ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona held its spring 2020 Student Showcase virtually on Friday, May 1.

Students from various disciplines showcased their work through Zoom presentations to faculty, staff, students, the local community, family and friends.

Students from the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology and the Rail Transportation Engineering programs presented their senior capstone projects, while those studying business presented on their internship and research opportunities. Students in the Security and Risk Analysis program presented on their internships and capstone projects.

The final round of the Pechter Business Plan Competition also took place during the showcase. Izaak Lustgarten and Krutik Patel were co-winners, each awarded $5,000 for their business concepts. Patel presented his product, Koin Keepr, which provides an easier and more convenient round-up service for cash transactions. Lustgarten presented the D’Vote App, a micro-donations app focused on religious organizations. Awards were made possible by Tom Lucas and Steve Sheetz. The competition, established by Penn State Altoona benefactor Shirley Pechter, consists of a four-phase process for students to take ideas from concept through a feasibility study/market analysis to a full business plan. Local business leaders judged the competition, basing their evaluations on the feasibility of the proposed businesses, the business overviews, and presentations.

Graduating senior Lucia Perez was inducted into the Penn State Altoona chapter of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society, a business honor society. Eligibility is offered to those students in the top 20% of the undergraduate business program and who reflect the society’s high standards of academic excellence.

Penn State Altoona partnered with the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation for the spring 2020 Student Showcase.