Wednesday, August 13, 2025
photos by Tom Speicher, writer/video producer
WBRE-TV’s Sydney Kostus arrived on campus before sunrise Tuesday morning to do live interviews with Penn College faculty and staff who played key roles with the globe project for Little League International. More than 70 welding students spent the spring semester fabricating a 7-foot-high stainless steel globe that is showcased at the Little League World Series Complex in South Williamsport. The live interviews aired at 5:30, 6 and 6:30 a.m. As part of the interviews, the intrepid reporter also received brief tours of the college’s Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center and collision repair lab.
Kostus conducted interviews with Brad Webb, dean of engineering technologies; Michael R. Allen, instructor and co-department head of welding; and Roy H. Klinger, instructor and co-department head of collision repair. In addition to the live segments, Kostus recorded separate interviews with the trio for airing throughout the day on the 11 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m. newscasts.
Brad Webb, dean of engineering technologies, provides an overview of the project and the various challenges that had to be overcome.
Roy H. Klinger, instructor and co-department head of collision repair, pauses before explaining the process he used to shape the metal cutouts representing the continents.
After his interview, Michael R. Allen, instructor and co-department head of welding, used a CNC plasma cutter to produce a metal memento for Kostus. Allen and his students employed the same machine to cut the continents that were later attached to the globe.
Situated by Volunteer Stadium, the globe is sure to be a big hit with the tens of thousands of fans who will attend the 2025 Little League World Series.
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