Johnson College Hosts One of a Kind Homecoming Thursday and Friday

Johnson College is inviting students, alumni and the public for its homecoming on campus this Thursday and Friday. WNEP-TV’s Ryan Leckey gets the party started on campus Halloween morning with a live pep-rally. Everyone is invited to come dressed up in their Halloween best from 4:30-7am. Later, the American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive Thursday in the Moffat Gym from 9am-2pm. Thursday night, the student life department is hosting a Halloween Dance in the Moffat Café from 7-9pm. Friday afternoon, the Johnson College Men’s Basketball team will host Christendom College at 4pm in the Moffat Gym for its first ever NJCAA league game and home game of the season. The Men’s Basketball Team will then host a double-header when it challenges former alumni to take the court against them at 6pm in the Moffat Gym. Outside in the parking lot of the Moffat Gym, five area food trucks will be  parked from 4-8pm serving up food to all visitors. Drinker Mobile, Muncheeze, Captain Don’s Chilly Willy, Halal Food, and The Picnic Stand Food Truckare all scheduled to attend. The homecoming events wrap up Friday night with a Bonfire & Pep Rally at 8pm.

For more information visit https://johnson.edu/homecoming/

To see the school’s sports schedules visit https://johnson.edu/sports/

Johnson College’s 2013-2014 Men’s Basketball Team will kick off its season and first NJCAA league game with a double header at home this Friday during the school’s 1st ever homecoming on campus. The public is invited for two games starting at 4pm in the Moffat Gym. They’ll be 5 area food trucks parked outside from 4-8pm. They’ll also be a bonfire and pep rally at 8pm. For more info: https://johnson.edu/homecoming/ 1st Row Left to Right, Jeff Majdic, Assistant Coach, Vandling, #23 Aderly Rodriguez, Scranton, #21 Sean Giordano, Gouldsboro, #15 Foster Burns (Captain), Philadelphia, #11 Shakur Burton (Captain), Tobyhanna, #12 Jordan Faux, Falls, PA, Jonathan Kulas, Head Coach, Dickson City, PA. 2nd Row Left to Right, #30 Jonathan Checefsky, Jessup, #2 Tevin Smith, Lake Ariel, #1 Kevin Wallace, Philadelphia, #5 Mark Gilliam, Philadelphia, #3 Raymond Mills, Philadelphia, PA.
1st Row Left to Right, Jeff Majdic, Assistant Coach, Vandling, #23 Aderly Rodriguez, Scranton, #21 Sean Giordano, Gouldsboro, #15 Foster Burns (Captain), Philadelphia, #11 Shakur Burton (Captain), Tobyhanna, #12 Jordan Faux, Falls, PA, Jonathan Kulas, Head Coach, Dickson City, PA.
2nd Row Left to Right, #30 Jonathan Checefsky, Jessup, #2 Tevin Smith, Lake Ariel, #1 Kevin Wallace, Philadelphia, #5 Mark Gilliam, Philadelphia, #3 Raymond Mills, Philadelphia, PA.

Johnson College Honors Veterinary Technician at Plains Animal Hospital

Johnson College Veterinary Technology program has awarded Gena Comandy the 2013 Outstanding Veterinary Nursing Award. She is a 2008 graduate of the College and now works as the head technician at Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital (NVRH) in Plains.

“She was chosen for the award for her commitment to the profession through training and mentoring to Johnson College interns that she works with,” shares Kendra Lapsansky, Veterinary Technology Instructor.  Gena Comandy has had countless Johnson College interns work under her supervision at NVRH and nearly a half dozen alumni are now employed there.  Gena says, “They are very open and welcoming to Johnson College graduates!”

Gena shares that the most rewarding case she had was just a few weeks ago when a small dog, that was involved in a dog fight, came in with exposed vital organs.  She adds, “That dog received immediate care, underwent emergency surgery and recovered quickly. He’s now home, healthy and happy, with his owners!”

Johnson College Veterinary Technology Program awards alumnae Gene Comandy ‘08 the 2013 Outstanding Veterinary Nursing Award. From left to right: Nicole Merrell ‘14, Student; Kimberly Konopka, Vet. Tech. Instructor, Gena Comandy ‘08, Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital; Kendra Lapsansky, Vet. Tech. Instructor; Victoria Peters ‘14, Student.
Johnson College Veterinary Technology Program awards alumnae Gene Comandy ‘08 the 2013 Outstanding Veterinary Nursing Award. From left to right: Nicole Merrell ‘14, Student; Kimberly Konopka, Vet. Tech. Instructor, Gena Comandy ‘08, Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital; Kendra Lapsansky, Vet. Tech. Instructor; Victoria Peters ‘14, Student.

A Non-Traditional Return to School

Dr. Ann L. Pipinski, President & CEO of Johnson College talks with Bernard Singleton Class of 2014 Diesel Truck Technology
BERNIE’S STORY IS FEATURED IN THIS FALL’S JOHNSONIAN – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

By Dr. Ann L. Pipinski, President & CEO of Johnson College

Recently I was quoted in a New York Times article “Snapshots of Upwardly Mobile Areas” about a study that found the Scranton area at the top of the list when it comes to American cities where lower class citizens have some of the best odds of entering the middle class. This story is the story of our students at Johnson College. We open doors of opportunity for them. Thanks to our strong connection to industry, students attend Johnson College for two years and develop the right set of skills needed to enter into and advance in their careers. They make a family sustainable wage and become leaders in their field.

A perfect example of this is Bernard Singleton, a non-traditional student already working in the Diesel Truck Technology field at Stadium International in Dunmore, which also happens to be a great industry partner. Bernie saw big things happening in the diesel field, but couldn’t get the jobs he wanted. He shares, “What happened was I had a kid and I realized I couldn’t work for pennies.” He took the big step of going back to school and chose Johnson College. Now, as he enters his senior year, he’s going to school full-time and working nights at Stadium to support his family. Bernie says it best about his choice to go back to school, “I decided to make a difference!”


SEE BERNIE’S STORY HERE:
https://johnson.edu/bernard-singletons-story/
 

Johnson College to Host Iraq War Hero

Bryan Anderson is featured in this fall’s Johnsonian Magazine CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Johnson College will present “Bryan Anderson Day” when he visits campus on Wednesday, October 16, 2013. Bryan Anderson is an Iraq War Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient after losing both legs and his left hand in an IED blast in Baghdad.

Bryan will speak with Physical Therapist Assistant students personally at 9:30-10:30am. Bryan will then be available for media interviews from 10:30-11:00am. He will also be the keynote speaker for the college’s scholarship luncheon from 11:30am – 1pm. Bryan will then be available to sign copies of his book No Turning Back from 1-2pm with the money raised going to “The 1st Lieutenant Michael J. Cleary Memorial Fund.” A Dallas, PA native, LT Cleary was killed in Iraq in 2005 during an ambush by hostile forces having just completed a demolitions mission. Bryan will also meet personally with several veteran students at 2:30pm in the Moffat Building Lab. Dr. Ann Pipinski, President and CEO of Johnson College is thrilled, “We can’t wait to welcome such an amazing individual to campus so our students can learn from his journey first hand.”

Bryan Anderson grew up in Chicago with his mom, sister and twin brother. After high school, he went to work as a baggage handler for American Airlines, but he wanted to do something different. Both he and his brother were star gymnasts in high school, so he wanted to do something that used his whole body. Bryan enlisted in the army and prepared to ship out to basic training. That date was 9-11. After basic training, Bryan was sent to Iraq for his first tour. “Not much happened the first time,” Bryan says. The second time though, he says, “It was very, very different.”  On a routine patrol, his military police convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Bryan lost both his legs and his left hand in the explosion.  He remembered every part of the attack, but after being loaded onto a helicopter to be airlifted, he fell asleep and woke up at Walter Reed Medical Center. “Whoa, Mom, what are you doing here?” was Bryan’s reaction to her in his hospital room since he was unaware of his overseas journey.

Bryan Anderson on the Cover of Esquire Magazine January 2007

During his 13 months at rehab, Bryan’s life started to take incredible twists of fate that would make him a celebrity in his own right. Bryan met actor Gary Sinise visiting the injured at Walter Reed, but instead of just shaking his hand, he tripped into him, prompting Gary to call Bryan “The real Lieutenant Dan!” (the famous role he played in the movie Forest Gump). Bryan was later chosen as a cover story for Esquire Magazine which opened up a ton of doors for him. That led to a guest part as a murder suspect on “CSI: NY” with his now friend, lead actor Gary Sinise.

Mr. Sinise would later write the forward for Bryan’s book No Turning Back.  Bryan’s other acting credits include bit parts on the HBO series “The Wire “and in the movie “The Wrestler” with Mickey Rourke. The late James Gandolfini also became a close friend during the taping of the HBO special “Alive Day Memories.”

Today, Bryan’s life is about giving back and inspiring people along his journey. “It was always leaving the place better than I found it. It’s what I’ve been taught.” Bryan has spoken all across the country and the globe after being hired as the spokesman for North East Pennsylvania based Quantum Rehab. Bryan loves to visit NEPA to ride his quad in the mountains. Bryan also won an Emmy last year for hosting a PBS show in Chicago about people using their lives to give back.

Bryan Anderson’s Book “No Turning Back”

However, it is students that he loves speaking with the most. “I like talking to students because I think I really get through to them. Maybe because I’m similar in age or I look young, but they always seem to receive it well. I love being able to inspire college students to do something great and not just be stuck in a life that they’re settling for.” Bryan always tries to give students a wakeup call about life. “There are opportunities out there, you just have to open your eyes and see them.” Even after his life-changing war injuries for serving his country, Bryan is still a proud patriot and wants everyone he meets to realize just how great our country truly is. “Americans take for granted everything they have. They have no idea how good we have it.”

The Women of GM Honor Johnson College Student

Joette Masters is the cover story for the Fall 2013 Johnsonian CLICK THE PHOTO TO READ HER STORY

Joette Masters ‘14 is a girl who loves to fix cars. Being a female in a non-traditional program at Johnson College is what helped Joette get noticed by a group of women who started out just like her and now own their own dealerships with the nation’s largest auto manufacturer, General Motors.

Joette has always loved cars. “Growing up my father was a mechanic, so I was always learning about it and always around it,” Joette says. Joette’s father never owned his own auto mechanic shop, but always worked for one. At home, he also worked on vehicles. Joette says, “I was his little tool getter!” Joette was the middle child with an older sister and younger brother. “He wanted my younger brother to be an auto mechanic,” says Joette. However, it wasn’t long before he realized that she was the only one who took interest in his work. “He didn’t treat me any different, he was excited for me!” Joette’s father died when she was 15, but she knows that he would have been proud of where she is today.

After high school, Joette started looking at colleges and knew a number of successful graduates of Johnson College. Joette says, “They all had jobs immediately after graduating and they said they learned a lot and they said it was well worth going there, so I decided to try it out!” Joette loves the small class sizes Johnson College offers. “They’re more hands on, there’s more communication with the teacher and you have little groups,” she explains.

Mark Kozemko – Automotive Instructor

Mark Kozemko ‘79 is Joette’s instructor in the automotive technology program at Johnson College. “Joette is an exemplary student. She’s top in her class!” Mr. Kozemko loves Joette’s hard working attitude. “She does what everyone else does and more.” Mr. Kozemko doesn’t see too many females in the automotive field. He estimates there are a hundred males to one female. “There’s not that many females out there and the ones that are out there are good!” Joette is no exception.

Mark Kozemko, who just started working at Johnson College in August of last year, has been working on building relationships with local businesses. Back in January, one of the many places Mark visited in person was SUN Buick GMC in Moosic where he met with the owner, Lori Guitson.

Lori Guitson, President, SUN Buick GMC, Moosic, PA and Co-Chair of GM Women’s Retail Initiative

Ms. Guitson serves as the Co-Chair for the General Motors Women’s Retail Initiative Program, the same program that helped her buy the SUN Buick GMC dealership nearly 10 years ago. The timing of Mr. Kozemko’s visit was perfect. Mr. Guitson had flyers for the group’s scholarship program that honors women who want to stay and grow in the automotive field. “We give out between $20-25,000 a year,” Ms. Guitson explains. Over the past 3 years, The GM Women’s Retail Initiative has chosen up to six students nationwide to win scholarships. Ms. Guitson says each year hundreds of applications are received, which are then narrowed down to 20 finalists before the group choses the winners.

Mr. Kozemko took the flyers back to his shop where a fellow classmate quickly said to Joette, the only girl in the class, that she should go for it. “WHY NOT?” Joette said. She submitted the long application soon after. A few months passed before Joette got a call from Ms. Guitson telling her the exciting news that she was one of 6 selected. Joette was awarded a $3,000 scholarship.

As part of the award, Joette received a trip to Detroit where she was presented the check from the group, which was given to her by Ms. Guitson. Joette came in second place among the award winners. The first place winner was an impressive non-traditional student just like her. Joette says, “She was in her 50’s and had spent 20 some years in the Army doing repair, but couldn’t move up any higher. So she decided to change career paths and go back to college at a 2-year program to get her degree in automotive repair.” The trip gave Joette a chance to talk with both owners and technicians just like her about her plans for the future.

Joette Masters ‘14 Auto Tech was 1 of 6 national finalists to win a scholarship from The GM Women’s Retail Initiative

The GM Women’s Retail Initiative Group continues to grow. Ms. Guitson says, “Right now we have 270 women dealers out of 4,700 dealers.” She believes that Joette can easily get a job as a tech in a dealership if she wants to when she graduates.“I have a woman service advisor, I have two women sales consultants. I would love to have a woman tech.” Right now, Joette is working towards the same goal, “I either want to get a job right away in a dealership as a technician or go back to school and specialize in motors or transmissions.” Ms. Guitson says the future is bright for all graduates. “In time the career path can lead to being a service manager.” Now Ms. Guitson hopes that after this Joette will set her goals even higher, “Maybe someday she’ll want to become a dealer!”

WATCH JOETTE’S STORY HERE
https://johnson.edu/joette-masters-profile/

Father & Son Physicists Team Teach Radiation Safety to Students

Samuel Payne, Radiation Physicists Consultants of Hunlock Creek, speaks to Johnson College students about atomic safety when it comes to radiation technology.

Johnson College’s Radiologic Technology Program welcomed a father and son team of medical radiation physicists to speak with students about safety in the x-ray room. Samuel Payne works with his son Michael as Radiation Physicists Consultants in Hunlock Creek. They visit hospitals and clinics across the region to test their radiation scanning equipment.

Sam Payne delivered a presentation to students to talk about being safe when working with any x-ray machine to help students avoid radiation and meet all national safety standards. They also discussed the biologic issues that come from extreme radiation exposure. Sam Payne says, “I love visiting Johnson College each year and experiencing all of the positive energy from the faculty and students. I love being able to share my passion for my work.”

For more information on the Radiologic Technology Program at Johnson College, please contact Joan Bonczek, at 570-702-8940 or jbonczek@johnson.edu. For more information on Radiation Physicists Consultants, please contact them at (570) 477-3925.

Father & Son Physicists Team Teach Safety to Johnson College Students. LEFT TO RIGHT: Roxanne Caswell, Clinical Instructor, Radiologic Technology, Johnson College; Samuel Payne, Radiation Physicists Consultants, Joan Bonczek, Program Director, Radiologic Technology, Johnson College; and Barbara Byrne, Radiologic Technology, Clinical Coordinator, Johnson College; Michael Payne, Radiation Physicists Consultants; Richard Mishura, Math Department Chairman, Johnson College.

 

CMC Donates X-Ray System to Johnson College

Johnson College’s Radiologic Technology Program received this X-Ray Imaging System thanks to a donation from Geisinger Community Medical Center. LEFT TO RIGHT: Dominick A. Carachilo, VP of Academic Affairs, Johnson College; Joan Bonczek, Program Director, Radiologic Technology, Johnson College; and Barbara Byrne, Clinical Coordinator, Radiologic Technology, Johnson College.

Johnson College’s Radiologic Technology Program now has a new high-tech medical tool thanks to a generous donation from an area hospital. Geisinger Community Medical Center’s Radiology Department donated a Kodak CR 800 Direct View X-Ray imaging system, valued at nearly $41,000 to Johnson College’s Radiologic Technology Program. Program Director Joan Bonczek says, “Opposed from routine film processing, computerized radiography produces the radiographic image electronically, illustrating the image on the work station display. This allows the student to better comprehend positioning concepts and radiographic exposures. The entire process also better prepares the student for the actual clinical environment.” Thanks to this equipment donation, Johnson College’s Radiologic Technology program is now able to expand both X-Ray Exposures and Positioning labs to provide students with even more hands-on education with the same equipment that is being used in the field at hospitals and medical clinics.

For more information on the Radiologic Technology Program at Johnson College, please contact Joan Bonczek, at 570-702-8940 or jbonczek@johnson.edu.