Penn College News

Community Involvement Articles

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First-Generation College Celebration Week at Penn College featured an array of exploration and information, highlighted by Lasada “LP” Pippen, a former computer engineer turned motivational speaker. In two speaking engagements – a morning session focused on students and an evening colloquium open to the public, the first-generation college graduate shared his inspiring message about turning obstacles into opportunities and seeing challenges as chances.

The Student Organization and Leadership Center was home to this month’s Service Saturday – “Cozy for a Cause.” Over a dozen Penn College students came together to create 12 “no-sew blankets” to donate to local nonprofits for the increasingly chilly autumn (and soon-to-be winter) season.

A call comes in from the Lycoming County Department of Public Safety’s 911 Center, reporting lost and injured hikers are in the woods on the property of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center. Fielding the dispatch are students enrolled in the college’s emergency management & homeland security major, who promptly set their training and skills into motion for a search and rescue full-scale exercise that also involves forest technology students.

An inspiring team effort took place recently with readings of “Meet Mason” by the Penn College men’s basketball team. In honor of Blindness Awareness Month in October, the team, their coach and the book’s author engaged children in various local settings, including the Dunham Children’s Learning Center at Penn College, Otto Bookstore in downtown Williamsport and Cochran Primary School. The “center” of this team dynamic is Mason Chapman, whose story is shared in “Meet Mason."

Envisioning their lives after high school, special education students in grades 10-12 attended the annual Transition Conference, hosted recently by Pennsylvania College of Technology and BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. The event attracted more than 340 registrants from 19 area school districts in Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga counties.

In honor of Blindness Awareness Month, Penn College men’s basketball players are teaming up for a different exercise – reading “Meet Mason” during Children’s Story Time at the Otto Bookstore in downtown Williamsport. Set for Noon to 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, the free event is suitable for kindergarten and preschool-age children (who should be accompanied by an adult).

A physical therapy clinic – staffed by students supervised by licensed professionals, and offering free services to volunteer community participants in need – is planned for Fall 2025 at Pennsylvania College of Technology. The clinic is being funded by Penn College President Emeritus Davie Jane Gilmour, whose gift will be used to purchase much of the needed equipment, upgrade the space (the former Occupational Therapy Assistant Lab), and support the first two years of operations at the facility.

Penn College’s Medical Imaging Club continued its Pink Out tradition, dressing in rosy hues recently to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The club, made up of students in the radiography program, holds the Pink Out to honor those who have battled or are battling breast cancer and to educate the community about breast cancer, breast self-exams and the role radiographers play in the detection and treatment of breast cancer.

The community is invited to attend the first “Lunch & Learn” of the 2024-25 academic year, featuring Kerry Magro, an award-winning autistic professional speaker, best-selling author and autism consultant to HBO’s “Mrs. Fletcher” and the latest season of Netflix’s Emmy award-winning series, “Love on the Spectrum U.S.” Magro will speak at the Lunch & Learn, set for 4 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at the James V. Brown Library's Lowry Room. The event is free, but registration is required.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Pennsylvania College of Technology will provide free dental care to children and teens age 7-18. From 9 a.m. to noon in the college’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, volunteer dentists and dental hygienists and Penn College students will provide free oral screenings, sealants and education during an activity dubbed “Sealant Saturday.” Appointments are required and can be made by calling 570-320-8007.