Penn College graphic design students collaborate with city
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Seven Pennsylvania College of Technology graphic design students present proposed branding elements to Penn College faculty and staff, as well as several city, county and state representatives, that demonstrate all that the city of Williamsport has to offer. From left are Hailey P. Stroble, of Thomasville; Natalie R. Sacharok, of Wilmington, Delaware; Riley J. Shipman, of Harrisburg; Emma J. Bower, of Montoursville; Nadia V. Zimmerman, of Auburn; Emily M. Scaife, of Williamsport; and Benny M. Hornburg, of Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s graphic design program has collaborated with the city on a project that explored ways to encourage more people to visit, work and play in and around the Williamsport area.
Eighteen graphic design students in the branding class of Nicholas L. Stephenson, instructor of graphic design and co-department head, and Todd True, part-time instructor of graphic design, took on the project of designing brand elements that portray Williamsport as the vibrant arts community that it is.
“The students needed to consider how do we bring people in, how do we make it so people want to move here and live here, particularly young people?” Stephenson said. “This was perfect because who better than the target audience sitting here in the classroom? How do we turn this into a destination that is inclusive of all the things happening downtown and connect it to nature, the PA Wilds, the trail systems, the work that’s going on with the river walk? How do we ensure Williamsport is getting credit where credit is due?”
Rob Cooley, professor of anthropology/environmental science at Penn College, said he has an interest in promoting cycling opportunities and park improvements in the community. He has collaborated with the city as a volunteer to help with projects that will improve opportunities for outdoor recreation. During a meeting with Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter to discuss a possible bike pump track and mountain bike skills course in Shaw Place Park, the city’s website and brand became a part of the conversation, specifically the tagline: “The WILL is in us.”
“He and I both felt that it was a tagline that didn’t really say anything specific,” Cooley said. “If the city wants to attract people to come and recreate here, to engage in tourism and to want to see what we have – beyond baseball – we needed a new image.”
Cooley suggested that Stephenson’s branding class may be able to help with a rebranding that would promote art, music, outdoor recreation, cultural, historical and natural assets.
“Any time we can collaborate with the colleges and young people, in particular, it strengthens not only the city, but the likelihood they will remain in Williamsport and Lycoming County after they graduate,” Slaughter said. “We want them to feel vested in determining the future trajectory of the city.”
Slaughter was specifically looking for a set of deliverables that included, most importantly, a logo and a style guide to go along with it.
Stephenson said it was the perfect opportunity to teach students what brand guidelines should look like. After completing guided exercises, the students were given creative freedom to begin their designs. Some created brochures, while others opted for maps, but all were tasked with coming up with a logo that meets the needs of the city.
“What it comes down to is that this is a branding class,” True said. “When we think about brand, the essence, in terms of execution, is the logo. You want that to be meaningful. And how that shows up across multiple channels is important.”
Each of the 18 students in the class, all seniors in the program, produced designs that were formally presented to Stephenson, True and Cooley. The project received a grade for the class, and seven students were selected to present their work to Penn College faculty and staff, as well as several city, county and state representatives, including Slaughter.
“I thought the students did a great job, and the projects were fantastic,” Slaughter said. “They were original, well-thought-out and captured the intent of what I was hoping to see. I never wanted this project to be an exercise in futility. From the very beginning, I wanted to make sure they understood that the end goal is to actually have the city use and implement their ideas to promote and market Williamsport.”
After reviewing the projects, students were provided with feedback and suggestions that hopefully will lead to a final product.
The experience has been memorable for students, True said.
“We had this opportunity to help visualize the future,” he said. “It really ties in well with Penn College’s broader communication – ‘Future Made by Hand,’ ‘Tomorrow Makers.’ We are literally imagining different future states for Williamsport in a way that would appeal to them as students. I think that is something that helped generate excitement.”
One of True’s goals, as an educator, is to push for the graphic design department to connect the dots between real-world experiences and the classroom.
“This opportunity is absolutely an example of that,” he said.
To learn more about Penn College’s graphic design & art program, call 570-327-4521 or visit www.pct.edu/art.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.