Campus harvests autumn engagement

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Photos by Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor, and Rob Hinkal, social media specialist

Greeted by ideal autumn weather, a family strolls the Penn College campus mall during Saturday's Open House.

Saturday delivered a stunningly gorgeous autumn day, and the Penn College campus was buzzing with excitement. An Open House, Athletics events and a Fall Fair took advantage of the warm, sunny weather.

Academic tours, open lab times and a wide range of informative sessions welcomed potential students and their guests to Open House, running 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (The final Open House of Fall 2024 is set for Sunday, Nov. 3.)

Also on campus, Penn College women's soccer and women's volleyball teams competed in the early afternoon, followed by men's soccer taking to the UPMC Athletic Field late afternoon. (For more, read the weekly Athletics report.)

Rose Street Commons Courtyard fielded its own fun with an autumn fair for students, complete with apple bobbing, pumpkin carving and painting, seasonal treats (pie, cider and hot chocolate), an array of lawn games, and a performance by a talented juggler.

Among the college's expansive facilities, a construction lab presents an impressive space for explorations.

Sarah E. Kanagy, an admissions tour guide, talks to a group outside The Madigan Library. She is a pre-dental hygiene student from Belleville.

Powering "Tomorrow Makers" in an electrical technology information session are faculty members Joseph Raup (left) and Art Counterman (in orange shirt).

Pointing the way! Admissions tour guide Kayla M. Figuereo leads a group. A senior in robotics & automation, she hails from Linden, New Jersey.

Future Wildcats?

A sun-dappled day paints a picturesque scene (and stirs many smiles).

Matthew A. Francis (center), instructor of building construction technology, engages guests.

Taking advantage of open lab time, students and Jack Jones (kneeling at center), associate professor of building construction technology, get to work.

Although it may be October, the scene is still mighty green ...

... and campus overflows with photo ops.

Collision repair technology student Luke M. Stitt (left), of New Cumberland, shows off hubcabs and other parts being fashioned during open lab time.

Also in the automotive restoration lab, instructor Roy H. Klinger (right) converses with visitors from Pittsburgh.

Sean McGroarty (center) strikes a future-focused pose with family members. They're from Bucks County.

Men's basketball coach Geoff Hensley (at center in Wildcats shirt) escorts a pack of future Wildcats.

Admissions tour guides (who are also students) welcome visitors in the Davie Jane Gilmour Center.

An automotive lab attracts ample interest.

Dylan Watzka, an incoming building automation student from Kingston, New York, receives assistance from Stephanie Golder (right), enrollment counselor, and Anna Stanaback (center), regional admissions recruiter.