Engineering design technology and engineering CAD technology majors in multiple sections of Technical Drawing I and Detailing I classes (CCD 103-104) recently participated in the sixth annual virtual pumpkin-carving contest. Engineering design technology faculty – Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor, and instructors Craig A. Miller and Shane A. Schreck – provided photos of their students’ work, which filled their corner of College Avenue Labs with a seasonal display of software sorcery.
In order to meet patients’ ongoing needs and alleviate a nationwide blood shortage, College Health Services and the American Red Cross encourage the Penn College community to donate during this month’s two-day Bloodmobile stop on main campus. The visit will be from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 13-14 on the second floor of the Bush Campus Center, and successful donors will be rewarded with a free T-shirt, pizza and baked goods. Schedule a visit online and save 15 minutes on appointment day by using the convenient RapidPass to complete the pre-donation readings and answer health history questions.
The Gallery at Penn College, a resource for students and a cultural asset to the college and surrounding communities, is spotlighted in Penn State’s “Hidden Gems” series. The online feature focuses on noteworthy aspects of the university’s Commonwealth and affiliated campuses – including notable or unique landmarks, academic programs, research facilities, student organizations and more. Nine photos, judiciously selected from the sweep of presentations since the gallery moved to Madigan Library in Fall 2006, illustrate the newly posted piece.
There’s still time to sign up for the 2019 Community Challenge, featuring 5K, 10K and half-marathon trail races set for Saturday, Nov. 9. The event raises funds for the Salvation Army of Williamsport, which assists about 400 area families each month.
Runners, hikers and walkers are encouraged to sign up by 11:59 a.m. Wednesday at the registration site, where participants can elect to join the Pennsylvania College of Technology team. Donations are also accepted at the site, where donors can assign funding to a specific team member.
“I think the natural beauty in our area is distinctive to the college,” said Thomas E. Ask, professor of industrial design. For “at least 12 years,” Ask has taken his Penn College students (and some of their friends) on optional excursions to explore that beauty, namely at Rock Run. Located about 30 miles north of campus in the McIntyre Wild Area of Loyalsock State Forest near Ralston in Lycoming County, Rock Run offers an abundance of crystal clear streams, waterfalls, trails and cliffs to discover. “The students love our adventures,” Ask related. “I usually go once in the fall as a way for new students to get to know one another in the major. It’s a nice team-building exercise. Many students in our major are from the Philly and New Jersey area, so this is all new. I’ve been climbing since I was in college, so I love to share the fun.” The cliff they scaled on a recent expedition was a small one that Ask has used with newcomers for many years. Not from this area, the professor says he learned about Rock Run from a student years ago. The region’s scenic beauty continues to inspire him (and his young charges). “We are within an hour of downhill and cross-country skiing, rock climbing, caving, sailing, kayaking, powerboating, backpacking and hiking,” Ask added, expounding on the options. “Nature provides a refuge from the stress and dynamics of campus life.”
Students in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s diesel equipment technology program have invaluable laboratory access to a time-tested road warrior: a 2006 Volvo VNL single-axle tractor, donated after its retirement from UPS Freight fleet service.
“UPS is a valued partner of Penn College and our students. This gift will provide our diesel students an opportunity for experience on the real-life wear and tear they will find in industry,” said Elizabeth A. Biddle, the college’s director of corporate relations. “This is a mutually beneficial opportunity because the signature brown on the truck resonates with our students, reminding them that UPS is a partner in their education and a potential employer for their career.”
In a busy weekend for Pennsylvania College of Technology athletics, the women’s soccer team secured the No. 4 seed and will host fifth-seeded SUNY Poly in a North Eastern Athletic Conference playoff match at 6 p.m. Tuesday at UPMC Field while the men’s cross-country team placed fifth at the NEAC Championships, the wrestling team saw its season begin, and seasons ended for the men’s soccer and women’s volleyball squads.
PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.
Tickets are available for a Feb. 29 performance by Grammy Award-winning comedian Lewis Black, bringing his “It Gets Better Every Day” tour to the Community Arts Center. The longest-running contributor to Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” Black is one of today’s most prolific and popular performers – one of the few to sell out such renowned theaters as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Main Stage at the Mirage in Las Vegas and Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre. Tickets are available online, on the CACLive! app, by phone at 570-326-2424 or at the box office. The Community Arts Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of Penn College, is located at 220 W. Fourth St. in downtown Williamsport (just a few blocks from campus).
Twenty members of the Horticulture Club and faculty members Justin Shelinski and Carl J. Bower Jr. enjoyed a pair of Tuesday field trips: Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square and North Creek Nurseries in Landenburg. The group savored a beautiful fall day, saw the Chrysanthemum Festival display at Longwood, and toured North Creek facilities with general manager Tim McGinty and section grower Kassie L. Garris, a 2018 alumna in Penn College’s landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis. (Garris visited campus last week to talk about the postgraduate path she took, from employment at Longwood Gardens to working at North Creek.) McGinty shared that he first met Garris during a Penn College field trip to North Creek two years ago, when the then-student introduced herself to him. “It just goes to show: You never know what your experiences might bring,” Bower said. “The networking you do, whether it is while you are a student or in your professional career, can lead to some great opportunities. I always tell my students to never be afraid to shake someone’s hand, introduce themselves and say they are a Penn College horticulture student … because that can take you far.” North Creek is known for its sustainable horticultural practices and native perennials, added Bower, who said its greenhouses employ some impressive technology and innovations.
Photos by Bower, assistant professor of horticulture
Campus neighborhoods were alive with the shrieking, giggling sounds of Halloween again this season, as a crowded slate of activities helped Penn College students, employees and friends toll the witching hour. Among the boo-tiful bounty were The Village’s annual family night; welding’s “Arc Asylum 5.0,” which has grown more elaborately eerie each year; a “Trunk or Treat” automotive showcase; a “Karaoke Costume Party,” sponsored by the Student Engagement Office; Dining Services’ colorful Halloween Boofet; creative co-workers and students in “Guess who?” garb; and horticulture students’ whimsical scarecrows in nearby Way’s Garden.
Penn College students and alumni will have multiple opportunities to connect with prospective employers during the coming week, as two businesses visit campus for information sessions and follow-up interviews:
For more, including available positions and sought-after majors, check out the Career Services flyer: Information sessions and interviews
Onsite power generation students had an opportunity to tour one of IMG Energy Solutions plants in October, traveling to the Alpaca Energy site in Bradford County: a 20-megawatt facility that houses three Rolls-Royce power plants. “These units each have a Bergen engine that is powered on natural gas from a local pipeline,” explained John D. Motto, instructor of diesel equipment technology at Penn College. “Students were able to gain valuable insights on maintenance and operation – not only of gaseous-fueled engines but of the power plant, as well.” Christopher Clary, IMG’s manager of operations for northeastern Pennsylvania, gave the tour. IMG Energy is a partner of Penn College, hiring a number of students for internships and many alumni who have gone to work full time for IMG. “This was a great opportunity for the power generation students to see what they will be working with when they graduate,” added Motto (who also provided the photos).
Food and football were the featured attractions this past weekend, but safety and accountability were the vital message as Student Affairs sponsored a Game Day get-together in CC Commons. The “tailgate” was the culminating event in a week of activities that included themed bingo and Quizzo events, TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) alcohol responsibility training, and an Alcohol Awareness Fair that hosted vendors and the PennDOT Distracted Driving Simulator. (The traditional “Golf Cart Beer Run” was canceled due to rain.) “The educational opportunities that take place during Alcohol Awareness Week place strong emphasis on personal responsibility, awareness of health consequences and bystander intervention techniques,” said Jennifer McLean, associate dean of student affairs. “Through awareness and simulated experiences, we work to help students make informed and responsible decisions about their behaviors around alcohol.” Saturday’s activities included an interactive “know your pour” event; information about safe and responsible alcohol consumption; and instructive games employing impairment goggles: cornhole to demonstrate how gross motor skills are influenced while drinking, and pool to demonstrate how judgment and spatial reasoning are affected by alcohol. Students were also educated on Penn College’s Good Samaritan and Medical Amnesty policies, in place to help them get help when they or their friends have overconsumed.
Photos by Juvy A. Orillaza, student photographer
The director of Penn College’s National Sustainable Structures Center was invited to serve as guest blogger for the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s observance of National Weatherization Day on Wednesday. In her post, Alison A. Diehl shares information about the center’s renowned training and technical assistance programs for home energy professionals and commercial building operators. “Working in weatherization can open the door to many opportunities in the growing energy efficiency industry,” she wrote. “For individuals with a passion to improve the quality of life in their communities and looking for a career with growth potential, earning credentials through NSSC’s training programs is a great pathway to consider.”