Alumni Awards Presented at College Commencement

Pennsylvania College of Technology presented "Distinguished Alumnus" and "Alumnus Achievement" awards at Saturday's commencement ceremonies in Williamsport.

In morning ceremonies at the Community Arts Center, Robert G. Feaster of Northumberland received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2005. In afternoon ceremonies, the 2005 Alumnus Achievement Award was presented to Michael A. Gibble of North Bethesda, Md.

The Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award is given in recognition of personal and professional accomplishments, contributions toward furthering the efforts of the college, and the high regard in which the recipient is held in the community.

The Alumnus/Alumna Achievement Award is presented to a Penn College graduate from the past 10 years. It recognizes noteworthy career accomplishments that demonstrate the importance of a Penn College education and recognizes graduates who continue to support the mission of the college.

Feaster earned an associate's degree in arts and sciences from Penn College predecessor Williamsport Area Community College in 1973. He is founder of the Robert Feaster Corp. of Northumberland, which provides construction services throughout the state. The company was founded in 1977 (with just $5,000 and two employees) as Robert Feaster t/a Brookside Construction Co. Today, the company employs 50 to 100 workers, depending on the season.

The firm has completed several projects at Penn College, including the extensive renovations at the Klump Academic Center (the former Williamsport High School building), as well as Le Jeune Chef Restaurant and the fountains at the main entrance to the college.

Other projects completed by Feaster's firm include the Nittany Apartment Housing and Community Building at Penn State, the U.S. National Guard Center at Lewisburg and renovations to historic Bowman Field in Williamsport.

Current projects include additions/renovations to Northumberland Hall and Luzerne Hall at Bloomsburg University and additions to Hepburn Lycoming Elementary School and Lycoming Valley Middle School in the Williamsport Area School District.

Prior to founding his business, Feaster worked as a superintendent, project manager and estimator for Professional Builders, Sunbury, and as a job foreman and superintendent for Sunbury Construction Co.

Feaster is a member of the Penn College Foundation Board of Directors. His other memberships include the State College chapter of American Builders and Contractors, the Williamsport chapter of Construction Specialties Institute and the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.

He and his wife, Deborah, have two daughters. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Northumberland.

Gibble earned an associate's degree in architectural technology from Penn College in 2000. Subsequently, he received a bachelor's degree in architecture and a master of architecture degree (with a concentration in urban conservation, historic preservation) from The Catholic University of America.

Since May 2004, Gibble has been a project manager for HTB Architects, Silver Spring, Md. From January-April 2004, he was an architect for the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. From 2000-03, he worked part-time as an architect technician for the Department of the Interior. In 2002-03, he worked at The Catholic University of America as a part-time research assistant for historic preservation.

Gibble's thesis design for the new embassy building for the Republic of Slovenia is currently in the process of being reviewed for funding by the Slovene Government.

In 2003-04, Gibble worked on the staff of the architect of the White House. He and his team created a thorough architectural record of the Executive Mansion, employing sophisticated computer-aided design software and hand-measuring to record the design for the archives of the Library of Congress and future renovations.

In his current position, Gibble coordinates 18 projects in 10 hospitals in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. region, including the Emergency Department at Washington Hospital Center. That design involves everyone from hospital officials and doctors to members of Congress and the Department of Homeland Security, since the District of Columbia?s emergency code targets the facility for primary use during a catastrophe involving national leaders.

Gibble owns a side business, renamed "Michael Anthony Design," for which he has renovated historic structures in the region, developed condominium units, and designed and redesigned bars and restaurants. With two partners, he is developing an investment company, "Murphy, Ross & Gibble," intended to establish bars and nightclubs in the area.

Gibble has completed his third year as assistant coach for The Catholic University of America men's ice hockey team. He also volunteers for "Hands on DC," a group that donates time and money to underprivileged children and schools in Washington, D.C.