Four Automotive Students Awarded Industry Scholarships
July 27, 2011 - 11:54 a.m.
Four students in Penn College’s automotive technology management bachelor-degree major will receive a share of $112,000 in awards from the Specialty Equipment Market Association Memorial Scholarship Fund. William W. Carpenter Jr., of Point Pleasant Boro, N.J.; Joshua D. Greenplate, of Red Lion; Isaac S. Hostetter, of Lebanon; and Bradley P. Miller, of York, each will receive $2,000 from the fund, which awards grants to eligible participants who are pursuing employment in the automotive specialty equipment market.
Automotive Alumnus Awarded Prestigious BMW Honor
Feb. 7, 2011 - 4:35 p.m.
A 2008 graduate of Penn College's two-year automotive technology major recently received a Champion Diagnosis Feedback Award from BMW of North America. Mark A. Lowmaster, a technician with Circle BMW in Eatontown, N.J., since 2009, was presented with a $500 gift card at an industry luncheon. The award recognizes Lowmaster for providing detailed automotive diagnostic information to help other technicians identify and repair vehicle problems correctly and efficiently. His winning report was chosen from 12 finalists, representing the more than 7,000 BMW technicians at 335 locations in the United States. "Our vast network of technicians provides regular feedback that is critical to our Integrated Service Information System and our ability to provide BMW customers with exceptional service," said George Stanley, technical service engineer for BMW of North America. "Mark's enuthsiasm and keen ability to identify and solve problems is an asset to Circle BMW and the BMW brand." Before joining Circle BMW – one of the tri-state area's leading luxury-automobile dealerships – graduated from the BMW STEP Technician Development Program. "Circle BMW has one of the finest team of BMW technicians in the state," said its president, Tom DeFelice. "Mark in particular, exemplifies the high-caliber technician that we have on our team. He is a committed and thorough technician that is well-deserving of this prestigious honor."
Automotive Alumnus Among Nation's Top Technicians
Dec. 10, 2010 - 9:54 a.m.
A Penn College graduate is among 38 professionals recognized at the recent fall board meeting of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence in Scottsdale, Ariz. Robb S. Schenck, a May 1999 graduate in automotive technology now employed at BZ Motors in Lewisburg, was selected as the Chrysler/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year. The annual awards banquet spotlights top scorers on the ASE certification tests, as well as on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors. “ASE has been honoring the best of the best in our industry for more than 30 years, and this year we recognized 38 outstanding individuals from all across the nation,” said Tim Zilke, ASE president and CEO. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence was established in 1972 as a nonprofit organization to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians and parts specialists. Nearly 400,000 ASE-certified professionals work in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges throughout the country. (In another college connection, Marlin Burns, of Joel Confer Toyota in Warriors Mark, was the Toyota/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year. He is the father of Michael T. Burns, who graduated in May 2001 with degrees in automotive technology and automotive technology: Toyoya emphasis. The elder Burns also toured Penn College as a member of the site-visit accreditation team for the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.)
Photos courtesy of Peter Jordan Photography, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Alex Rinedoller Memorial Scholarship Created at Penn College
Nov. 8, 2010 - 12:57 p.m.
The family of a young Penn College alumnus who died unexpectedly in October has established a scholarship fund at the college in his memory. The Alex Rinedoller Memorial Scholarship will make scholarship awards available to full-time students in any of Penn College’s electrical-related majors (a bachelor’s degree in building automation technology: electrical emphasis, an associate degree in electrical technology and a certificate in electrical occupations) or in any of Penn College’s automotive-related majors (a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology management; associate degrees in automotive technology, automotive service sales and marketing, and collision repair technology; and certificates in automotive service technician and collision repair technician).
Automotive Department Accepting Vehicles for Student Work
Sept. 14, 2010 - 1:01 p.m.
The Automotive Department offers limited, low-cost automotive maintenance, diagnosis and repair services to current Penn College faculty/staff and students as part of its courses. Patrons are responsible for the cost of the parts needed and a $10 shop fee, and should be prepared to present Penn College identification when dropping off their vehicles.
Students Restoring 1965 Ford Mustang for National Auto Museum
Feb. 15, 2010 - 11:06 a.m.
Four automotive students and their Penn College instructor are applying some 21st-century know-how to a car that predates them by decades: a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible that is being restored for display at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey.
“This car definitely is a cream puff,” said Roy A. Klinger, instructor of automotive technology at the college, who is working alongside students in his Restoration/Modification class. While automobile restoration is a personal passion – Klinger was smoothing out dings in his own Mustang coupe at age 15, years before he joined the faculty – it also is a growing side of the industry with which he hopes to familiarize students through the new course.
Allied with Klinger for the college’s fledgling flight into high-profile restoration are Micah C. Kauffman, of Beavertown; Charles D. Peterson, of Cogan Station; Thomas G. Sylvester III, of Manalapan, N.J.; and Daniel J. Walsh, of Absecon, N.J.
College Honored as Generous Host of '08 Automotive Conference
July 30, 2009 - 5:54 p.m.
Penn College was recognized at the recent North American Council of Automotive Teachers conference for successfully (and magnanimously) hosting the organization’s 35th annual event last year. The commemorative trophy was presented at this year’s conference – held July 19-24 at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. – to Dale E. Jaenke, assistant professor of automotive technology at Penn College. Jaenke was host for the 2008 conference, which was coordinated by Steve H. Wallace, assistant dean of transportation technology.
Berks County Team Wins Automotive Competition
May 22, 2009 - 8:36 a.m.
A team of automotive technology students from Berks Career and Technology Center, Leesport, won the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition recently held on the Penn College campus.
Penn College Among Stops in 21st Century Automotive Challenge
April 18, 2009 - 12:01 p.m.
Three alternative-fuel vehicles made a road trip from University Park to Penn College on Saturday morning as part of the 21st Century Automotive Challenge hosted by Penn State's Hybrid and Hydrogen Vehicle Research Laboratory. Two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, converted to run on biodiesel, and a Toyota Prius pace car traveled to the College Avenue Labs parking lot, where their "crews" displayed and discussed the vehicles. Among those taking part were Steven H. Wallace, assistant dean of transportation technology; automotive faculty members Ronald A. Garner and Charles F. Probst; and Charles G. Frey, director of automotive specialties for AAA North Penn. “It is a unique opportunity for our students to be exposed to futuristic cars," said Colin W. Williamson, the college's dean of transportation technology, "especially in light of today’s emphasis on cleaner and more efficient transportation.” The visit was part of a three-day 21st Century Automotive Challenge, part of which included technical inspections of vehicles by Penn College students who traveled to Centre County on Friday.
Penn College Alumnus’ Gratitude Fuels Generous Vehicle Donation
April 7, 2009 - 3:13 p.m.
Recognizing his alma mater’s need for late-model vehicles from a variety of manufacturers, a grateful graduate of Penn College recently brokered the donation of two automobiles to the college’s School of Transportation Technology. Anthony J. Piccari, of Philadelphia, who received a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology management in 2008, personally delivered the first of the vehicles in late March – a fully loaded 2006 Infiniti Q45 with fewer than 2,000 miles – to Penn College’s Advanced Automotive Technology Center in Williamsport’s western end. A 2001 companion vehicle, which also was donated in conjunction with Nissan North America, soon will be added to the instructional fleet at the Parkes Automotive Technology Center on main campus.
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