Hundreds of secondary students attend PA Build My Future

​PA Build My Future – coordinated by Penn College's Building Construction Technology Department, College Transitions, and the School of Construction & Design Technologies – hosted approximately 800 secondary students and their chaperones on campus Thursday. The day was designed to allow scores of businesses to engage the students through hands-on activities that display the breadth of opportunities in the construction and design industry, from skilled trades to management. Indoor exhibits were in the Carl Building Technologies Center, Hager Lifelong Education Center and Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center; outdoor exhibits were offered on campus parking lots. WNEP's Kristina Papa visited campus for the event, which is an outgrowth of a Homebuilding Education Leadership Program grant through the National Housing Endowment. Her report aired during Thursday evening newscasts, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor;
and Tom Speicher, writer/video editor

Carol A. Lugg, dean of construction and design technologies, conquers the morning chill with warm greetings.

The Build My Future masses cross West Third Street en route to the ACC Auditorium – one of two locales (the other being Bardo Gym) for the event’s welcome and safety session.

T-shirts and backpacks were distributed to guests in two locations – in front of the Klump Academic Center as well as the Learning Resources Center.

Naim N. Jabbour, assistant dean for the School of Construction & Design Technologies, sets the stage for the day’s events during the morning’s welcome session.

Jabbour receives assistance from a student – who jumped on stage to help – in pointing out the location of the welcome session on the college map (when orienting the guests to campus).

Peter Kruppenbacher, assistant professor of building construction technology, delivers a vital message to attendees.

A “team” from Jersey Shore gathers in Bardo Gym for a group photo. Accompanying the students is their chaperone, Nicola Paulhamus, a Jersey Shore Area School District staff member.

A “yellow wave” flows from the Klump Academic Center, ready to take on the day – and its many displays and activities.

Backpacks and future Wildcats?

As the visitors arrive on campus, many stop at the LRC to don their yellow T-shirts (at left) before continuing on to the ACC (in background) for the welcome session.

Students endeavor to create a prizeworthy design at the Carlisle Construction Materials display.

Students delight in Komatsu’s virtual reality display, which tested their hand-eye coordination.

Souvenir T-shirts acknowledge those whose philanthropy made the event possible.

A student remotely controls the crane lifting a heavy piece of concrete in a challenging activity provided by Deihl Vault and Precast Inc., Orangeville.

The Wayne Township Landfill brought an excavator to campus, offering an entertaining way to get dirty from the driver’s seat.

Drilling five wood screws into a board, a student from Northern Tier Career Center attempts to “beat the clock” in a timed Pennsylvania Builder Association contest.

A student from Hughesville High School tries his hand at the art of concrete.

Two students from Northern Tier Career Center engage in a wiring activity in the HVAC lab sponsored by TPS, headquartered in White Deer.

HVAC technology faculty member Kenneth E. Welker Jr. (at center in gray shirt) captivates an attentive audience in the lab.

The virtual reality of landscape technology engages a guest in a hallway of the BTC (aided by Justin W. Beishline, assistant dean for transportation and natural resources technologies, in foreground).

High-five fun in the courtyard

Building construction technology instructor Levon A. Whitmyer, instrumental in bringing PA Build My Future to reality, celebrates the event's success with a campus VIP.

More Wildcat paw-to-hand greetings in the construction lab

Students learn about expansion joint covers at the Construction Specialties Inc. table.

Representatives from Schluter Systems (at right) demonstrate their installation systems for ceramic and stone tile.

Students from the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County compete in a “building” project (with pipe cleaners!) offered by Toll Brothers.

Wide-open possibilities in the construction carpentry lab

Two civil engineering technology alumni (at left), who now work for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, discuss their career field and the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project. At left are: T.J. Cunningham, ’90, assistant district engineer, and Lloyd E. Ayres (at screen), ’01, district bridge engineer.

Justin Shelinski (on ground at right), laboratory assistant for horticulture, helps a student “climb” a tree in the LEC/BTC courtyard.

With carabiner in hand, a student from Keystone Central School District easily makes her urban-forestry ascent.

A lineup of eager listeners in the BTC parking lot

A crane, used to test students' agility at the controls, towers above the competition arena.

A Red Lion Area Senior High School student is coached by Zartman Construction's Jesse A. Hauger, a 1998 alumnus of the college's heavy construction equipment technology major.

The Girls Go STEM mobile, a cooperative effort of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania and Penn College, was on site, offering colorful inspiration.

Erich R. Doebler (standing with black hair), forestry faculty, assists a student (seated) in exploring forest technology equipment.

The college's mascot, generally on hand wherever the cool 'cats hang out