Faculty & Staff Articles

The Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program facilitated by Pennsylvania College of Technology continues to experience increased enrollment and engagement. Its most recent cohort featured 124 high school juniors and seniors from 21 public and private schools across the commonwealth. The longest-running registered pre-apprenticeship program in Pennsylvania, AMP enrollment numbers have doubled over the past two years.

It may be summer, but Penn College’s Diesel Performance Club and its 1959 B-61 Model Mack drag truck (nicknamed “Accelerated Learning”) are not taking any time off. They’re geared up for the East Coast Truck Nationals, set for this Saturday, June 22, at Numidia Dragway in Columbia County.

With the theme, “Strength through Collaboration,” Penn College hosted its second annual Juneteenth “Lunch & Learn” on Wednesday to honor the federal holiday. The sizable audience in Penn’s Inn included college employees, students and community members. The event highlighted the need for collaboration to achieve change, progress, equity, justice and quality education.

The National Science Foundation has recognized Pennsylvania College of Technology’s commitment to the plastics/polymer workforce by awarding a $594,574 Advanced Technological Education grant. The Practical Polymers for Students and Industry grant (award No. 2400810) will facilitate the redesign of the college’s polymer technology curriculum and support enhanced recruitment activities aimed at high school students, secondary teachers and incumbent workers.

The first in a series of hands-on workshops being offered this summer and fall by the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology proved highly beneficial for 26 participants from 11 companies based in five states. Led by prominent plastics experts, the three-day Extrusion Seminar & Hands-on Workshop provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of extruders and extrusion principles.

Penn College hosted some of the best young welders in the nation last week. The college’s 55,000-square-foot welding facility served as the home for two national competitions, conducted by Project MFG, a skilled-trades advocacy group. A mix of high school and trade school students from throughout the country competed in the National Welding League Championship and the Maritime National Championship, both offering prizes that included $10,000 for first place.

Pennsylvania College of Technology has appointed Kate Hummel as senior director of campus life and the residential experience. She began her duties on June 10. “Kate’s experience and expertise is second-to-none in the field of student affairs; her arrival will enable us to move student life forward in innovative and exciting ways,” said Jennifer McLean, dean of students.

Montoursville Area High School student Mason Morrow won first place – and the grand prize of a $10,000 scholarship to Pennsylvania College of Technology – in the 2023-24 Dream-Learn-Pitch competition. Dream-Learn-Pitch, administered by nonprofit Brighter Financial Futures/Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy, provides high school and middle school students with an opportunity to innovate and gain exposure to the world of entrepreneurship and small business.

Pennsylvania College of Technology teams had multiple highlights during their 10th season as members of the United East Conference and seventh season as full-fledged members of the NCAA. The Wildcats are on the map! "The 2023-24 year is hands-down the most successful year in school history in the NCAA era," Scott Kennell, director of athletics, said.

Throughout the week, Penn College has hosted welding championships conducted by Project MFG, a skilled trades advocacy group. On Thursday, WNEP-TV’s Mackenzie Aucker covered the second of two competitions: the National Welding League Championship, featuring the top 18 high school and trade school welders from throughout the country. Her story includes an interview with Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies.