As we begin a new semester, I reflect upon the accomplishments we achieved in the past year and look forward to the opportunities in front of us. To our valued alumni, industry partners and friends who invest in Pennsylvania College of Technology, I thank you for enhancing the Penn College experience for our students. Together, we are building on our extraordinary legacy and commitment to applied technology education. We are creating amazing experiences for our students to gain the essential skills needed for tomorrow’s workforce. Together we are empowering students, including recent graduates like Giovanni Barbarossa (in above photo), who completed his second Penn College degree – a bachelor’s in building automation engineering technology – in May.

Gio, known for his energetic leadership, was a dean’s list student whose passion led the Diesel Performance Club to its greatest accomplishments. Aptly named “Accelerated Learning,” the college’s 1959 B-61 Model Mack drag truck has been an invaluable extracurricular experience – one that complements academic curriculum, providing real-world experience for the many students who have worked on it over the past 25 years. Thanks to the support of alumni, faculty and industry partners who built a solid foundation for the team to thrive, the club made it their mission to compete with the fastest trucks in the East. They poured an incredible amount of time, energy and skill into this project, and after two years of extensive modification and consistent competition, they met their goal, winning their bracket at the Keystone Truckin’ Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway!

Gio made the most of his Penn College experience – which helped him secure a full-time position with Southland Industries as a controls engineering specialist. I invite you to learn how your investments influenced Gio’s experience, which he shares in his own words in this year’s Impact Report.