Student-organized Wildcat Forum to explore ‘What is Success?’

On March 19, a group of Pennsylvania College of Technology students will host the first Wildcat Forum, a series of six-to-eight-minute talks sharing the theme “What is Success?”

The event is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium and is open to the community. Three Penn College alumni and two employees are slated to speak.

Students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in business administration, most of them enrolled in an Event Management & Coordination class, conceived and are managing Wildcat Forum.

“We’ve always prided ourselves in doing events that benefit other students,” said Tammy M. Rich, associate professor of business administration/management/event management.

“What we want students to gain is an awareness of where the speakers came from,” said student Jajuan J. Ramirez, of Kennett Square, explaining that the class hopes each attendee will relate to at least one of the speakers and feel inspired as they seek their own success.

The Wildcat Forum lineup includes:

• Danielle Malesky, a level 1 field engineer for Turner Construction Co. Malesky is a 2023 Penn College graduate with a degree in construction management
• Rich, a 2022 recipient of the college’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Stephanie Suzadail, a travel flight nurse for Air Methods who was recognized in the Emergency Nurses Association’s “20 Under 40” list. Suzadail graduated from Penn College in 2014.
• Frank Tuason, a lead gameday entertainment representative for the Las Vegas Raiders and an entertainment sales coordinator for Caesar’s Entertainment. He completed a Penn College degree in business administration: sport and event management, in 2020.
• Nate Woods Jr., Penn College’s special assistant to the president for inclusion transformation.

In addition to Wildcat Forum, the class has helped fellow students in their journey to success through a series of sessions they billed as “Build Yourself.” Topics included LinkedIn profiles, resumés, and a tour of the college’s Career Services Office. During the final “Build Yourself” session, Michael Patterson, chief branding officer for Horizon Federal Credit Union, will provide networking advice.

Students coordinating and managing the events, in addition to Ramirez, are: Kylee P. Albert, of Boyertown; David Brown, of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Logan M. Confer, of Watsontown; Clayton L. Gothel, of Millerstown (who helped as part of the Event Promotion class); Kayleigh A. Miller, of Sayre; Becky D. Morrison, of Myerstown; and Alicia M. Wyland, of Williamsport (also helping as part of the Event Promotion course). All eight students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in business administration. Brown and Wyland are in the sport and event management concentration; Ramirez is in the marketing concentration.

The class is also supporting the Penn College Business Club in holding Professional Coffee & Conversation in April. The event joins employers with students in the college’s business and hospitality majors who are seeking internships or full-time positions. Additional students helping with that project are business administration students Chloe R. Orr, of Williamsport, and Evan Pickering, of Selinsgrove.

To learn more about Penn College’s business degrees, call 570-327-4505.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.