Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-Penn College News
A corporate takeover of the friendliest kind was waged Friday at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, where Caterpillar dealers – whose benevolent interest in Penn College's Tomorrow Makers is as noticeable as the company's yellow and black color scheme – brought equipment, recruitment and nourishment to the diesel, heavy equipment and power generation programs.
Taking part in the well-organized "CAT Day" were four proven partners in higher education: Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., Foley Inc., H.O. Penn Machinery Co. Inc. and Milton CAT. Throughout the morning, nine faculty members and their classes rotated among a series of interactive and informative stations, before breaking for lunch and student visits with those prospective employers.
A "must-do" for students circulating among the day's many activities was this simulator from H.O. Penn. Trying his hand, while classmates await their turn at the controls, is Luke R. Klinfelter, a diesel technology student from Spring Mills.
Foley's Chris Collins (left center), a corporate technical recruiter, and Jon Wilson, service shop manager, satisfy inquisitive students with answers and a table full of giveaways.
H.O. Penn brought along a Tier 4 emissions training engine on which groups of students were challenged to identify as many components as possible.
As part of a Cleveland Brothers activity, Isaac C. Cory uses a refractometer to test Diesel Exhaust Fluid quality. Cory, the Wildcats' first-ever Division III national qualifier in wrestling, is working toward an associate degree in electric power generation technology: diesel emphasis.
Sunlight trickles through the trees behind the ESC faculty parking lot, where H.O. Penn representatives were among those meeting with students. From left are Steven Skeen, technical communicator; Mary Krieger-Bajana, human resource generalist; and Jessica Loeffler, corporate recruiter.
Marcayla M. Lutzkanin, working as a Cleveland Brothers technician while pursuing a May 2024 bachelor's degree in applied management, provides peer-to-peer advice on behalf of her employer. She already has earned associate degrees in diesel technology and heavy construction equipment technology: Caterpillar emphasis.
Former faculty member John D. Motto, now a service training manager for Milton CAT in Massachusetts, returns to the classroom for a lesson in schematics.
The Cleveland Brothers team includes a Chuck Wagon, where preparation started early to cook burgers and dogs for an endlessly hungry clientele.
Milton CAT's Kathryn Herbert, a senior workforce development specialist, helps job-hunters explore their options.
Ric Rodriguez, a condition monitoring analyst at H.O. Penn, equips students with real-world troubleshooting tips.
Lines quickly form for mealtime by the arboretum ...
... where students made use of all available "table" space for an impromptu picnic lunch.
Tracy Howard – a power systems technician from Milton CAT's Batavia, N.Y., location – leveraged his engineering background into a career at Milton CAT, gaining experience that he selflessly shared with students in a lab on Friday.
Alumnus Louis DiDonato ('00, heavy construction equipment technology: Caterpillar emphasis) dialogues with students in his role as a technical communicator for Foley.
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