Berks CTC team earns diesel title at Penn College competition

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Twenty-six participants from 14 career and technical education centers took part in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s second annual diesel competition at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, which offered an impressive exhibition of student know-how and an impactful celebration of what it portends for the industry’s sustenance.

Aside from offering competitors a striking venue in which to display their proficiency, the Dec. 9-10 event highlighted the significant opportunities available through Penn College’s diesel program and its bighearted corporate partners.

Berks Career & Technology Center (diesel) won first place overall, and was presented with $5,000 in training funds courtesy of Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc.

“We greatly appreciate the opportunity, and are very proud of our students and instructors!” said Michael B. Stauffer, executive director at the school, which also fielded a heavy equipment team at the competition.

The top three individual winners and their resulting Penn College scholarship offers are:

• First: Tyler Brotzman, Northern Tier Career Center; $10,000 scholarship.
• Second: Pearce Alleyne, York County School of Technology; $7,500 scholarship.
• Third: Aidan Nunan, Berks Career & Technology Center (diesel); $5,000 scholarship. He holds an additional $7,500 Penn College scholarship for being 2021’s second-place winner.

“We are extremely proud of our students and the level that they have reached up to this point in their careers,” said Kevin Heimbach, diesel instructor at Berks. “For some, the next step will be Penn College, and the diesel competition opened that door.”

An open door, indeed: Of the 12 seniors who competed on Dec. 10, seven have applied for fall 2023 enrollment at Penn College. And four students from last year’s competition just finished their first semester at Penn College.

The instructor also noted the value in networking with the many supporters of the competition, and not only among students. CTC faculty were invited to get much-needed factory training from dealers so they can pass on the knowledge to their students, and there is the potential for donations to replace some of the older equipment in their shops.

“I believe that it is a very productive use of our time to help improve the Berks CTC Diesel Technology program and the caliber of the students who will replace us in the diesel and heavy equipment field,” Heimbach added. “I hope that this event will continue for many years to come.”

The farsighted aim of the competition was made clear Friday evening, when Justin W. Beishline, assistant dean of diesel technology and natural resources, welcomed competitors, families and sponsors to dinner in the Thompson Professional Development Center on the college’s main campus.

“Penn College produces graduates who are quality technicians and, still, the employers need more,” he told them. “We meet with diesel employers on a regular basis, and they all have the same needs for qualified technicians. The employers often ask us what we can do, or if they can help us to recruit more students. In response, we worked together to create this diesel competition for you to showcase your skills.

“Throughout this event, we hope you will be encouraged by how valuable your CTC education is and discover how a Penn College education can open countless doors to viable career choices throughout the diesel industry.”

Marcayla M. Lutzkanin, of Port Carbon, added a student accent to the proceedings, and industry representatives commented on the benefits of hiring the institution’s graduates.

“Penn College has opened my eyes to many different paths in my life. I have made many friendships and business relationships in the past four years, and I must thank all the instructors at the ESC for always helping me and other students — even outside the classroom or lab,” Lutzkanin said. “I am extremely grateful to have had all these instructors and staff behind me to help me through my Penn College journey.”

That journey already has resulted in two associate degrees (diesel technology and heavy construction equipment technology: Caterpillar emphasis), and Lutzkanin is working toward a bachelor’s degree in applied management with a minor in small business. She is president of the Penn College Diesel Performance Club, is a member of the Wildcat cheerleading squad, and serves as a Student Government Association senator.

“Holding these leadership roles has helped me with my future and building my individual skills that will certainly make me an asset in the workplace,” she told the dinner crowd. “I am so glad I made the choice to come to Penn College, and I am very grateful for all the opportunities this institution has given me. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and memories that I will never forget.”

The following day at the ESC, just off Route 15 south of Williamsport, students rotated among 10 industry-sponsored stations ascertaining their proficiency in air conditioning, basic electricity, cooling systems, data analysis, emissions, fasteners, hydraulics, precision measuring, starting/charging and suspension/drivelines. Co-chairing the event were diesel equipment technology faculty members John D. Motto, instructor, and Chris S. Weaver, assistant professor.

“Employers — many of them alumni — brought in approximately $2 million worth of new equipment for competition day,” said Beishline, who added that student volunteers put in considerable time clearing instructional space and prepping for the competition.

They also joined faculty in a 15-hour day on Saturday, moving the college’s temporarily displaced fleet of trucks back into the labs in the face of an uncertain overnight weather forecast.

In addition to the aforementioned CTCs, Pennsylvania participants included Adams County Technical Institute, Bucks County Technical High School, Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School, Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center, North Montco Technical Career Center, Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center, SUN Area Technical Institute, and Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center.

This year’s competition also attracted teams from two out-of-state schools: Vinal Technical High School (Connecticut) and Center of Applied Technology (Maryland).

Sandra Turcotte, mother of the second-place finisher, said she and her family were greatly impressed with the college and the professionalism of everyone involved in the event.

“Thank you so much for such a positive experience,” she wrote Sunday evening. “My son, Pearce Alleyne, really enjoyed the competition and enjoyed interacting with everyone there. It was his first diesel competition, and you all made it such a phenomenal experience. We really appreciate you hosting this competition and exposing him to so many possibilities for his future.”

The event again attracted a considerable outpouring from corporate partners, who provided equipment and financial contributions, served as judges and mentors, staffed information booths, and supplied winners with valuable prizes.

“We can’t thank our corporate partners enough for the support of this day,” said Elizabeth A. Biddle, senior corporate relations director. “Partners were recognized at different sponsorship levels and will join the fleet of Corporate Tomorrow Makers if they are not already enrolled. This engagement helped further the message of the need for technicians in this industry and the financial contributions are what made the scholarship awards possible.”

Competition sponsors: Allan Myers, Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc., Daimler Truck North America, Foley Inc., Kenworth of Pennsylvania, Motor Truck Thermo King, Sherwood Freightliner, Sherwood Isuzu, and Waste Management.

Skills sponsors: Bergey’s Truck Center, Groff Tractor & Equipment Inc., LandPro Equipment LLC, Lehigh Hanson Inc., and Wagman Inc.

Station sponsors: Antique Truck Club of America, Best Line Equipment, Earthborne Trucks and Equipment, FedEx Freight, Five Star International, Foster F. Wineland Inc., H.O. Penn Machinery, Hunter Truck, Imperial Supplies, Komatsu, and Watsontown Trucking Co.

For more about diesel technology and related majors in Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, visit www.pct.edu/et or call 570-327-4520.

For more about the college, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.