Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Photos by Cindy D. Meixel, writer/editor-Penn College News
U.S. Coast Guard representatives discuss rescue operations with a Benton Area High School group at the second annual Wildcat Rotorfest, hosted recently at Pennsylvania College of Technology by its emergency management & homeland security major. The event was attended by nearly 500 K-12 students from 23 schools across the state.
The second annual Wildcat Rotorfest, held recently at Pennsylvania College of Technology by the emergency management & homeland security major, doubled in attendance and participants. The interactive career exploration day was attended by nearly 500 K-12 students from 23 schools across the state.
Bringing together emergency response and aviation employers, the event gives Penn College’s emergency management & homeland security students the opportunity to plan and execute a large-scale event, utilizing their education in incident command, field management and security tactics. Rotorfest is also an opportunity for the college students to connect and interact with professionals in their career field.
“Rotorfest has grown tremendously in its second year, doubling in size in both participants and people attending the event,” said William A. Schlosser, instructor of emergency management & homeland security. “It continues to be a fantastic opportunity for our students to network and for first responders to network. It is a great experience for our students here at Penn College.”
“After spending many weeks learning extensively in class, it is amazing to be able to bring all of those skills together and see it in real life,” said Katie E. Martin, an emergency management & homeland security freshman, who served as Rotorfest’s Incident Command Team deputy. “With the knowledge and amazing guidance of Mr. Schlosser and students who had this experience last year, I think we have really put on something great here that holds amazing opportunity, and I can’t wait to see where we can take it in the years to follow.”
Adding another dimension of participation to the day, Martin’s parents, Jesika and Brian Martin, were among the students’ supporters. To watch Rotorfest unfold, the Martins drove from their home near Bethany Beach, Delaware, where they serve their community in firefighting and emergency medical technician capacities.
A simulation of a rail car rollover is staged by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in the parking lot of the Davie Jane Gilmour Center. PEMA was among several emergency response units participating in the day.
Emergency response units participating in the day were: U.S. Coast Guard, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Pennsylvania State Police, Williamsport Bureau of Police, Williamsport Bureau of Fire, Penn College Police, North Central Task Force, North Central Pennsylvania Unmanned Emergency Services, Clearview Asset Protection and FirstNet Communications.
Landing on the front lawns of Penn College’s campus were a U.S. Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter, two state Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, and a state police Bell Jet Ranger helicopter. The guard units, PEMA and the city fire bureau supplied a wide variety of ground support vehicles, parked in two nearby parking lots and along the college’s main entrance. Other participants displayed and demonstrated their range of equipment and technologies supporting emergency response.
For the K-12 schools and career and technology centers in attendance, the event offered ample opportunity to explore career options and gaze in awe at all the impressive gear.
“The Wildcat Rotorfest is a great way to expose K-12 students to the multitude of opportunities available to them,” said Chuck D. Crews Jr., assistant director for secondary partnerships. “While emergency management & homeland security is the driving force of Rotorfest, we are also able to showcase how aviation technicians, heavy equipment and nursing are important, just to name a few. This is just another event that makes us Penn College proud! Our attendees are already excited for next year’s event.”
Schools attending were: Benton Area High School, Canton Junior Senior High School, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center, Jersey Shore Area Senior High School, Kutztown Area High School, Liberty Valley Intermediate School (Danville Area School District), Midd-West High School, Mifflin County Academy of Science & Technology, Millville Area Junior Senior High School, Milton Middle School, North Penn-Liberty High School, North Penn-Mansfield High School, Northumberland County Career & Technology Center, PA Distance Learning Charter School, River Valley High School, St. John Neumann Regional Academy, Seneca Highlands Career & Technical Center, SUN Area Technical Institute, Sullivan County High School, Upper Dauphin High School, Warrior Run Junior/Senior High School and Wilkes-Barre Area High School.
It’s been a wonderful experience, and the presenters have been so engaging!
Amanda Capone
career pathways coordinator, Southern Tioga School District
“I just had one of our kids say, ‘I’m not gonna lie – I thought we would be sitting in a classroom. This is so much better!’ For the students to be able to go out and experience, touch things and do all the hands-on opportunities has been great,” said Amanda Capone, career pathways coordinator for the Southern Tioga School District, represented at Rotorfest by North Penn-Liberty and North-Penn Mansfield high schools. “We like to expose students to all careers, including emergency management and health care. It’s been a wonderful experience, and the presenters have been so engaging.”
Penn College offers a Bachelor of Science degree in emergency management & homeland security – with on-campus and online options. To learn more about the major, contact the School of Business, Arts & Sciences at 570-327-4521.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free at 800-367-9222.
Katie E. Martin (center), an emergency management & homeland security freshman, served as Rotorfest’s Incident Command Team deputy. Her parents, Brian and Jesika, drove to campus from their home in Delaware to watch the event unfold. They serve the Bethany Beach area in firefighting and emergency medical technician capacities.
Martin (center), along with fellow students Colten Hajicek (left), an incident commander, and Michael J. Gruber, operations section chief, walk the library lawn to greet the Army National Guard flight teams, after the landing of two Blackhawk helicopters.
Wildcat strikes a pose with visitors from Wilkes-Barre Area High School.
A large group of K-12 visitors makes its way to the front entrance of campus.
Circling campus a couple times before landing on a front lawn – the U.S. Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter
Young cadets with the Civil Air Patrol are in awe.
A large crowd gathers to watch, photograph and record the helicopter landing.
Kicking up leaves as it lands, the helicopter settles in for hours of engagement.
Taking delight in the landing sight are youngsters from Liberty Valley Intermediate School, part of Danville Area School District.
Guests move toward the Dolphin helicopter.
A young student takes "flight" via drone technology in the lobby of the Davie Jane Gilmour Center.
Penn College physical therapist assistant majors enjoy a break from classes to visit the action at the campus entrance.
Under the blade of a Blackhawk helicopter, Chuck D. Crews Jr., assistant director for secondary partnerships, shares information with Jessica Sorge, EMS teacher at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center.
PA Distance Learning Charter School visitors try out a rescue stretcher.
A festival atmosphere abounds.
With the college's front entrance closed to traffic, Jersey Shore Area Senior High School students enjoy an idyllic (and fountain-refreshing) spot for a snack break.
Williamsport Bureau of Fire representatives answer attendees' questions.
Sebastian J. Farr (left), of State College, an incoming emergency management & homeland security student for Fall 2024, connects with Penn College President Michael J. Reed (center) and Incident Commander William A. Schlosser, instructor of emergency management & homeland security.
Inside a Blackhawk helicopter, a Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center student signals thumbs-up.
Jersey Shore students get hands-on experience with an airway manikin provided by the college's paramedic program.
Millville Area Junior Senior High School students and their chaperone experiment with a thermal imaging tool.
A state police Bell Jet Ranger helicopter makes an impressive sight.
Little ones from the Dunham Children's Learning Center on campus bound through their "field trip."
Bookended here by Williamsport City Police bicycles, high schoolers savor a picture-perfect spring day on campus.
An Air National Guard mobile kitchen is a shining example of the myriad details of emergency response.
A few of the emergency management & homeland security student team gather for a photo op in front of their Mobile Command Post, stationed in the circular area of the college's entranceway – just under Old Glory.
Rotorfest guests make good use of the east patio of The Madigan Library.
The incident command staff needs to eat, too! With their emergency vests off, emergency management students return to the scene with their well-deserved lunch and refreshments.
Rescue stretchers get a workout!
A 30-pound self-contained breathing apparatus used by the Air National Guard in fighting fires is lifted by a young explorer.
A favorite member of the campus community, service dog Remus makes his way to the action alongside Army veteran Raul A. Carbajal, a human services & restorative justice student ...
... and leans in for some "pets," ever-watchful of the suspicious camera.
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