Engineering design students tour High Steel Structures

Over 30 Penn College engineering design technology students recently connected their classroom experience with real-world applications by touring High Steel Structures LLC in Williamsport. The company is a leading steel fabricator of bridge components and heavy building girders.

Accompanied by instructors Kendra N. Tomassacci and Catherine A. Krawiec, 33 students from two sections of CCD 237 Technical Drawing-Related Disciplines – a required course for both the bachelor’s in engineering design technology and the associate degree in engineering CAD technology – experienced key areas of the facility.

“The course emphasizes the importance of accurate technical communication, something students were able to see in action throughout the tour,” Tomassacci said. “The students gained valuable firsthand insight into industry standards and workflow processes within large-scale structural engineering.”

The tour was organized and conducted by industrial engineer Adam Steppe, with assistance from plant manager Jake Fisher, plant superintendent Ben Lakis, quality control supervisor Corey Kent and fabrication lead-person Joel Lukens. (Steppe and Fisher are Penn College alumni.)

“They provided students with a comprehensive look at structural fabrication, quality expectations and the role technical drawings play in daily production,” Tomassacci said. “Experiences like this allow students to better understand how their classroom learning directly translates into professional engineering and design environments.”

High Steel Structures is a member of the Visionary Society ($100,000-$499,999) on the college’s Donor Wall.