Faculty & Staff Articles

Benjamin H. Eldred, a retired faculty member who taught for 32 years in the heavy construction equipment technology major at Pennsylvania College of Technology and its predecessor institution, Williamsport Area Community College, died Oct. 2 at the age of 77. Eldred received the 2000 Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award, the college’s highest faculty honor. He played a key role in the college’s longtime partnership with Caterpillar Inc.

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.

Total enrollment at Pennsylvania College of Technology for Fall 2024 is 4,575 students – a 6.2% increase over Fall 2023 and a 7.9% increase over Fall 2022. New-student enrollment for Fall 2024 – which includes incoming undergraduate, graduate and nondegree students (new, transfer and re-enroll) is 1,744 – a 7.1% increase over a similarly strong incoming class in Fall 2023.

In-lab industry training is among the benefits of being a Pennsylvania College of Technology student, and a collision repair class recently received innovative instruction from Celette, an esteemed company in the collision repair industry. Second-year students enrolled in Structural Repair Procedures Laboratory and their instructor Loren R. Bruckhart gained training on Celette’s advanced Naja 3D computerized measuring system, recently purchased by the major.

Members of the Williamsport Lions U10 Girls travel soccer teams recently enjoyed connecting with the Penn College women’s soccer players. The college team’s head coach, Ian T. Scheller, and assistant coach, Jakob A. LeMay, held a “Youth Night” and invited the local youngsters to the UPMC Field to watch the pre-game warmups of their “older counterparts” and to join with the Wildcat athletes during player introductions and the national anthem. It was an exciting outing for the little Lions!

During National Physical Therapy Month, Pennsylvania College of Technology physical therapist assistant students are formulating plans for a service-learning project to be held in March. Every October, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students celebrate National Physical Therapy Month to raise awareness among consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy.

Brian McKeon likes to connect with his students. He gets their attention with physical comedy and unexpected attire. Jump up on a desk wearing a kilt? Sure. Whip off his sweater to reveal a Superman shirt and a cape? It's all in a day's work. "The classroom's all about performance," he says, in "Learn to Learn," the 25th episode of the Tomorrow Makers podcast.

A new wrestling coach was named. Three new hall of fame inductees. Wins by the men’s and women’s soccer teams in their United East openers, and both teams won twice. There was plenty to applaud for Pennsylvania College of Technology athletics over the past week.

“Penn College Pride” could not be dampened despite the drizzly weather that lingered throughout Wildcat Weekend Sept. 27-29. The autumn tradition, welcoming the return of alumni and campus visits by students’ families and friends, continued to roll out its full array of fun events, delivering an action-packed weekend for all Wildcat supporters.

Racing against the “fastest trucks in the East,” Pennsylvania College of Technology’s 1959 B-61 Model Mack drag truck claimed first place in the Diesel Big Rig Bracket 1 division and finished second in the “King of the Hill” grand finale at the Keystone Truckin’ Nationals, held Sept. 21 at Maple Grove Raceway in Berks County. This is the first No. 1 finish in a sanctioned competition for the college’s Diesel Performance Club and its truck, aptly named “Accelerated Learning.”