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Penn College Magazine
A publication of Pennsylvania College of Technology
Magazine Fall 2024
Recent Articles
Fall 2024, Volume 33, Number 2
Two of a Kind
Twin brothers Jake and Jon Twardowski complete their Penn College bachelor’s degrees just like they’ve done most everything else: together.
Rough Competition
More than 100 colleges from across the U.S. – and beyond – bring student-built all-terrain vehicles to Penn College’s Heavy Equipment Operations Training Site for mud-flinging fun.
Portrait of an Illustrator
The illustrations of Brian Lutz ’08 have been featured in New York Magazine, Time and Entertainment Weekly. Through Oct. 4, they are featured in an exhibit at The Gallery at Penn College.
Game analytics
Ryan Lockman ’20, a Tesla Energy engineer and semi-pro athlete, plays basketball with an engineering mindset.
Dental Hygiene hails largest group of male grads
Five students who received their degrees on May 10 make up the largest group of men to graduate from the college’s 45-year-old dental hygiene program.
Photographic Memory
Can you help us identify this group of students making their way across campus? Email magazine@pct.edu or call 570.327.5527.
Archives
In the last Photographic Memory
Many thanks to Michael Dincher for identifying Forestry Club advisers Donald R. Nibert (kneeling in the lower left of the photo), an assistant professor of forestry who retired in 2009 after 40 years of teaching at the college, and Richard W. Rankinen (on right), an associate professor of forestry who retired in 2006 with 37 years of service. Nibert died in 2023.
Surgical Technology Lab Niche
Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, Room W236
Featuring scrubs sinks, mock operating rooms, and plenty of “tools,” the surgical technology lab prepares students for serious work. “Imagine being part of a life-saving mission every day,” says program director Elizabeth S. Gizenski. “It’s a high-pressure, fast-paced environment that demands precision and focus.” Hands-on learning equips students with valuable skills like sterile technique, surgical instrument knowledge, and excellent communication.
A mayo stand is a moveable table used to hold sterile surgical instruments and supplies during procedures. This is the primary workspace for the surgical technologist. Surgical technologists play a vital role on the surgical team.
Students Nicki L. Lauver (left), and Emily E. Pavusek practice a laparoscopic procedure. Lauver, already a certified flight paramedic and licensed practical nurse, chose to explore surgical technology after her youngest son entered a surgical technology program and talked with her about what he was learning. The space – housed in the classroom next door – is equipped with a variety of instrumentation specific to laparoscopic surgery, allowing students to simulate several procedures (in this case, a hysterectomy).
Surgical technologists are at the heart of the action. “You get to witness medical miracles firsthand,” Gizenski says. “From complex organ transplants to minimally invasive procedures, surgical technologists are there to support the team and contribute to patient recovery. It is a career where you can truly make a difference in people’s lives.”
News
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Support Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity
of alumni, corporate partners, employees and friends, the Penn College Foundation administers more than 350 scholarship funds and generates annual awards to more than 600 deserving students.
"My scholarship means everything to me. I would not be in college if it were not for the financial support I have received from the Lenfest Foundation. In the beginning, I didn’t really understand how to maximize my scholarship aside from the financial component. Now I’m aware of prior Lenfest students, and I’m able to build connections and relationships with them."
Samir Khalid Pringle, Accounting & Business Administration
Lenfest Scholars Program
"Because of Penn College scholarships, I no longer need to work an extra job and can fully focus on school, tennis, the military and my family. I am so thankful for the help I received; it has been a weight off of my shoulders not to have to worry about money. Because of donor generosity, I am getting real-life experience that I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. Thank you for investing in me and my future, and for helping me and so many other students achieve our dreams."
Lauren D. Peck, Aviation
Eugene C. Breiner Memorial Aviation Maintenance Scholarship and Lycoming Engines Scholarship
"I’m so grateful to scholarship donors for all they do to make Penn College a modern learning environment that allows us students to continue the legacy of a hands-on technical education, equips us to be leaders in industry and makes us marketable to more employers than we can ever imagine."
James Fretz, Construction Management
Larry Allison Family Scholarship
About Penn College Magazine
Penn College Magazine, the magazine of Pennsylvania College of Technology, is dedicated to sharing the educational development, goals and achievements of students, alumni, faculty and staff with one another and with the greater community.
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