Penn College News

Penn College Students Compete in IDEAL Event

Monday, September 26, 2016

Approximately 20 Pennsylvania College of Technology students in electrical-related majors recently sharpened their skills by competing in an IDEAL National Championship qualifying event on campus.

Geared to support and promote electrical careers, the competition required students to cut, strip, terminate and test using professional IDEAL tools, such as wire connectors, wire strippers, screwdrivers, testers and lineman’s pliers. Students were timed on how quickly they successfully completed all the tasks.



Electrical technology major Joseph L. Brubaker, of Port Trevorton, displays the digital multimeter he earned for recording the fastest time during the recent IDEAL National Championship qualifying event at Penn College. With Brubaker (from left) are: Eric W. Newcomer, electrical technology/occupations lecturer at the college; James Knight, of IDEAL; and Nick Smith, of Schaedler Yesco. (Photo by Jon W. Hart)“The event was a great opportunity for our students to compete, show their skills and see the latest electrical tools that IDEAL has to offer,” said Jon W. Hart, instructor of electrical technology.

Joseph L. Brubaker, an electrical technology major from Port Trevorton, recorded the fastest time (69 seconds) at the Penn College event. While the impressive time didn’t qualify Brubaker for the next stage of the national competition, he did receive a new digital multimeter from IDEAL.

“As a company, IDEAL has been very supportive of our programs and students in the electrical department,” Hart said. “We are appreciative of their commitment to the next generation of electrical professionals.”

Penn College offers several degrees devoted to the electrical field, including a bachelor’s degree in building automation technology; associate degrees in electrical technology, electromechanical maintenance technology, mechatronics engineering technology and renewable energy technologies; and a certificate in electrical occupations.

For information on those degrees and other programs offered by the college’s School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.