Faculty & Staff Articles

Groff Tractor & Equipment has loaned advanced John Deere equipment that is benefiting Pennsylvania College of Technology students in the heavy construction equipment technology majors. A John Deere 550K dozer and John Deere 544G wheel loader were donated for use for the Summer and Fall 2024 semesters. Six Penn College classes are gaining hands-on exposure to the equipment.

Working together to get the job done and lift up others: That seems to be a reoccurring theme as we reach the conclusion of “Give Thanks, Paw it Forward” week. The final “Makers” profile to be shared as part of this annual thankfulness celebration is that of James C. Fretz, a construction management student from Collegeville.

The latest edition of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Visiting Chef Series featured one of Lycoming County’s own: Chef George E. Logue III, a 2010 Penn College culinary arts graduate, a member of the reigning World Barbecue Championship team, and co-owner of Herman & Luther’s, just north of Montoursville.

“Problem, promise … I love that,” said Lasada Pippen. “You're gonna be a pro either way. PRO, promise. PRO, problem. Either way you look at it, you're gonna be a pro. Either you're gonna be a pro at getting stuck behind a problem, or you're gonna be a pro at getting to the promise. You see what I mean? I just love wordplay.” In the 28th episode of Penn College’s Tomorrow Makers podcast – “All Grit. No Quit.” – join the wordplay and wisdom of this inspiring speaker.

During a recent international conference, a Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member presented his research findings focusing on technology use among people with disabilities. Stephen R. Cheskiewicz, associate professor of computer information technology, shared the results of his study, “The Great Need for a Dedicated Special Needs Social Media Platform,” at the 17th annual International Conference on Education, Research and Innovation in Seville, Spain.

Students enrolled in emergency management & homeland security at Pennsylvania College of Technology are benefiting from a recent software donation. D4H has donated its cloud-based emergency management software to the college. Students in the Incident Command System Operations class now have access to the same software used by over 100,000 responders in 37-plus countries.

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 Gallery at Penn College doubled as a woodworking shop during the artist’s reception for “Art of the Everyday,” showcasing the work of Mary Michael Shelley, of Ithaca, New York. Visitors enjoyed the added engagement of watching Shelley demonstrate her low-relief wood carving process during the recent gathering. She also delivered a talk, moving the crowd around the gallery space to discuss numerous works from her 50-plus-year career.

Saluting the Penn College military family, Veterans Week featured a range of events, including a brunch, bingo, informational displays and a national honor society induction ceremony. Students, faculty and staff who have served (or continue to serve) their country were also recognized in a voluntary roster. With the ranking of No. 1 school for veteran students in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Colleges’ Regional College (North) classification, Penn College and its veterans have a lot to celebrate.

In "Neurodiversity & Inclusion," Kerry Magro shares his transformative journey from a non-speaking individual with autism to an award-winning professional speaker and best-selling author. He invites listeners of Penn College's Tomorrow Makers podcast to consider the power of inclusion and to lead with compassion.