Four Power-Generation Students Awarded Industry Scholarships

Four electric power generation technology majors at Pennsylvania College of Technology have each been awarded $2,500 from the Electrical Generating Systems Association, continuing the institution's seven-year streak of consecutive scholarship honorees.

Included among the 12 David I. Coren Memorial Scholarship recipients for the 2009-10 academic year are John J. Albany, Garnet Valley; George D. Bopst, Westminster, Md.; Jason M. Hirtzel, Colden, N.Y.; and Kyle Norek, Portville, N.Y. all enrolled in Penn College's two-year power generation major.

The college curriculum, which reflects one of the fastest-growing careers in the mechanical-equipment field, offers students the opportunity to develop the skills needed to install, maintain, diagnose and service on-site power-generation units. The associate-degree major is based in the School of Natural Resources Management at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood, and electrical courses are taught within the School of Construction and Design Technologies on the college's main campus in Williamsport.

"EGSA is a professional organization offering numerous benefits to our electric power generation students, including discounted memberships, reduced fees for conferences and trainings, and wonderful educational resources," said Mary A. Sullivan, dean of natural resources management. "Awarding substantial scholarships to these four students this year is a tremendous "˜plus' that will help offset the price of their education. Its generosity is greatly appreciated by all of us."

Penn College students accounted for all three of the awards when the EGSA scholarship program began seven years ago, according to George W. Rowley, the association's director of education; the college has had at least one recipient every year since.

"The EGSA Board of Directors, acting on behalf of its members, recognized the shortage of qualified generator technicians and technical personnel within the industry and also realized that providing financial assistance to worthy students might help alleviate the shortage," Rowley said of the program's genesis. "Realizing that the scholarship program was a valuable program that was making a difference, the board increased the amount of the scholarships from $2,000 to $2,500 and the number of scholarships available from 10 to 12 last year."

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, he said; successful applicants "earn" their scholarship through an objective system of points awarded for various application requirements.

Competition was particularly keen this year, with 21 applicants from six schools.

The awards honor the memory of David I. Coren a former executive at Zenith Controls who died in 2000 and the many contributions he made to the on-site power industry while serving in leadership roles within EGSA, the world's largest organization exclusively dedicated to on-site power generation.

For more information about the School of Natural Resources Management, visit online or call 570-320-8038. For more about Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.