monday morning are baseball coach Chris H. Howard and counselor Michelle L. Finn.

Resource tours, originating at Rose Street Commons, took participants to a number of essential sites: major instructional areas, Tutoring Services, the LEAP Center and Madigan Library, among others. Leading the way are Wildcat-attired Connections Links Michael E. Highland II (right) and Kellor A. Schooley.

Chet Beaver, coordinator of veteran & military services, brought his adorable granddaughter to campus to help welcome the new students.

Brothers in arms, bins in hands, Phi Mu Delta representing (from left): Austin Shuey, of Palmyra; Brandon Malchano, of McKees Rocks; and Jacob M. Pusateri, of Port Matilda.

Jansen L. Balmer, of Ephrata, a residential construction technology and management major, talks with two cadets outside the ROTC House: Gabriel R. Kennedy-Citeroni (center), a civil engineering technology student from Blairsville, and Joshua E. Norris, a human services and restorative justice major from Gratz.

Unfazed by a Saturday afternoon drizzle, these guys moved their practice rounds into an accommodating Field House. Prepping for a tournament are (from left) Holden K. Stiely, of Elizabethville, majoring in electrical construction, and Chris A. Fisher, of Middleburg, enrolled in construction management (and unsurprisingly sporting a Major League Cornhole T-shirt).

An iconic student from decades past greets “tomorrow makers” at the annual Welcome Weekend poster sale. One key difference: Faber College, of “Animal House” fame, is NOT a national leader in applied technology education.

Snagging a healthy option on the first day of class

Lead Connections Links Caila N. Flanagan (left) and Sophia G. Wiest lead Sunday night’s recitation of the community pledge.

Therapy dog Brandy, a Boykin Spaniel, livin’ for lovin’

Penn College Police Officer Lead Person Fletcher W. Farr is a helpful resource for directions.

Engineering design technology majors Wesley S. McCray (left), of Corry, and Daniel T. Wright, of Middleburg, warm up at the horseshoe pits south of the Field House …

… where a 10-person tournment was won by Garret J. Bauer, of St. Marys, a first-year student in electrical construction. (Photo by Jeremy R. Bottorf, coordinator of campus recreation)

Service with a smile! CRU member and nursing student Jenay Brown, from Williamsport, puts her caring spirit into action.

Christie Bing Kracker, director of the LEAP Center, engages a student.

Nolan C. Johnson (center), of Montgomery, poses with his mother and girlfriend at one of the gorgeous flower features on campus. Johnson is enrolled in information technology: network and user support.

A cornhole tournament outside Dauphin Hall provides a popular venture.

It’s “game on” at the Smash Brothers tournament.

Human resources generalist Kait E. Sellinger is among the friendly faces greeting newcomers outside the Bush Campus Center.

Payta M. Bentley (right), a pre-dental hygiene student from Sayre, enjoys some quality lunch time with her sister, Thea, on move-in day. Dining Services provided free grab-and-go bag lunches for students and their guests on Friday.

Chris J. Gierla pauses to pose with Mom as Dad snaps a keepsake. Gierla, of Randolph, N.J., is enrolled in human services & restorative justice.

Another energized student volunteer – Cassie J. Keister, of Mifflinburg, physical therapy assistant – is on a roll!

Students were given college pins affixed to cards featuring the Penn College Community Pledge and lyrics to the alma mater.

New roommates James R. Lunt (left), of East Haddam, Conn., and Andrew J. Cavada, of Mechanicsburg, hit the greens. Lunt is majoring in building automation engineering technology; Cavada is enrolled in plastics & polymer engineering technology.

Cornhole, popular day or night

LEAP adviser Pat M. Scheib welcomes a family to campus, offering such niceties as directions and bottled water.

Campus View RAs stand ready (from left): Olivia D. Magann, Mathew Hammond and Janice H. Strachan

Resident assistant Cheon M. Steele, an aviation maintenance technology student from Cambria, N.Y., lends a helping hand.

A mother motions her hands upward as families arrive at the Bush Campus Center for check-in.

Drumming her way through a Pound Fitness workout is Madison N. Sweeney (right), a graphic design major from Lewistown, guided by instructor Mandy Bair. The session was just one of the many recreational offerings on campus throughout the day Saturday, including yoga and disc golf.