Newport Business Institute

Mike Miller

Hometown: Williamsport

Major: Business Administration

Graduation Date: May 2005

Future Plans: Move to Georgia and open own business

Interests/Hobbies: Working out and fishing

Comment on College experience: “Work at it hard, it pays off!”

What you like about Williamsport: “Williamsport is a small town with great potential.” 

Rachel Earnest

Hometown: Unityville

Major: Business Administration

Graduation Date: August 2005

Future Plans: To get a career in my field of study

Interests/Hobbies: Softball, indoor soccer

Comment on College experience: “Study hard and pay attention, it will eventually all pay off.”

What you like about Williamsport: “It is a historical town with great educational opportunities.” 

Erin Karpich

Hometown: Springville

Major: Accounting

Graduation Date: May 2008

Future Plans: Working in an accounting firm. Also receiving my CPA.

Interests/Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, Cliff Jumping.

Comment on College experience: “Do everything that the Student Activities offer.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I like the city but the fact that it is still in the country. I also love the small shops downtown.”

Kelsey Helminiak

Hometown: Jersey Shore

Major: Executive Secretary

Graduation Date: March 2006

Future Plans: Work in a big business, make good money to support myself and love what I do.

Interests/Hobbies: I like to play soccer, I have played for 12 years. I also like shopping and pickle ball.

Comment on College experience: “Pay attention from the beginning, be the best at what you do and all the experience will really help you in the end.”

What you like about Williamsport: “It has several good schools and is not far from home.”

Chris Caskey

Hometown: Williamsport, PA

Major: Business Administration

Graduation Date: November 2005

Future Plans: Hope to own my own business

Interests/Hobbies: Coach football for Pop Warner

Comment on College experience: “A very eye-opening experience beyond what’s learned out of the books.”

What you like about Williamsport: “It’s my hometown and I enjoy being an active member of the community.” 

Dianna Day

Hometown: Williamsport
Major: Business Administration

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: Use my degree to work toward a GM position and may continue my education.

Interests/ Hobbies: Reading, writing poetry, running and kick-boxing.

Comment on College experience: “I enjoy Newport’s Monday through Thursday schedule, class sizes and one-on-one time with my instructors. As a non-traditional student, Newport has helped me ease back into the classroom.”

What you like about Williamsport: “Williamsport is my hometown, friendly atmosphere and promising community.” 

Lycoming College

Greg Coale

Hometown: Highland, Md

Major: Marketing

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: Get into real estate or move on to graduate school

Interests/ Hobbies: Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Student Senate, music- in a student band on campus

Comment on College experience: “I became close to a lot of people and built friendships. I got as involved as I could, and because of that I have met many different people with many different personalities.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I like the close-knit community feeling in a city atmosphere. You can walk down fourth Street and feel like you are in a fairly large city, but once you step in a store, it feels more like a small-town.” 

Austin Ashley

Hometown: New Milford, N.J.

Major: Political Science

Graduation Date: May 2007

Future Plans: Graduate and work for a political company

Interests/ Hobbies: Politics, community service and traveling

Comment on College experience: “College is a great place to learn, make new friends and get ready for the real world.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I like the small town feel in the middle of a large city.”

Erica Makos

Hometown: Montoursville

Major: Marketing and Mass Media Communications

Graduation Date: May 2007

Future Plans: Graduate school, marketing executive

Interests/ Hobbies: Community service, Ghost Wings Magazine, tennis, ballet

Comment on College experience: “A fantastic, positive experience. Lycoming has provided the necessary tools for a great education. They have really prepared me for a future in the business world!”

What you like about Williamsport: “It has a small-town atmosphere with friendly people and a great discount at Joanna’s Bakery!” 

Michelle Morone

Hometown: Middlesex, N.J.

Major: Chemistry and Biology Minor

Graduation Date: May 2005

Future Plans: Graduate school to further education into Pharmaceutical Management

Interests/ Hobbies: Traveling, shopping and reading

Comment on College experience: “Lycoming College has taught me to work with a diverse group of people.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I enjoy how the town includes the colleges in community service and events.”

Lisa Stutzman

Hometown: Williamsport

Major: Biology and Chemistry

Graduation Date: May 2005

Future Plans: Attending Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Interests/ Hobbies: Tennis and reading

Comment on College experience: “Lycoming has prepared me to enter the real world. I have made some great friends and memories.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I like the small-town atmosphere that makes you feel at home and welcome.” 

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Josh Mont

Hometown: Millville

Major: Broadcast Communications and Business Technology Management

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: I plan to continue bartending and pursue a career in broadcasting.

Interests/ Hobbies: Bartending, baseball, football and radio broadcasting

Comment on College experience: “It is something that everyone should have before getting a job in the real world.”

What you like about Williamsport: “It has a nice night life for such a small city.”

Lewis Rabayda

Hometown: Summit Hill

Major: Graphic Design

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: To work in Philadelphia and design for a magazine

Interests/ Hobbies: Mountain biking, camping and playing djembe. I like music with meaning.

Comment on College experience: “My internship with the Penn College Design Department taught me how the many stages of design unfold and affect the final piece.”

What you like about Williamsport: “The Community Arts Center is very elegant and hosts some great events. The area is a good mix between rural America and small city.”

Tony Eisenhour

Hometown: Middletown

Major: Business Administration: Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: To own several businesses, travel the world and be a motivational speaker and trainer.

Interests/ Hobbies: Computers (Apple and PC), restore cars, watch movies, listen to different kinds of music, read, play video games and the outdoors.

Comment on College experience: “It has been a very memorable and educational experience, I have met many different people and made a lot of great friends along the way.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I like the nightlife, affiliations with organizations outside the college (Toastmasters). Williamsport has a lot of historic landmarks to visit.”

Emily Weaver

Hometown: Ephrata

Major: Technology Management

Graduation Date: May 2005

Future Plans: I am planning to get a job in a hospital or insurance company as a manager or supervisor.
Interests/ Hobbies: Volleyball, ultimate frisbee, Campus Crusade for Christ and working out.
Comment on College experience: “I have enjoyed my time at Penn College. I learned a lot about myself as well as gaining knowledge for my future job.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I have enjoyed all the people I have gotten to know and the friendships I have gained. I like how pretty Williamsport looks at night coming down from the mountain.”

Devin Gebhart

Hometown: Gettysburg

Major: Business Administration: Management Information Systems

Graduation Date: May 2005

Future Plans: Work in MIS within health-care industry

Interests/ Hobbies: Volunteer with hometown fire department, interests in emergency services and health care. Member of SGA, NRHH, Currently an RA for the Office of Residence Life.

Comment on College experience: “It is necessary to get involved in student and community activities in order to experience the full college experience. Involvement is the key to success.”

What you like about Williamsport: “There are several colleges in the area that provide the opportunity to make lots of friends and meet a diverse group of people.”

Ange Rymer

Hometown: Jersey Shore

Major: Business Management and Business Administration Marketing

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: Finish school and go on to graduate school or law school

Interests/ Hobbies: PBL, SGA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Wildcat Dance Team member

Comment on College experience: “The dedicated teachers present the information in ways that relate to how the knowledge would be used in the real world. The other students are a lot of fun to hang out with.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I love the mountains, they are gorgeous!”

Juli Reppert

Hometown: Lebanon

Major: Broadcast Communications, Mass Communications, Mass Media Communications and Technology Management

Graduation Date: May 2006

Future Plans: Work in the broadcasting industry (radio) and/or manage or own my own business

Interests/ Hobbies: Music, art, sports, PBL, DJ and radio show host for WPTC 88.1FM

Comment on College experience: “It has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much that has really stuck with me. I have met so many great people and made some really great friends, not only with the students, but with the teachers and staff as well. I have really learned a lot about myself to help me succeed in the future.”

What you like about Williamsport: “I think Williamsport has a really pretty landscape. I also like how the community welcomes the students from all three institutions to take part in events.”

Committee Members’ Testimonials  

Ron Frick
Chairman of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce’s College Town Committee

“I thought the leadership exhibited by the student representatives on this was terrific. Not only did Robin and Dan do an excellent job in putting together a beta test site for the committee, they also partnered with college staff member Elaine Lambert to present their ideas to the committee in a well-organized and professional manner. We are excited about the possibilities this site will provide for folks looking at Williamsport and Lycoming County for things to do and places to locate their business. We think this could be another tool in our efforts to retain and attract people and businesses to Williamsport.”

Elaine Lambert
Director of College Information and Community Relations at Penn College and a member of the College Town Committee

“The Web site project was a learning experience, not only for the students, but also for the community leaders who worked with them and were impressed by the students’ commitment to the project. When people work together for a common good, good things happen,” she said. “In this case, many students, parents, community members and potential visitors to the city will benefit from the collaboration that created the College Town Web site.”

J. Michael Wiley
Williamsport City Councilman and a member of the College Town Committee

“It has been a real pleasure working with Pennsylvania College of Technology students who are volunteering their time and energy to the College Town Committee. They have approached the design of the College Town logo and Web page with a great deal of energy and creativity and have worked well on other projects with the committee members and volunteers. They have been an integral part of the Committee’s work, and their contribution to our community is greatly appreciated. We are fortunate to have students from all three institutions within the City working so well together and contributing to help to make Williamsport an even better center for learning.”

Daniel Little
Chair of the Web site development project and Penn College representative

“Working on College Town has been one of the best experiences of my life. In the two years that I have been a part of College Town, not only have I learned about our town and surroundings, but I have also connected with a lot of people.” 

Juli Reppert
Penn College representative

“I love working with such a fun and creative team. I’m glad I had the chance to help develop a site that has such a wonderful purpose. I am happy that I played a role in developing the beginning of something that will continue to help improve the city of Williamsport and Lycoming County.”

Greg Coale
Lycoming College representative

“The opportunity has been nothing but a non-stop learning experience. Every member is there for a reason and we all have something to bring to the table. I think all of the student representatives have learned a great deal and at the same time we are getting things accomplished.”