Pennsylvania College of Technology has presented Mentorship Awards to two Baltimore-based companies and their representatives: Karl Quinn/Alban Tractor Co. Inc. and David A. Potts/ The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
The Mentorship Award recognizes alumni and/or businesses that have made significant or ongoing contributions to the education and development of Penn College students. The awards were presented duringSaturday's Summer Commencement ceremony at the Community Arts Center.
Quinn, a regional training center manager for Alban Tractor Co., has been an active member of the college's Heavy Construction: Caterpillar Equipment Emphasis Advisory Committee for 12 years, assisting with the review of curriculum proposals, suggesting program improvements and helping with equipment purchases.
He has served as a technical adviser for School of Natural Resources Management administrators and faculty, providing advice for construction of a hydraulic test facility, offering tours of Alban's facility, and sharing technical drawings to assist with a planned renovation.
Alban Tractor routinely sponsors students in the heavy equipment technician: CAT emphasis major. Students are provided with financial incentives − such as tuition reimbursement and scholarships − as well as personal mentoring.
Quinn has accompanied Penn College staff to student-recruitment events such as regional career fairs. As a guest lecturer/trainer each semester for hydraulics and CAT specialty classes, he presents topics related to advanced troubleshooting and electronics.
Quinn also has helped train new faculty on various pieces of CAT equipment and has secured seats in Alban's industry courses at no charge to the college. Quinn and Alban have been strong supporters of scholarships: through the CAT awards presented each year, and through participation, along with other CAT dealers, in the School of Natural Resources Management's benefit golf tournament each year.
Over the past two years, Alban has donated a Parts Pro library (DVD) and $32,000 worth of state-of-the-art tools and equipment. Each summer, Quinn works to secure internships for sponsored CAT students. During his 12-year participation in the CAT consortium, more than 20 Penn College graduates have gone on to work for Alban.
Potts, a project manager with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., has been instrumental in helping the college's construction management program grow while maintaining its strong position. He has participated as an inaugural member of the college's Construction Management Advisory Committee.
Other examples of Potts and Whiting-Turner's assistance to Penn College include:
- Making regular donations in support of the Advisory Scholarship
- Serving as the college's industry representative and advocate on a recent American Council for Construction Education accreditation visit
- Sponsoring an annual $1,000 scholarship for the past five years while building an endowed company scholarship for construction management students
- Hosting at least six separate field trips for construction management students over the past several years
- Providing classroom lectures in several disciplines, including ethics, introduction to construction, materials and methods, estimating, and project management
- Regularly supporting the construction management golf outing and construction management competition teams
- Providing advice and career counseling
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