Michael Hostler III

I love that the manufacturing industry is all about improvement and innovation. The best environment to work in is one that constantly changes, provides new challenges, and never gets stale. It keeps you in check because once you think you are really good at something, then a new piece of technology comes out and you have to relearn and adapt.

Metallurgy. This class taught me so much about how metals react and added to my machining knowledge. It gave me a better understanding on how metals cut differently than others and why metals and materials act the way they do.

Luke Davies because of his teaching style. He is more hands off, assisting you when you need it. The way he teaches somewhat simulates how it will be in the industry, and I personally have learned the most from his classes.

The Gene Haas Center for Innovative Manufacturing has massively enhanced my Penn College experience by allowing me and my peers to use all types of mills and lathes with the newest technology. My first project of my multi-axis class was a cell phone amplifier. My role for the project was the programmer. I was in charge of programming it and refining it to make it fast and flashy while machining. From this project overall, I learned how to program a fifth-axis part and refine my program for production.

Industry connections have improved not only programs of study but also career opportunities through the campus career fair. Industry provides relevant machinery for us to learn on so when we are out in the field, we know how to operate the equipment with very little training. The companies attending the career fair provide students the opportunity to network and explore career options they might not have even known about.

Penn College is teaching me almost every aspect of manufacturing, allowing me to go so many directions with my degree. My dream job is a manufacturing position on a racing team such as Red Bull Racing.