School districts from across Pennsylvania will send students to Pennsylvania College of Technology's Career Day on March 6 to explore career choices through hands-on activities and tours.
The event is open to students in grades seven through nine, and schools as far away as Adams, Bedford and Cumberland counties typically bring busloads of students to the event. Home-school groups are also represented.
"We travel to Penn College's Career Day because it is a well-planned, informative day for our students," said Debra Tate, diversified occupations instructor at Bermudian Springs High School. Her school travels more than two hours to make the trip from Adams County.
Among the dozens of planned activities are sessions that allow students to: build fiber-optic lights to take home; learn how to send secret messages; experience treatment for clients with physical disabilities; take X-rays of phantom body parts; learn to install a brick, paver or slate patio; and create a corsage.
Sessions are available for most majors. Activities are offered on the main campus and at the college's Schneebeli Earth Science Center (near Allenwood) and Lumley Aviation Center (at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville).
"The students enjoy stopping at the Earth Science Center first. We then tour the main campus and break into groups based on our students' interest," Tate said. "It is a valuable day."
Beverly A. Hunsberger, college transition specialist for Penn College's Outreach for K-12 Office, coordinates the event.
"It's not only a chance for them to see the campus," she said, "It's also a chance for students to get a hands-on preview of the careers that interest them."
The college offers Career Day in the spring, for students in grades 7 to 9; and in the fall, for high school students. School districts may register online. The next high school Career Day is scheduled for Oct. 20.
For more information about the event, call (570) 320-8003, send e-mail or visit online.
For more information about Penn College, call toll free (800) 367-9222 or visit on the Web .