Williamsport Parking Authority Scholarship Established

A relationship between Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Williamsport Parking Authority that started with a student project has grown to include a new scholarship fund at the college.

The Williamsport Parking Authority Board of Directors recently approved the creation of the Williamsport Parking Authority Scholarship fund at Penn College. The fund will generate a $500 award for a full-time student in the college's civil engineering technology bachelor-degree or associate-degree majors.

Williamsport Parking Authority Chairman Richard L. Fenstamaker said the decision to establish a scholarship fund at Penn College grew out of a project during the 2006-07 academic year, in which three students in the civil engineering technology bachelor-degree major conducted a feasibility study on a city parking area that was being considered for redesign.

"The Williamsport Parking Authority is very pleased with the partnership that we have developed with Penn College's civil engineering department," Fenstamaker said.

Following the completion of the project by students William R. Bolt, Williamsport; Morgan L. Etters, Beech Creek; and David P. Schneider, Williamsport (all of whom graduated in May), the parking authority gave each of the students special parking meters featuring inscriptions acknowledging their work. The authority presented a similar parking meter to Penn College's School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies.

"The students' project with the Williamsport Parking Authority illustrates the benefits to both the students and the community when we are able to work together," said Lawrence J. Fryda, dean of the industrial and engineering technologies.

"The parking authority receives a detailed feasibility study report, and the students receive real- world experience," Fryda added. "It is a win-win situation, with the scholarship being an extra bonus for the students."

Fenstamaker and Fryda said they look forward to other opportunities for Penn College civil engineering technology students to work on projects with the Williamsport Parking Authority.

Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University committed to applied technology education. With more than 6,500 students enrolled in bachelor-degree, associate-degree and certificate majors, Penn College has the second- highest enrollment in the Penn State system.

For more information about Penn College's civil engineering technology majors, or any of the more than 100 fields of study at Penn College, call the Admissions Office at (570) 327-4761, or toll-free (800) 367-9222; send e-mail ; or visit online.

For more information about making a donation to Penn College, call the Institutional Advancement Office at (570) 320-8000, or toll-free (866) GIVE-2-PC; send e-mail ; or visit on the Web.