Famed Cake Decorator Joins Students for Wedding Competition

March 8, 2010 - 4:13 p.m.

Boundless creativity provided the midnight oil for Penn College's School of Hospitality students, who put in late, late hours to prepare their entries for the fifth annual CalJava International Wedding Cake Competition. Judges were Alan Budiman who spent several days last week working with students (and whose father, Daniel, conceived the contest); Tammie Holsinger, owner of Cove Party Supply in Roaring Spring; and Jennifer Eckert, who earned degrees in baking and pastry arts and technology management from the college in 2001 and 2004. Watch PCToday for more about this year's competition and visit the Photo Gallery for more eye-popping treats.

Volunteers Serve 55 Children During Sealant Saturday

March 9, 2010 - 3:38 p.m.

Dental hygiene students and faculty from Penn College teamed with volunteer dental hygienists and dentists to provide free oral screenings, sealants, fluoride treatments and education for 55 children as part of the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists’ Association’s statewide Sealant Saturday program on Feb. 13. At the four-hour event, held in Penn College’s dental hygiene clinic, the children – ages 7 to 15 – received a fluoride varnish treatment, and 320 sealants were placed. All children also received an examination from a licensed dentist.

'A Single Man' to Open at CAC Cinema

March 9, 2010 - 11:05 a.m.

"A Single Man," based on a Christopher Isherwood novel and starring Colin Firth – nominated for a "Best Actor" Oscar – as a gay British university professor living in Southern California in 1962, will be shown at 7:30 p.m.March 13 and 15-18 and at 2 p.m. March 14 at the Community Arts Center.
Coming soon: "Creation"

Hospitality Faculty Member Presents at Conference

March 8, 2010 - 4:31 p.m.

An assistant professor of hospitality management/culinary arts at Penn College recently presented a workshop at the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association’s annual Food and Beverage Conference. Chef Paul Mach presented a session titled “Pennsylvania Beer Versus Wine and Sustainable Tapas” with Robert Oeler, sommelier at the Nittany Lion Inn. The two led an interactive discussion on Pennsylvania wines, beer and food-pairing techniques. The fourth annual conference, dubbed “Shift Your Focus,” was held Feb. 23 at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College.

Tankless Water Heaters Save Energy in Multiple Ways

March 8, 2010 - 10:53 a.m.

A tip/suggestion highlighted at this past weekend's West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association Home Show regards water conservation: "Most homes in North America use a storage tank water heater to provide domestic hot water. This unit keeps water hot 24/7. A 'tankless water heater ignites the water as needed, reducing energy consumption and household water heating bills up to 50 percent." The Penn College Energy Conservation Subcommittee and the U.S. Department of Energy remind that, if all Americans used tankless water heaters, 91 million tons of carbon dioxide annually would be kept out of the atmosphere, there would be a reduction in the number of tank water heaters (which cannot be recycled) going to landfills each year, and the nation's overall dependence on nonrenewable resources would decrease.

Penn College Baseball Team in Florida

March 7, 2010 - 7:31 p.m.

In an effort to prepare for the start of its season later this month, the Penn College baseball team is spending the week at Cocoa Expo College Baseball Spring Training in Cocoa, Fla. "I hate to say wins and losses aren’t important, but it is our spring training and we’re there to work on fundamentals, to get back into the swing of things and get used to playing a game again – to get ready for our (Penn State University Athletic) conference schedule,” said Chris Howard, who is entering his fourth year as coach and whose team is the two-time defending PSUAC champ. Read Wildcat Weekly for more.

Alumnus Honored at Chamber's 'Education Celebration'

March 5, 2010 - 2:34 p.m.

Raymond Marshalek, who graduated from Penn College forerunner Williamsport Technical Institute in 1955, received an Alumni of the Year Award during the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce’s ninth annual Education Celebration on Thursday. The event honored students and educators from across Lycoming County, as well as alumni from Penn College and Lycoming College who stayed in the area and have made a positive impact on the community. Marshalek is the owner of Fairfield Manufacturing Co. Inc. in Montoursville. He served on the college’s Automated Manufacturing Advisory Committee and is a member of several community organizations; his son, John, is an instructor of machine tool technology/automated manufacturing at Penn College.

Wildcats Knock Off No. 1 Messiah in Men's Club Volleyball

March 5, 2010 - 8:20 a.m.

Earlier this week, for the first time in its history, the Penn College men's volleyball team earned its first national club ranking at No. 25. Thursday night, it celebrated by knocking off top-ranked Messiah College in five sets at Bardo Gym. "They played as a team. They are having fun. I'm elated for the kids," said coach Wes Strayer after his squad scored its first win ever over Messiah, 22-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-17, 15-11. On Saturday, the Wildcats will be back in action in a tournament at Messiah, and there could be a rematch as they are in the same bracket.

Fun, Information Mix at Pre-Spring Break 'Happy Hour'

March 4, 2010 - 2:20 p.m.

In a festively decorated Penn's Inn, a number of Penn College offices hosted a Tuesday "Happy Hour" gathering  to encourage students to make wise, safe decisions during their imminent Spring Break. Useful information was available about alcohol, safe sex, highway safety, judicious sun exposure and other considerations for students embarking on midsemester getaways. The evening included a "mock-tail" competition among School of Hospitality students, who served up a tasty variety of nonalcoholic treats. Winners were: Michelle D. Mierwald and Darnell R. Bungy, first prize; Ponnie M. Marcus and Anika A. Stewart, second; and Melissa M. Balduino and Ashley N. King, third.
Photos by Michael S. Fischer, student photographer

Abbygale J. Willow Named SGA’s ‘Student of the Month’

March 4, 2010 - 10:33 a.m.

Abbygale J. Willow, a nursing major from Thompsontown, is the Student Government Association's latest Student of the Month at Penn College. A full-time student on track to graduate in May from the School of Health Sciences, Willow is a nurse extern in the postoperative orthopedic/neurosurgery unit at Harrisburg Hospital. She has logged more than 200 volunteer hours there, is a campus tutor in several health-related subjects and recently assisted at a community flu-shot clinic in Hughesville. “I can honestly say Abby is a very dedicated student with a very big heart who truly makes a difference in the lives of her patients,” her faculty nominator wrote.

Sociology Faculty Member’s Book Review Published

March 4, 2010 - 10:23 a.m.

Douglas M. Sherry, part-time instructor of sociology at Penn College, recently published a book review in the Journal of American Culture. Sherry reviewed “From the New Deal to the New Right: Race and the Southern Origins of Modern Conservatism,” by Joseph E. Lowndes. The review was published in the December issue of the Journal of American Culture, a quarterly publication of the American Culture Association.

Nationally Ranked Penn College Men's Volleyball Team to Host No. 1 Messiah College

March 3, 2010 - 4:35 p.m.

Unbeaten and, for the first time ever, ranked No. 25 in the nation, the Penn College men's volleyball team hosts top-ranked Messiah College at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bardo Gymnasium on East Third Street. The Wildcats (9-0 overall) never have beaten Messiah (4-0), which won the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association Division II Champion in 2008. Despite the history between the teams, Penn College coach Wes Strayer is "confident" going into the match.

Penn College Students to Volunteer With ‘Habitat’ Over Spring Break

March 3, 2010 - 2:56 p.m.

While many college students might choose to spend their Spring Break in the fun and sun of a tropical paradise, nine Penn College students will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Marion, S.C., during the week of March 7. “I think it is amazing that students are taking their break from classes to spend time on such a commendable project,” said Sara R. Hillis, assistant director of student activities for student services and involvement. “We have students that have participated over winter breaks with Habitat and students traveling to Haiti. It speaks volumes about the quality of students at Penn College to see their participation in such worthy causes.”

5K Run/Walk to Raise Scholarship Funds

March 3, 2010 - 11:57 a.m.

Penn College’s School of Health Sciences will host a 5K Run/Walk on April 17 to raise scholarship funds for students enrolled in health sciences majors at the college. Faculty and staff from the School of Health Sciences are organizing the event. Net proceeds will be used to support the School of Health Sciences Endowed Scholarship Fund, with the goal of building to an endowment of at least $25,000, after which it will become a permanent source of scholarship awards. "We are excited to be hosting this inaugural event as we come together as a school to create an endowed scholarship,” said Sharon K. Waters, dean of health sciences. “This initiative will help us to leave a lasting legacy that will benefit future students as they prepare to enter exciting and rewarding health professions. We welcome the participation of the community and the region in this worthy cause.” A registration form follows:

View PDF file

PPG Shares Environmentally Friendly Auto-Refinishing Technology

March 3, 2010 - 10:55 a.m.

Technology with the potential to change the auto-refinishing industry – on par with the introduction of the spray gun 75 years earlier – is in the hands of collision repair students at Penn College, thanks to the generosity of a longtime corporate partner. PPG Industries Automotive Refinish, a major equipment and training contributor to the college’s School of Transportation Technology, recently donated an Envirobase High Performance waterborne-coatings system to the collision repair program in College Avenue Labs. “PPG is one of the premier industries in collision repair refinishing, and its generous donation of cutting-edge, water-based refinishing technology will enhance our students’ overall learning to a professional level,” said Michael R. Bierly, a member of the college’s collision repair faculty. “Our students will be able to enter the workforce with a whole new technology and be ready to apply it.”