Deputy DCED secretary tours student Habitat build
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
photos by Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor
State and local officials gathered at a Habitat for Humanity home that is under construction just north of campus on Friday to tour the nearly complete project, built largely by students in Penn College’s construction and architectural technologies division, and to highlight the state’s Housing Action Plan to alleviate a shortage of homes in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and Development Rick Vilello speaks to a gathering at a Fifth Avenue Habitat for Humanity home built largely by Penn College classes.
Speaking at the home on Fifth Avenue were Rick Vilello, state Department of Community and Economic Development deputy secretary for community affairs and development, as well as Mayor Derek Slaughter, County Commissioner Mark Mussina, Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity Board Chair Jonah Milliken, state Rep. Jamie Flick, and Ellyn A. Lester, Penn College’s assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies.
Under the guidance of faculty and Habitat for Humanity staff, students in heavy equipment operations; concrete science technology; building construction technology; heating, ventilation & air conditioning; and electrical construction classes gained real-world experience from beginning to end, from laying out the site to installing interior finishes in the accessible, three-bedroom home at 508 Fifth Ave.
Representing a construction crew of hundreds: building construction technology students Jude E. Murphy, of Fredonia, N.Y., and Zach W. Myers, of Williamsport; and building construction technology faculty Darin M. Jennings (instructor), Garret L. Graf (assistant professor) and Matt S. Williamson (instructor).
“You know, all of those pieces of a jigsaw puzzle don't get put together just by accident,” Villelo said. “It's teamwork, it's people with a vision working together, and it's making stuff happen.”
Vilello said that, during DCED meetings across the state, housing was a consistent issue.
“One of the metrics shows that right now, we're about 20,000 houses a year short statewide to meet demand,” he said. “And there's all kinds of things in the (state’s) strategy that talk about addressing demand. One is the need for new construction. One is the need for blight removal. One is the need for renovating houses. … And all of those things take workforce. So when I see a partnership with Habitat and with Penn College, and drive by a billboard that promotes (the college’s) 98% job placement, this really doesn't get any better. So I'm really proud to be here representing Secretary Siger, representing Governor Shapiro, and visiting this project as an example of stuff that we need to get done everywhere. Congratulations to all the partners.”
Also partnering in the build were the Lycoming County Commissioners, which approved a grant for $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for construction materials, and the City of Williamsport, which allowed use of an adjacent city-owned property for equipment and materials storage.
Ellyn L. Lester, assistant dean, provides perspective on the project and the extra efforts of faculty and students to move their classroom learning to the site.
“This has been a true bonus, as it showed our students what can happen when we all come together to benefit the community,” Lester said.
“The home behind us represents much more than a construction project,” Habitat’s Milliken said. “It shows what’s possible when state leadership, local partners, volunteers and future homeowners work together toward a shared goal. Housing is foundational: It supports family stability, economic opportunity and stronger neighborhoods.”
To learn more about Penn College's bachelor's and associate degrees in architecture, building construction, electrical, HVAC and heavy equipment operations, call the School of Engineering Technologies, 570-327-4520.
Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter speaks during the event. He told students who applied their education at the site: “You took those skills and turned them into something tangible that will change a family's life trajectory forever.”
Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina tells attendees that the crises he most often hears about are child care and affordable housing. “You got to lots of places where they talk about it, and you don’t often see a lot of action. … We are so blessed here to have Penn College and the opportunities not only that we bring to them but that they bring to the community.”
Jonah Milliken, board chair for Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity, acknowledges the work of Habitat staff and all those who partner with the organization to expand the availability of affordable housing.
State Rep. Jamie Flick, a Penn College alumnus who represents much of Lycoming County, congratulates Habitat and the college for their efforts.