Automated - PCToday - Pennsylvania College of Technology

College Faculty Member Works With Middle Schoolers on Fundraiser

Feb. 6, 2012 - 12:58 p.m.

A Penn College faculty member’s volunteer time presenting “Brown Bag Lunch” sessions at Curtin Middle School resulted in both a hands-on manufacturing experience and a $185 fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. John M. Good III, instructor of automation and computer-integrated manufacturing, presented eight sessions for the sixth- to eighth-grade students, offering them insight into the world of manufacturing engineering with such topics as robotics, hydraulics, pneumatics and computer-aided design, and nanotechnology. With the students’ interest, Good developed a product for them to manufacture – a sled ornament made from five popsicle sticks and three toothpicks. Sleds were sold for a $1 donation at a winter choral concert, benefiting the Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Student’s Metal Art Helps Raise Funds for Cancer-Prevention Charity

Jan. 26, 2012 - 2:10 p.m.

A charity drive to raise money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation recently benefited from the artistry and technical skill of a Penn College student – Thomas D. Folino, of Centre Hall – who fabricated two pieces of metal art that were among more than 120 prizes raffled during a unique video gaming marathon.

Lack of Qualified Employees Stunts Manufacturing Growth Potential

Dec. 15, 2011 - 3:00 p.m.

When distributors for the largest machine tool builder in the United States gathered recently for a training conference at Pennsylvania College of Technology, the issue on their minds was the challenge of finding qualified employees to help revitalize U.S. manufacturing. This was shown to be especially crucial on a state level when a recent study, shared at the conference, showed that Pennsylvania manufacturing jobs are going unfilled because employers cannot find workers with the necessary skills to support industry needs. Penn College was the site of Haas Automation’s 2011 Pennsylvania Haas Technical Education Center CNC Technology Training Conference. More than 100 educators and industry representatives attended hands-on training during the event, co-sponsored by the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Haas Factory Outlets.

Two Penn College Archers Headed for Competition in China

Aug. 8, 2011 - 12:29 p.m.

For the third time in three years, Penn College will be represented in international archery competition. Zachary Plannick, 22, of Coraopolis, and Glen Thomas, 21, of Mercer, will compete at the 26th World University Summer Games. The biennial event runs from Aug. 12-23 and is being held in Shenzhen, China. As many as 8,000 athletes from 140 countries are expected to participate.

Region's Vital Manufacturing Base Celebrated at Daylong Event

June 16, 2011 - 4:06 p.m.

"Made in Central PA," a manufacturers' showcase of the products and career opportunities available in Penn College's nine-county back yard, was held Thursday on main campus. About a dozen people – including teachers and counselors from area high schools, as well as representatives of regional career and technology centers – attended. The group heard presentations and participated in roundtable discussions in Penn's Inn, lunched at Le Jeune Chef Restaurant and toured related academic majors. "Manufacturing in this country is not dead," reassured Donald O. Praster, dean of industrial and engineering technologies. "We have any number of companies who have hired – and continue to be interested in hiring – our graduates." Praster led a visit to welding, machining and automated manufacturing facilities, and assistant dean Bill Mack took the group through the plastics laboratories. Among participating manufacturers were Primus Technologies Corp., Videon Central, Ames True Temper, the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council, Lewis Lumber Products Inc. and First Quality Products Inc. The keynote speaker was Lauren Bryson, statewide director of the Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center Network; closing remarks were delivered by David Whitten from Bingaman & Son Lumber Inc. and the Keystone Wood Products Association. The event was sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corp. and the college.

Manufacturing Students Contribute to Penn State Project Vehicle

April 20, 2011 - 12:49 p.m.

A group of Penn College students contributed to The Pennsylvania State University Advanced Vehicle Team’s EcoCar by producing custom brake rotors for the vehicle. The team, made up of Penn State students, is producing a hybrid vehicle for EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge. Sixteen teams from North American colleges and universities are competing in the three-year competition to design and build a working hybrid vehicle applying General Motors’ standard engineering design methods and employing innovative technology to reduce greenhouse emissions, achieve better efficiency and reduce overall petroleum consumption.

Penn College Hosts Regional Robotics Competition

Feb. 10, 2011 - 3:53 p.m.

Penn College hosted the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge North Central Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier, a robotics competition for students in grades 7-12, on its campus Feb. 5. The competition, dubbed “Get Over It!” featured task-oriented robotics competitions, during which teams were asked to perform a variety of maneuvers with their robots. Thirteen teams from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland attended the event, one of four qualifiers in Pennsylvania that lead to the FIRST Tech Challenge Pennsylvania State Robotics Championship in Weatherly on March 5.

College Hosts Regional Qualifier in Robotics Competition

Feb. 7, 2011 - 5:01 p.m.

Groups of high schoolers from six states convened in Penn College’s College Avenue Labs on Feb. 5 for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge North Central Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier, which tested the students’ engineering know-how in a robot-against-robot competition stadium. The robots completed such obstacles as retrieving and depositing batons and balancing on teeter-totters. More than a dozen Penn College faculty, along with students and alumni, volunteered as judges, referees, and in other roles for the event.

SME Members Deployed in 'Operation Snowflake'

Jan. 20, 2011 - 3:08 p.m.

Another appreciable overnight snowfall meant another morning workout for Penn College's community-minded student body. As part of "Operation Snowflake," campus organizations share shoveling duty at registered locations if a storm hits on their watch. On Wednesday morning, the cleanup assignment fell to members of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Photos provided by Kevin T. Werkheiser, SME

Penn College Presents Mentorship Award to Synthes

Aug. 7, 2010 - 1:09 p.m.

Mentorship Award presented Synthes, a global medical-device company that has supported Penn College by donating instructional equipment and hiring numerous graduates of its automated manufacturing and machining program, is the 2010 recipient of the college’s Mentorship Award. President Davie Jane Gilmour presented the award to Mike Sticklin, human resources manager for Synthes’ Brandywine manufacturing facility, during Saturday's Summer Commencement ceremony held at the Community Arts Center.