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Future-seekers meet their match at Fall Open House

Savoring an autumn outing and academic exploration

Fall Open House visitors had unfettered access to Penn College’s vibrant campuses Sunday, as today’s faculty/staff, alumni and students provided them with a tantalizing view of a very real and credible tomorrow. All six academic schools put out the welcome mat through information sessions, tours and laboratory demonstrations, and guests were encouraged to explore the institution’s myriad complementary services and activities.

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Students to prepare cuisine for elite Breeders’ Cup crowds

Horses parade to the paddock at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., in May. Pennsylvania College of Technology hospitality students will again work alongside celebrity chefs in the Downs’ premier venues during the Breeders’ Cup Championships, Nov. 2-3.

Pennsylvania College of Technology students are set to return to the famed Churchill Downs racetrack, where they will work alongside celebrity chefs to feed guests of horse racing’s prestigious Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Sixteen students in the college’s baking and pastry arts, culinary arts and hospitality management majors will leave campus Oct. 31 and spend the next three days in the kitchens of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. They will be accompanied by Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts, who is an alumnus of the college.

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Hundreds of secondary students attend PA Build My Future

Drilling five wood screws into a board, a student from Northern Tier Career Center attempts to “beat the clock” in a timed Pennsylvania Builder Association contest.

​PA Build My Future – coordinated by Penn College’s Building Construction Technology Department, College Transitions, and the School of Construction & Design Technologies – hosted approximately 800 secondary students and their chaperones on campus Thursday. The day was designed to allow scores of businesses to engage the students through hands-on activities that display the breadth of opportunities in the construction and design industry, from skilled trades to management. Indoor exhibits were in the Carl Building Technologies Center, Hager Lifelong Education Center and Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center; outdoor exhibits were offered on campus parking lots. WNEP’s Kristina Papa visited campus for the event, which is an outgrowth of a Homebuilding Education Leadership Program grant through the National Housing Endowment. Her report aired during Thursday evening newscasts, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

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Penn College Career Fair attracts record number of employers

Penn College student John J. Gisonna (right), a heating, ventilation and air conditioning design technology major from Monroe, N.Y., talks with recruiters from SmartEdge. Representing the Tonawanda, N.Y.-based building controls company at the college’s Career Fair are Garret Smith (left), mechanical specialist, and Michael J. Burns, service sales engineer.

Thanks to a new two-day format, a record number of employers recruited Pennsylvania College of Technology students during the school’s Fall Career Fair.

More than 300 employers – representing all economic sectors and 16 Fortune 500 companies – visited campus, offering more than 3,000 job and internship opportunities.

“We needed to expand the Career Fair because of the tremendous demand for our technically skilled students,” said Erin S. Shultz, coordinator of career development. “Despite stretching the event over two days, we still had a waiting list of nearly 90 employers. Clearly, our students and their ‘degrees that work’ are very attractive to employers.”

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The third time’s a charmer!

Enjoying the autumnal alumni evening (from left): Timothy D. Haldeman, ’11, manufacturing engineering technology; Michael D. Ferraiolo, ’10, aviation technology, and ‘11, aviation maintenance technology, and guest, Melyssa McHale; and Whitnie-rae (Mays) Haldeman, ’12, advertising art, and ’14, applied technology studies.

The disparate threads of Homecoming and Parent & Family Weekend were woven together again this fall, producing another seamless tapestry of fun and reconnection for graduates, current students and families. The third annual combined celebration kicked off with a Friday bonfire, tent party and Hall of Fame Banquet; continued Saturday with a presidential breakfast, Williamsport bus and trolley excursions, lab tours, a golf outing and on-campus sporting events, arts and crafts, and an alumni reunion at downtown nightspots; and concluded Sunday with more athletics and a fond farewell (until next year)!

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School of Nursing & Health Sciences hosts celebration

Pennsylvania College of Technology welcomed several School of Nursing & Health Sciences alumni back to campus to speak at an event celebrating the school’s name change, its academic majors, and milestone anniversaries for two programs: occupational therapy assistant (30 years) and physician assistant (20 years). From left are Megan Wright, ’12, a physician assistant practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation; Brian Webster, ’06, a nurse practitioner specializing in emergency and family nursing; President Davie Jane Gilmour; Sandra L. Richmond, dean of nursing and health sciences; and Michele “Mindy” Tedesco, ’88, a registered occupational therapist specializing in home health care.

The School of Nursing & Health Sciences at Pennsylvania College of Technology held a multifaceted celebration on Oct. 4 by hosting an open house of its facilities and welcoming accomplished alumni, who reflected on how their education has shaped their careers.

“We come together … to celebrate the positive impact all 10 of our nursing and health sciences programs have on our students’ lives, the professions in which they work, and the communities they serve,” said Sandra L. Richmond, dean of nursing and health sciences.

Of particular significance during the celebration was a change to the school’s name: from the School of Health Sciences to the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, and the anniversaries of the occupational therapy assistant program, whose first students graduated 30 years ago, and the physician assistant program, which graduated its first students 20 years ago.

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Lycoming Engines’ instructional support lauded at sign dedication

From left, Michael Kraft, senior vice president and general manager for Lycoming Engines; Pennsylvania College of Technology President Davie Jane Gilmour; and aviation technology student Warren K. Bitterman, of Zieglerville, Montgomery County, all spoke at a dedication ceremony honoring Lycoming Engines’ ongoing support for the college.

Lycoming Engines’ longtime support of Pennsylvania College of Technology and its academic programs was celebrated on campus recently with the unveiling of new signage at the college’s Metal Trades Center.

Members of the Penn College community and representatives of Lycoming Engines – including alumni of the college employed by the company – gathered on Oct. 2 to dedicate the Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center sign on the front lawn of the facility.

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Northern Tier nursing students take part in mock disaster

Licensed practical nursing students from Penn College at Wellsboro served as “patients” for a Sept. 30 emergency drill in Tioga County.

A number of students from the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Penn College at Wellsboro participated in a drill at the Middlebury Township Dairy Farmers of America milk plant on Sept. 30, simulating a hazardous-material spill with multiple casualties.

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Setting the stage

Penn College graduates (from left) Jeffrey T. Feeman, Eric T. Metzler and Franklin N. Carr have found a calling at Sight & Sound Theatres, where audiences are awed by the on-stage results of their behind-the-scenes work.

Three alumni use their skills to craft scenery and on-stage technology for the panoramic stage at Sight & Sound Theatres in Lancaster.

From the Fall 2018 Penn College Magazine: Three graduates’ craftsmanship wows audiences of more than a million a year at Sight & Sound Theatres. Read “Setting the Stage.”

 

Brewing major capital-izes on state’s blossoming beer industry

Cooley, Ingram and Richards (from left) stand outside Gov. Tom Wolf's residence ...

... and mingle with proponents of the prosperous brewing industry in The Keystone State.

The numbers speak for themselves: "From grain to glass," the economic impact is enormous.

Penn College and its brewing and fermentation science major were well-represented Tuesday in Harrisburg, where faculty and an administrator attended a “Tapping Into Pennsylvania’s Beer Industry” event at the Governor’s Mansion. Among those on hand were several employees instrumental in development of the two-year degree, including D. Robert Cooley, associate professor of anthropology/environmental science; Justin M. Ingram, assistant professor of biology; and David R. Richards, professor of physics. “The experience provided us the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, share insight about our program and discuss internship opportunities,” said Michael J. Reed, dean of sciences, humanities and visual communications, who accompanied faculty members and provided the photos. The group watched the “Poured in PA” documentary, which outlines the opportunities and challenges associated with the multibillion-dollar craft beer industry. The film includes a pre-Penn College segment about Timothy L. Yarrington, a professional brewmaster, highlighting the importance of education and high standards within the field. (Yarrington, an instructor of brewing and fermentation science at the college, was unable to attend the event.)

Cultivating a Community of Respect

A global gathering: Baptiste D. Coirier, from France; the Wildcat; Shanin L. Dougherty, coordinator of international programs; Samar Alquraish, from Saudi Arabia. Coirier is an exchange student from Abertay University in Scotland, studying accounting and finance. Alquraish is a pre-nursing student working toward her Bachelor of Science degree.

Penn College is participating in Welcoming Week (Sept. 14-23), a national appreciation of international students and their collective contributions to campus culture. “Students from all over the world are a vital part of our campus, bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas, which contribute to the vibrant diversity that we all value,” President Davie Jane Gilmour said in a commemorative proclamation. “This week, we honor the spirit of unity that is bringing people together across the nation and the world. Regardless of where we are born or what we look like, we are Penn College, united in our efforts to build a stronger campus and greater future.” As part of the celebration – which featured an appropriately hashtagged cake and selfies with the Wildcat – friends and colleagues were invited to show their support of global education during an informal get-together in the Bush Campus Center lobby Wednesday afternoon. Penn College has 24 students from nine countries: France, Ghana, India, Iran, Oman, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

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TRAK Machine Tools Augments Equipment Donations

TRAK Machine Tools Inc. recently donated two more computer-numerical-control milling machines for the college’s automated manufacturing lab. With the machines are, from left, Richard K. Hendricks Jr., automated manufacturing and machining faculty member and department head at Penn College; Elizabeth A. Biddle, director of corporate relations for the college; and Rudy Gebhard, senior sales representative, Southwestern Industries Inc.

Pennsylvania College of Technology students in automated manufacturing and machining majors will benefit from two more pieces of equipment donated by TRAK Machine Tools Inc.

Richard and Marion Leonhard, part owners of the company, have donated two more computer-numerical-control milling machines for the college’s automated manufacturing lab. This latest gift brings to six the number of machines in the lab donated by TRAK Machine Tools.

The equipment is used in courses such as Basic Machine Tool Programming, Programming and Machining, Machine Tool Applications, and Fixture Design and Fabrication. Hundreds of students in the college’s four manufacturing majors will gain experience on the equipment each academic year.

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Alexanders Donate Model T to Automotive Restoration Program

Aubrey Alexander (front row, left) and brother Adam (front row, right) deliver a 1926 Ford Model T to students and faculty outside College Avenue Labs, home to Penn College’s automotive restoration and collision repair majors.

A 1926 Ford Model T, traded to Alexander Nissan in 2013 by its Picture Rocks owner, has been passed on to Pennsylvania College of Technology students for use in a variety of automotive labs.

Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships donated the historic vehicle that was recently offloaded onto main campus, accompanied by brothers Adam and Aubrey Alexander.

“We appreciate this gift to our automotive restoration program from the Alexanders. In addition to value for our students in their curricular work, it serves as a way to engage prospective students in the restoration major,” said Elizabeth A. Biddle, the college’s director of corporate relations. “Our goal is to foster the interest in antique cars and the restoration industry among young people.”

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Dream Matches Real-World Need Addressed by Penn College

For a class assignment, 9-year-old Trevin Allen described his dream of working in plastics at SEKISUI SPI with his father, Lucas, a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology. Trevin’s mature goals prompted an invitation from the college, where he experienced various facets of applied technology. From left are Shannon M. Munro, vice president for workforce development; Tom F. Gregory, associate vice president for instruction; and Trevin and Lucas Allen.

The dreams of many 9-year-olds transform them into adult superstars. What kid hasn’t dreamed of making the pivotal play to win the big game, belting out a tune to adoring fans or basking under the bright lights of Hollywood?

Trevin Allen.

No disrespect to athletes, rock stars and actors, but the fourth-grader’s dream – described for a class assignment – actually matches reality’s need: a need addressed by Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Trevin’s aspirations connect applied technology education to rewarding careers in the skilled workforce, which is grappling with a shortage of qualified professionals. His words are timely and impactful beyond his classroom at Bloomsburg Memorial Elementary School.

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Journey to the Winner’s Circle: Kentucky Derby Is a Culinary Marathon for Students

Culinary arts and systems student Jacob W. Parobek, of Seltzer, joins classmates to watch the storied Kentucky Derby from a rainy rooftop.

On Wednesday, three days before the Derby, students, from left, Bridget M. Callahan, of Pottsville; Bailey L. Frey, of Watsontown; Bethany R. Taylor, of Moosic; and Stephanie C. Myers, of Catawissa, step away from the kitchens to take in the world-famous track.

From the Fall 2018 Penn College Magazine: Penn College writer/video editor Tom Speicher embedded with hospitality students as they traveled to the 2018 Kentucky Derby. For a quarter century, Penn College students have joined the Derby’s culinary team. Read “Journey to the Winners’ Circle.”

Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State