Pennsylvania Senate education chair visits Penn College

State Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, majority chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, toured Penn College’s main campus and Schneebeli Earth Science Center on Monday.

While at the college, Culver (Senate District 27); Cindy Urban, executive director of the Senate Education Committee; and Erin Wachter, Penn State's director of state relations, gained a first-hand look at how the college executes its hands-on, applied technology education model.

They visited the Center for Career Design and highly equipped labs in the schools of Business, Arts & Sciences, Engineering Technologies, and Nursing & Health Sciences, as well as the Williamsport LaunchBox supported by Ken and Kristie Healy. The local LaunchBox, which opened in the Carl Building Technologies Center in November 2025, is part of the Invent Penn State initiative.

“The commonwealth’s $2.35 million investment within the recently passed state budget, coupled with Penn State’s continued leadership, is vital to strengthening the Invent Penn State LaunchBox & Innovation Network and expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs across Pennsylvania,” said Anthony Pace, vice president for enrollment and student success.

“For Pennsylvania College of Technology, this support ensures that the Williamsport LaunchBox supported by Ken and Kristie Healy can continue connecting aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and small businesses with the mentorship, programming and resources they need to transform ideas into successful ventures,” Pace continued. “We are proud to be part of this statewide network that is creating jobs, driving innovation and strengthening regional economies.”

Culver also visited the Madigan Library, the Center for Career Design, the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence, the Dental Hygiene Clinic, the Physical Therapist Assistant Lab, the Larry A. Ward Machining Technologies Center, the Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center, Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, the diesel & power generation program, and landscape/plant production labs.

In addition to her role on the Senate Education Committee, Culver is vice chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Aging & Youth, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Intergovernmental Operations, and Local Government committees.

State Sen. Gene Yaw (Senate District 23), chair of Penn College’s Board of Directors, joined campus leaders in introducing Culver to the college’s facilities.