Engineering Technologies Articles

Calling all information technology, engineering technology and building construction students! Two employers are recruiting this Thursday. Penn College students and alumni looking for employment opportunities and internships should stop by these employer information tables and bring your resume.

An alumni-owned and operated business recently held an open house at its Montoursville facility, and Penn College leaders were among those attending the event, organized by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. A custom trailer manufacturer, Transport Custom Designs showcased its facilities and innovative designs, with company president Joseph H. Reynolds touring the Penn College visitors.

Students in grades K-12 are the beneficiaries of a $40,000 gift from the EQT Foundation, the philanthropic extension of EQT Corp., the nation’s largest producer of natural gas. The funds are supporting two Pennsylvania College of Technology programs – the Tinker Camp and the Community Arts Center’s Educational Series. Each initiative is receiving $20,000.

Penn College’s Wayne R. Sheppard, assistant professor of construction management, and student Noah H. Jumper, of Shippensburg, were quoted in an article published in the March issue of Construction Executive magazine. In a story titled “Generation Yes: Recruiting today’s construction management students,” Sheppard and Jumper, a senior in the construction management major, offered insight to employers looking to hire upcoming construction management graduates.

Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies for Pennsylvania College of Technology, was honored as a Construction Champion by Construction Dive, a leading industry publication. The annual list recognizes the most inspiring women leaders throughout the commercial construction industry. “Ellyn’s entire career has focused on talent: identifying it, leveraging it and nurturing it,” her nominator wrote.

Friday’s “Centre County Report” featured a story on Penn College’s Transportation Scholars program. The weekly broadcast -- produced by students in the capstone broadcast journalism course in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State – included an interview with Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies.

Two Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. employees visited classes recently in architecture and heating, ventilation & air conditioning engineering technology to introduce students to career paths with the company’s virtual design & construction operations group. That team constructs buildings virtually before they are built physically, explained 2011 construction management alumnus Sean Scully, who is a project manager for Whiting-Turner, and Brandon Hurlburt, a VDC manager for the company.

Penn College's Diesel Performance Club and its 1959 B-61 Model Mack drag truck were revved up to return to Motorama, the annual motorsports extravaganza held Feb. 17-18 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. The students enjoyed sharing their passion for Penn College and its diesel technology major with event attendees and showing off their treasured truck. With more than 5,000 participants and 50,000 motorsport spectators, there was plenty of networking to do.

A total of 205 Scouts from five states buckled down at the Merit Badge College, held recently at Pennsylvania College of Technology. With 20 different badges offered and the ability to earn up to three badges during the day, the youngsters took in a wide range of technical opportunities under the guidance of college faculty, staff and students.

Pennsylvania College of Technology is the recipient of a nearly $1.5 million federal grant to support students majoring in a transportation-related field. The National Science Foundation awarded $1,498,465 (grant No. 2221107) as part of its S-STEM program, which funds scholarships for academically talented low-income students.