No Foolin': Open House Showcases Rewarding Careers-in-the-Making

Friday's near-April showers caused Saturday's Open House crowds to bloom, bringing hundreds upon hundreds of prospective students and their families to Penn College for an inside look at a national leader in applied technology education. On a day generally associated with pranks and practical jokes, visitors were instead treated by a knowledgeable and helpful campus community to the seriously life-altering potential of "degrees that work."

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor;
Tia G. La and Grace F. Clark, student photographers;
and Larry D. Kauffman, digital publishing specialist/photographer

Spring Open House is seasonally encapsulated in a greenhouse at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center.

Admissions and alumni on duty! Four of the friendly faces greeting guests at the ESC are (from left) Lynn Y. Frey, admissions representative; Sharon L. Morris, ’15, forest technology; Laurie A. Nau, ’11, forest technology; and Khris R. Ward, ’11, heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis. Morris and Nau are forest technicians with the Bureau of Forestry, Tiadaghton Forest District. Ward is a field service mechanic at Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc.

A display in the ESC botany lab focuses on invasive species (and remedies for them).

With a warm smile, colorful T-shirt and blooms on hand, Aaron A. Sledge Jr., a freshman in landscape/horticulture technology: plant production emphasis from Pittsburgh, is ready to share his love of plants with visitors.

Andre J. Aldubayan, an aviation maintenance technology student from Old Forge, spends Open House day working on his senior project (and ready to answer aviation queries) in the hangar of the Lumley Aviation Center.

By the glow of avionics lab lights, guests navigate the Aviation Center.

Explorations in aviation are enjoyed by visitors as Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of aviation, points the way to more adventures.

Open House guests walk – and roll – into College Avenue Labs on a brisk spring day.

Students share their expertise in automotive restoration technology and collision repair technology (from left): Vanessa Mathurin, Genevieve M. Kelly and Hallie Krala.

An industrial robot is put through its paces in automated manufacturing.

The glow of candlesticks (in progress) adds a dash of eye-pleasing artistry to the manufacturing lab.

A civil engineering/surveying lab bridges the transition between high school and college.

Playing on a big screen in an engineering design technology lab, a video of “combative robots” aims to spark interest.

In additive manufacturing, a prototype sits atop a printer while another 3-D model of a blue dragon takes shape inside.

Visitors explore the colorful, nutritional offerings in Capitol Eatery.

Elliott Strickland (center, in blue), chief student affairs officer, visits with a family in Rose Street Commons' bustling dining hall, joined by Carolyn R. Strickland (left), vice president for enrollment management and associate provost.

Between Residence Life tours, students enjoy a game in Dauphin Hall's first-floor lounge.

The room designated for on-campus housing contracts was a busy one.

Welcome signs: balloons and a River Valley Transit shuttle bus.

A lineup of visitors makes its way into Dauphin Hall.

Remnants of persistent rain on Open House Eve add a shimmer to the Field House parking lot.

Inquisitive crowds converge west of the Bush Campus Center.

A welcome sign of spring is the activation of campus water features, including the Veterans' Fountain.

The Main Campus Shuttle, carrying road-weary guests grateful for someone else's driving, prepares to embark from the CC Loop.

Pedestrians walk along both side of the campus mall, paralleling the "Student Bodies" welding sculptures between them.

The heated LEC patio, which made quick work of winter's recent worst, adds a patch of blue in this drone's-eye view.

Madigan Library: a golden campus asset

An informative first stop: check-in at the Field House

Blue-and-white balloons confirm that guests have reached their phenomenal destination.

Visitors fan out to points of interest.

David R. Cotner, dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies, delivers an overview of school majors to a Penn's Inn audience.

A Wildcat Events Board display lays to rest any lament that "There's nothing to do here!"

Baking and pastry arts student Lloyd A. Shope brings a welcoming smile and an inclusive message to the PC Alliance booth.

Three members of Omega Delta Sigma, the college's veterans fraternity

Instructor Nicholas L. Stephenson talks about career opportunities in graphic design.

Ear-friendly entertainment is provided by ... who else? Students of Musical Development!

Wildcat men's basketball coach Ryan Callahan is among those on hand to introduce Open House attendees to the exciting world of NCAA Division III athletics at Penn College.

Student groups at Penn College include several faith-based organizations – United Campus Ministries among them.

The School of Business & Hospitality's Denise S. Leete adds to the faculty insight and professional interest that engage prospective students.

Alpha Student Housing's Laura Labs, representing one of the many reputable neighborhood landlords, staffs a table at the Off-Campus Housing Expo in the library.

Whimsically adorned with peepers of his own, Disney's "Herbie, the Love Bug" catches the eyes of many.

Providing a glimpse of his web and interactive media major is student Devyn T. Tucker, from Germany.

Phi Mu Delta brothers, in Greek Life solidarity, at the Campus Life Involvement Fair.

General information sessions in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium are a one-stop source of intel on admissions, financial aid and campus life.

... and by biology faculty member Justin M. Ingram at a hands-on display in the ACC entranceway.

Sparking interest is the new associate degree in concrete science, designed to prepare students for that building material's production and analytical evaluation, starting in Fall 2018.

Geoffrey M. Campbell, assistant professor of architectural technology, helps visitors "Build a 3-D Model of a House."

The new brewing and fermentation science major is discussed by instructor Timothy L. Yarrington ...

Chef Charles R. Niedermyer talks about culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and hospitality management majors ...

... and Chef Paul Mach provides a hard-to-ignore cooking demo in Le Jeune Chef Restaurant.

An overview of the varied majors within the School of Sciences, Humanitites & Visual Communications is shared by dean Michael J. Reed.

Instructor David E. Bjorkman opens eyes and minds to the disaster-preparedness skill set of successful graduates from the emergency management technology major.

Pleasantly fulfilling their tour duty are Presidential Student Ambassadors Efrem K. Foster (left) and Garret D. Corneliussen.

Two Northumberland Countians bond over the physician assistant major: Current student Catherine A. Fisher (left), of Elysburg, and incoming freshman Cierra N. Eby, of Coal Township.

Student members of the Society of Plastics Engineers share the love for their chosen field.

One of the country's fastest-growing occupations is represented at the health information technology table.

Operating suites provide a realistic view of surgical technology through mock medical procedures.

The information technology sciences-gaming and simulation major draws interest in the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center.

Faculty jovially triple-team inquiring minds on majors including the college's new business administration: sport and event management concentration. From left are Summer L. Bukeavich, Chip D. Baumgardner and Terry A. Girdon.

Resident Assistant Kristen E. Bowes takes a snack break in her busy day.