Pennsylvania College of Technology will hold three commencement ceremonies May 12-13 for the nearly 775 students who have petitioned to graduate following the Spring 2023 semester.
A total of more than 650 students will march at three ceremonies, all of which are ticketed events to be held at the Community Arts Center.
On Friday, May 12, at 3 p.m., a ceremony will be held for graduating students from the School of Business, Arts & Sciences and the School of Nursing & Health Sciences.
On Saturday May 13, at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., ceremonies will be held for students from the School of Engineering Technologies, the college’s largest academic school. At 10 a.m., a ceremony will be held for the following divisions: Diesel Technology & Natural Resources, Materials Science & Engineering Technologies, and Transportation. The 1:30 p.m. ceremony will feature the divisions of Construction & Architectural Technologies and Industrial & Computer Technologies.
The student speakers for the three ceremonies will be Ninoshka Marie Rivera Matos, May 12; Sophia G. Wiest, May 13 (morning); and Michael J. Sormilic, May 13 (afternoon).
Ninoshka Marie Rivera Matos
Rivera Matos, of Lebanon, will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science in dental hygiene. A first-generation college student, Rivera Matos is a Dean’s List student, serves as president of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association and is a resident assistant at Rose Street Commons: Dauphin Hall. She is the recipient of an Awesome Woman Exemplar Award and the Office of Residence Life Program of the Year Award. While at Penn College, she participated in Sealant Saturday and an oral health care program at Leighton Place Senior Living Community.
Sophia G. Wiest
Wiest, of Butler, will receive an Associate of Applied Science in landscape/plant production technology; in 2022, she earned a Bachelor of Science in entrepreneurial innovation. Wiest will receive the Rose Staiman Memorial Award, presented for brotherhood, service to the college, and community and scholastic achievement, and the Williamsport Growers Market Award in Memory of Mary Ditchfield. Previously, she received the Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour Award for Leadership and Service to the College and the Unsung Hero of the Year honor. She is also a Student Leader Legacy Scholarship award recipient.
A Dean’s List student, Wiest is a presidential student ambassador, senior resident assistant and a lead Connections (orientation) link. Her Penn College memberships include Wildcat Events Board (chair), Penn College Circle K (president), Penn College Horticulture Club (president), and the National Association of Landscape Professionals. She received scholarship awards from NALP and the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association.
Michael J. Sormilic
Sormilic, of Southbury, Connecticut, will receive a Bachelor of Science in building automation engineering technology and an Associate of Applied Science in electric power generation technology: diesel emphasis. He will receive the President’s Award, presented for leadership and service to the college, the Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour Award for Leadership and Service to Penn College, and the Earth Science Center Service Award, presented to a graduate who shows exceptional leadership, professionalism and service to the majors at the Earth Science Center.
A Dean’s List student, Sormilic’s Penn College memberships include the Service Technician and Operators’ Association (president) and the Penn College Diesel Performance Club. He was a dinner speaker at the inaugural Penn College Diesel Competition for career and technology centers in 2021.
The college will present a Distinguished Alumni Award to Sean Stabler, vice president of innovation for Sekisui Kydex, Bloomsburg, who received a Bachelor of Science in plastics & polymer engineering technology in 2006 and an Associate of Applied Science in plastics & polymer technology in 2004.
Degrees will be conferred by President Michael J. Reed, accompanied by state Sen. Gene Yaw, chairman of the college’s Board of Directors.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education and a special mission affiliate of Penn State. For more, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free at 800-367-9222.
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