Presentations, progress mark retirees' 'Welcome back' to campus

Twenty Pennsylvania College of Technology retirees recently joined the College Relations staff for the inaugural Retirees' Luncheon in the Thompson Professional Development Center.

The retirees were greeted by Kimberly R. Cassel, college relations director, setting the tone for a very energetic morning filled with student presentations and updates on campus happenings.
 
Loni N. Kline, senior vice president for college relations, warmly welcomed attendees back to campus. She noted Craig A. Cian’s attire, which included his Retiree Tomorrow Makers T-shirt with a repurposed banner as a pocket square on his dress coat.

The retirees heard from three students on their unique experiences at Penn College.

Marshall W. Fowler, an engineering design technology student, talked about the everyday challenges for the Baja SAE team, their experiences in racing, as well as the news that Penn College will host the international Baja SAE competition in May 2024. The retirees were impressed with all the Baja team does outside of class while meeting the demands of their hands-on majors.

Construction management student Chris A. Fisher told of last summer's mission trip to the Dominican Republic with his Global Experiences class. As he spoke of his experiences, especially during “Dump Day," the silence of the retirees spoke volumes to the impact on their hearts.

During Dump Day, Fisher and his fellow Penn College students handed out sandwiches to the workers, many of whom only ate a bite or two before placing them in their bags to share with their families that evening. While handing out sandwiches, students also sang songs to the workers in each of the three native languages (Spanish, Haitian Creole and English). Fisher shared how rewarding it was to build homes in the village, hand out water filters, provide supplies and plan a carnival for children with special needs.

Raul A. Carbajal, a human services & restorative justice student – accompanied by his service dog, Remus – presented on his experiences as a veteran transitioning to student life at Penn College. Carbajal shared a video of his company, Delta Company, during the Battle of Sadr City in 2008, moving the audience and gaining their attention to the stark differences between military and student life.

Retirees were affected by his story, especially his reasons for staying at Penn College, which he attributes to the incredible faculty and staff. Carbajal was kind enough to take Remus off-duty and allow some of the retirees to pet him. Needless to say, Remus was one popular dog!

Lastly, retirees heard from Audriana L. Empet, director of admissions, on current enrollment, admissions recruiting post-COVID and the strategies to support the enrollment goals of the college. She encouraged the group to help recruit future Wildcats by becoming Retiree Tomorrow Makers, wearing Penn College swag and posting to social media.

The lunchtime reminiscences included the transition from Williamsport Area Community College to Penn College, the growth of on-campus housing, the railroad tracks that used to run through the center of campus, and the transformation of lab spaces.

After lunch, Erin S. Shultz, college relations manager, toured retirees through the newly renovated Physician Assistant Center. Shultz (who provided the information for this article) said the first-ever Retirees Luncheon was a success and she hopes it will continue to grow attendance.

“Our retirees' plethora of experience, invaluable wisdom and knowledge of our Penn College history help us ensure our roots, allowing us to grow tomorrow’s workforce,” she said.