Mentorship Award Presented to American Infrastructure

Pennsylvania College of Technology presented a Mentorship Award on Saturday to American Infrastructure Inc., a company that employs more than 70 Penn College graduates.

The award was presented during August commencement ceremonies at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport. The Mentorship Award, established in 2002, recognizes alumni and businesses that have made significant and/or ongoing contributions to the education and development of Penn College students.

Penn College began its relationship with American Infrastructure in 1985. Over two decades, the company has:

• provided student-forgiveness loans worth in excess of $60,000
• donated advanced Global Positioning System and other equipment to the college
• funded scholarships for Penn College students enrolled in the heavy construction equipment technology, surveying technology, civil engineering technology and construction management majors
• participated on program-advisory and curriculum-review committees
• facilitated a matriculation agreement with Fairfax County Schools in Virginia
• made industry contacts on the college's behalf to help it acquire significant equipment and technology contributions

American Infrastructure began as a local hauling company in the Philadelphia suburbs in 1939. Today, operating as Allan A. Myers in Pennsylvania, American Infrastructure in Maryland and R.G. Griffith in Virginia, it consistently ranks in the top half of Engineering News Record's annual Top 400 U.S. Contractors as well as the Top 50 Heavy and Highway Contractors and the Top 200 Environmental Engineering and Construction Companies nationwide.

"American Infrastructure has established a goal of exceeding the customer's expectations on every project, every time," said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. "To accomplish this goal, the company prides itself on hiring the 'best and the brightest' − and more than 70 of those employees are Penn College graduates. We appreciate the continuing support of this great company."

"We are grateful for American Infrastructure's 20 years of support with curriculum development, instructional equipment and student assistance through scholarships, forgiveness loans and providing employment opportunities for our graduates," added Wayne R. Longbrake, dean of natural resources management at Penn College. "The relationship with this company has encouraged other businesses to become more involved in our programs."

"Our relationship with the college started 20 years ago and is stronger today because of the quality of the curriculum and graduates," said A. Ross Myers, chief executive officer of American Infrastructure. "American Infrastructure will continue to invest and support the civil engineering technology, surveying technology, construction management, diesel technology and heavy construction equipment technology programs through scholarships, equipment and current technology."

"The graduates of Penn College today become the future leaders of the construction industry and American Infrastructure tomorrow," Myers continued. "We appreciate this recognition but, more importantly, we appreciate the dedication of the faculty and staff at Penn College for their commitment to the development of our industry's future leaders."

In addition to the Mentorship Award, the Alumni Relations Office at Penn College presents Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna and Alumnus/Alumna Achievement awards in May and Alumni Citizenship/Humanitarian Awards in December.

For more information about Penn College alumni activities, call toll-free 1-877-PCT-ALUM, send e-mail or visit online.