Industrious Dozen Graduate in Latest ShaleNET Roustabout Class

Published 10.31.2014

News

    From left are alumni Jacob A. Smith and Louis Camphor Jr.; new graduate Christopher J. Gundlach, Williamsport; alumna Amy L. Gallagher; new graduates Celestine T. Adukwe, Philadelphia; James E. Eisenhauer, Lock Haven (who is also a '84 alumnus of the college's welding major); Matthew R. Genzel, Hamburg, New York; Ryan B. Kreger, Morris; Felicia A. Burks, Williamsport; Emeka O. Mgbemena, Sicklerville, New Jersey; Corey A. Shimmel, Lock Haven; Christopher Williams, Montoursville; Brandon H. St. Martin, Williamsport; Roberts Kovalonoks, Wurtsboro, New York; and Edward K. McGrane Jr., Pittsburgh; Rex E. Moore, ShaleNET U.S. consultant/instructor; Commissioner Jeff Wheeland; Dan R. Mendell, ShaleNET U.S. consultant/instructor II; and John F. Strittmatter, ShaleNET U.S. regional hub director. Adukwe and Mgbemena are originally from Nigeria, Kovalonoks is from Latvia, and St. Martin hails from Texas.New grad Edward K. McGrane Jr. with his parents and sister, who drove in from Pittsburgh for the ceremony. Graduate Christopher Williams describes himself as a "recovering attorney;" he worked as a lawyer for 13 years and quit to focus on training as he wanted to work in the gas industry.John F, Strittmatter (left) addresses the crowd in the ETEC pavilion, where hot coffee took the edge off the late-October chill.A retired airline employee now working for Halliburton, Louis Camphor Jr. is going strong at age 67. The ShaleNET alumnus, who points to a lifetime of work as an incentive to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was one of three past graduates returning to inspire their successors.Twelve students graduated Friday morning in the latest natural gas roustabout class to be trained through ShaleNETs Eastern Hub at Penn College. The 11 men and one woman, with fascinating back stories ranging from law enforcement to dairy farming to experience as Russian linguists, were celebrated in a ceremony at the Energy Technology Education Center along Route 15 south of Williamsport. Three alumni of the program – Louis Camphor Jr., of Williamsport; Jacob A. Smith, of Montoursville; and Amy L. Gallagher, of Linden – returned to offer career insight and advice; they were joined by ShaleNET personnel and Lycoming County Commissioner Jeff Wheeland. The graduates themselves also spoke, sharing pride in their accomplishments and excitement for the tasks ahead. More than 90 students have completed ShaleNET training since July 1, 2013, many of them (including military veterans) assisted by Act 13 Scholarships that were funded with impact fees.

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