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Faculty & Staff Students

A feel-good reminder of community … (You’re welcome)

Prepping screen doors under Habitat supervision are Murren (with drill), Keyser (in glasses), Noll (in hat) and Camut.

Clay County (Florida) Habitat for Humanity welcomed Pennsylvania College of Technology students and advisers earlier this month for a service-oriented alternative spring break. The group volunteered through Collegiate Challenge, which, for more than a quarter-century, has engaged high school and college students in construction of safe and affordable housing throughout the country. The Penn College crew, which undertook a variety of jobs at a property in Green Cove Springs, was led by Sammie L. Davis, coordinator of diversity and student engagement, and Cathy E. Gamez, coordinator for Dauphin Hall. The 16 student members were Sydney M. Camut, Shippensburg, engineering design technology; Matheau A. Davenport, Lewisburg, engineering design technology; Lacey A. Decker, Emporium, pre-dental hygiene; Hunter C. Dubbs, Bendersville, software development and information management; Caleb M. Ely, Springville, engineering design technology; Aleah M. Emlet, Altoona, electronics and computer engineering technology; Dean R. Fulton, Palmyra, business management; Marcie M. Harman, Nescopeck, building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration; James C. Keyser II, Dillsburg, plastics and polymer engineering technology; Jesse D. Laird, Newville, nursing; Natasha Martin, Williamsport, applied management; Alaina M. Murren, Aspers, dental hygiene; Nicholas A. Noll, Lock Haven, plastics and polymer engineering technology; Abbigail I. Royer, McClure, human services; Michael V. Saylor, Gettysburg, residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration; and Rose M. Warner, Lawton, business administration: banking and finance concentration.

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General Information

Arts Center closed, plans to reopen April 6

Community Arts CenterIn keeping with directives of President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Tom Wolf, Mayor Derek Slaughter, the Centers for Disease Control and Pennsylvania College of Technology, the Community Arts Center officially closed Tuesday afternoon, March 17, and will tentatively reopen Monday, April 6.

March 17, 2020
General Information

Gallery at Penn College closed

As of March 16, The Gallery at Penn College is closed until further notice. Gallery staff is committed to continuing to provide a safe, healthy environment for employees and visitors. The current exhibit, “Victory for a Dime: The Fighting Comic Books of the Second World War,” will soon be available online. Follow along on Facebook for details.

March 16, 2020
Sports Wildcat Weekly

Spring sports ended, Penn College coaches react

A week that began with high hopes for Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, came to an abrupt end with Thursday’s announcement that the remainder of their seasons – and all of the college’s spring sports including all scheduled action in the North Eastern Athletic Conference – have been canceled for the rest of the academic year. 

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March 15, 2020
Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Spring Break extended as precaution

Pennsylvania College of Technology has no reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, the college has extended Spring Break for students by one week, until Monday, March 23.

Students should remain at their permanent residences during this time. There will be no academic-related activities for students on or off campus.

Faculty should plan to report during the week of March 16 at times designated by their academic school dean. For more detailed information, students, faculty and staff should refer to email communications issued March 11 by the college president, provost and vice president for student affairs.

Updates on postponement/cancellation of campus events will follow as the information becomes available.

Please continue to refer to the college’s Coronavirus COVID-19 web page for the latest updates.

March 12, 2020
Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic Faculty & Staff Nursing & Health Sciences

Adjunct instructor named county’s public safety director

Hutchins (right), along with Dr. Gregory R. Frailey (left), medical director for the paramedic program, and John W. “J.J.” Magyar II, part-time faculty
Hutchins (right), along with Dr. Gregory R. Frailey (left), medical director for the paramedic program, and John W. “J.J.” Magyar II, part-time faculty

Jeffrey L. Hutchins, an adjunct faculty member who has served various roles as a paramedic and firefighter since graduating from The Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center Paramedic Training Institute in 1997, was recently hired as director of the Lycoming County Department of Public Safety. “Hutch is in the process of quickly getting up-to-speed in his new role,” said Bambi A. Hawkins, learning laboratory coordinator for Penn College’s paramedic program. “He will be missed in the Susquehanna Regional EMS paramedic supervisor position, where he also served as a pre-hospital field preceptor for our paramedic students, but we are fortunate to retain access to his expertise and services for the part-time faculty role.”
Photo provided

March 11, 2020
Alumni Engineering Design Technology Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies

Design/drafting manager traces path from grad to CAD

William J. HenryThe computer aided drafting manager for First Quality Products Inc., a 1990 Penn College alumnus employed at the company’s McElhattan manufacturing facility, recently returned to campus to share his professional experience. William J. Henry, who holds an associate degree in engineering drafting technology, spoke to students in CAD Management and Customization courses taught by Katherine A. Walker, assistant professor, and instructor Craig A. Miller. During a near-hourlong presentation in the Thompson Professional Development Center, Henry covered a range of relevant topics: software and hardware acquisition and upgrade, database management, team-building, IT security, people skills, and advocating for the profession. “One of the reasons I wanted to come here today to talk to you is because I am passionate about what we do,” Henry said. “You’re gonna replace me someday and I want you to be standing up here giving this talk to that next generation. So find the passion in what you do and promote that.” Henry maintains an active connection to his alma mater, serving on its Engineering Design Technology Advisory Committee. His wife, Serena Pfaff-Henry, is a 1990 accounting graduate, and his son, Quinn T., is enrolled in information technology: network specialist concentration.
Photo provided

March 11, 2020
General Information Workforce Development

NSSC offers discounted Building Operator Certification courses

NSSC

The National Sustainable Structures Center of Pennsylvania College of Technology, the mid-Atlantic administrator of the Building Operator Certification, will offer two BOC Level I courses at a 75% discount made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with DEP to be able to offer BOC courses at a significantly reduced cost,” NSSC Director Alison A. Diehl said. “BOC teaches facilities personnel how to apply low-cost techniques to lower their building’s annual utility costs, while making their buildings more comfortable and safer for occupants.”

Tuition discounts for the BOC courses are available to a limited number of facilities personnel employed by K-12 school districts, local government, community colleges/universities or state agencies in Pennsylvania. Participants must have two or more years of experience in their field. The cost of the course is normally $1,895, but thanks to the DEP grant, the course is being offered for $475 (plus an optional $285 national certification exam fee for those who wish to earn their Certified Building Operator credential).

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March 10, 2020
Events

Grammy-winning, genre-smashing quartet to visit Williamsport

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones will bring their Grammy Award-winning talents to the Community Arts Center stage in Williamsport on Tuesday, March 24. (Photo by Jim McGuire)

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Béla Fleck canceled his spring tour due to the worldwide coronavirus crisis, with makeup dates yet to be determined.)

Groundbreaking, Grammy-winning quartet Béla Fleck & The Flecktones is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an extended tour that will stop by the Community Arts Center on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m.

With an impossible-to-pigeonhole sound, the innovative quartet blends a range of genres from classical and jazz to bluegrass, and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk. Led by Fleck, who has been described by many as the world’s premier banjo player, the group enjoys a fervent fan following around the world and has played with equally excellent musicians the likes of Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt and Sam Bush.

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March 9, 2020
Events Faculty & Staff Students

I spy something awry

A cast of true characters

The Oxymorons improv troupe recently returned to campus for an espionage-tinged Murder Mystery Dinner in the Mountain Laurel Room of Penn College’s Thompson Professional Development Center. “Leap of Fate,” a fittingly named Student Engagement event held on February’s quadrennial extra day, involved a cadre of cutthroat spies clawing to the pinnacle of their profession. Chef Michael J. Ditchfield and three of his culinary arts technology students (Jacob G. Clarke, of Wilmington, Delaware; Keowa M. Clemens, of York; and Kaitlyn M. June, of Muncy) prepared this year’s winning menu of dishes named for principals in the evening’s shenanigans.

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