Penn College Graduate Named Year's Top 'Service Forester' by DCNR

A 2002 graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology recently was named "Outstanding Service Forester of the Year" by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Gerald L. Hoy, of Pennsdale, who earned an associate degree in forest technology through the college's School of Natural Resources Management, was recognized in his citation for "outstanding and dedicated service in the advancement of sound forest management on private woodlands in the Loyalsock Forest District. (His) professional skills, his superb ability to communicate the forestry message and his dedicated service have earned Gerald the admiration of his colleagues and clients."

Originally from Port Matilda, Hoy is employed as a DCNR Bureau of Forestry service forester for the Loyalsock State Forest, covering Bradford and Sullivan counties. He works from the Loyalsock State Forest Resource Management Center in Laporte, advising residents and providing community organizations with information on all aspects of forest management and ecology.

Pennsylvania's DCNR service foresters work on the county level to encourage sustainable forest management, assisting private forest landowners with management advice on timber production, watershed protection, tree planting, wildlife management, outdoor recreation and forest health. They also help landowners develop stewardship plans to meet long-range goals for their forests.

Hoy began his career with Trautman Arbor Care as a tree health-care specialist and is an International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist. He joined the DCNR Bureau of Forestry as a forest technician on the Bald Eagle State Forest, assisting the resource staff in timber-stand analysis, prescriptions, marking, timber-sale administration, Global Positioning System data surveys, deer density, habitat assessments and fire suppression.

In 2007, Hoy was promoted to service forester for the William Penn Forest District and covered Lancaster, Chester and Delaware counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. While at that position, he earned a DCNR Achievement Award from Secretary Michael DiBerardinis.

"Gerald's achievement is just one example of what a student can accomplish in this program," said Dennis F. Ringling, lead faculty member for forestry at Penn College's Schneebeli Earth Science Center. "Most definitely, we are very proud of his accomplishment."

Penn College's two-year forest technology major prepares students for technical and mid-management positions in private and public arenas in such areas as: forestry production, wood processing and manufacturing industries, and provides both an academic and a specialized background needed for a variety of positions in forestry such as arborist, forest and wood technician, silvicultural technician, analysis technician, plant-care technician, timber buyer, veneer grader, field forester, forestry researcher, soil-conservation technician, survey technician and quality-control technician. The course work emphasizes outdoor learning and practical hands-on experience.

To learn more about forest technology or other majors in the School of Natural Resources Management, visit online or call 570-320-8038.

For general information about Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.