8th Annual Carpentry Auction Raises over $4,000 for Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Johnson College Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program hosted its Annual Carpentry Auction at the College’s Scranton campus on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The event raised over $4,000 to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania in support of its mission to provide excellence in the assessment and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

More than 70 items created by Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology students were available for auction. There was a wide variety of woodwork, including chessboards, tables, chests, benches, and more. Many of the items were made from repurposed materials.

Johnson College 2025 Summer Camp Series for Rising 5th through 8th Grade Students

Johnson College will host a 2025 Summer Camp Series for rising 5th through 8th grade students. There will be nine different camps that will run on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include hands-on learning in building trades, robotics, drafting and design, animal sciences, and engineering and aviation.

Through the support of Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc., and the Wayne County Community Foundation, all of the Johnson College summer camps will be free to participants. Participants must bring their own lunch.

To register for a Johnson College Summer Camp, visit https://johnson.edu/summercamps/.

For more information, contact Tim Frank, Associate Director of Community Engagement at Johnson College at tfrank@johnson.edu.

2025 Johnson College Summer Camp list:

Building Trades at the Stourbridge Tech Hub in Honesdale
June 23-27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of carpentry and how to use hand and power tools safely to build a project.
Registration deadline: June 2

Robotics at the Stourbridge Tech Hub in Honesdale
June 23-27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of robotics and robotics block coding to use robots to complete various coding challenges.
Registration deadline: June 2

Robotics at the Carbondale High School
June 23-26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of robotics and robotics block coding to use robots to complete various coding challenges.
Registration deadline: June 2

Building Trades at Johnson College Scranton
July 7-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of carpentry and how to use hand and power tools safely to build a project.
Registration deadline: June 20

Robotics at Johnson College Hazleton
July 7-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of robotics and robotics block coding to use robots to complete various coding challenges.
Registration deadline: June 20

Drafting & Design at Johnson College Scranton
July 14-18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of AutoCAD and REVIT design principles and techniques to complete various design challenges.
Registration deadline: June 27

Animal Science at Johnson College Scranton
July 14-16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn about careers in the Veterinary Nursing field, animal anatomy, clinical procedures, and complete a dissection.
Registration deadline: June 27

Robotics at Johnson College Scranton
August 4-8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of robotics and robotics block coding to use robots to complete various coding challenges.
Registration deadline: July 25

Engineering & Aviation at Johnson College Scranton
August 11-15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn the basics of engineering with an emphasis on aviation to complete various hands-on design challenges.
Registration deadline: July 25

Johnson College to Host 32nd Annual Golf Tournament

Johnson College will host its 32nd Annual Johnson College Open on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, PA.

All proceeds from the annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Last year’s tournament raised over $50,000 to support the Presidential Scholarship Fund. The scholarships are presented each fall to full-time students demonstrating financial need to finish their educational journey.

To learn more about this event, visit johnson.edu/golf.

Sponsors of this event to date include:

Presenting Sponsor: The Fresh Grocer – Owned and Operated by Gerrity’s

Platinum Sponsor: NET Credit Union and ShopRite

Gold Sponsors: Eastern Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters; Five Star Equipment; Fastenal Company; L.R. Costanzo Company, Inc.; Peoples Security Bank & Trust; PNC Bank; Simplex Homes

Silver Sponsor: American Eagle Outfitters

Cart Sponsor: Toyota of Scranton

Breakfast Sponsor: Boyle Construction  

Lunch Sponsor: Cable Associates

Cocktail Hour Sponsor: Schiff’s Marketplace

Dinner Sponsor: Sordoni Construction Services, Inc.

Beverage Cart Sponsor: Widmer Signs / PA Signs

Golf Gift Sponsor: eCampus.com

Hole-in-One Sponsor: Tasca Ford

Mulligan Sponsor: Topp Business Solutions

Hit & Hold Sponsor: Nunzi’s Advertising

Exclusive Tee Sponsors: Ability Recovery Service, LLC; Action Lift; CHA Consulting; Constantino’s Catering; Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.; I.B.E.W. Local #81; Knowles Associates, LLC; McCarthy Tire; Mesko Glass and Mirror Co., Inc.; MotorWorld; NRG Controls; Postler & Joeckle; Scandale Associated Builders & Engineers, Ltd.; Simona America Industries; Stone Office Equipment, Inc; Topp Business Solutions; Torbik Safe & Lock Inc.; Waste Management;

Presidential Scholarship Sponsors: Ashley Machine & Tool Co.; Candy Frye ’94; Citizens Savings Bank, Czachor Electric; Highland Associates, Ltd.; Mesko Glass and Mirror Co., Inc.; Topp Business Solutions; Torbik Safe & Lock Inc.

Platinum Marketing Sponsor: Condron Sweda Advertising

Advertising Sponsor: Lamar Advertising

Gold Print Sponsor: Sprint Print, Inc.

Photo Caption

Sponsors of the 32nd Annual Johnson College Open met on the College’s Scranton campus in preparation for the event on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, PA. Proceeds from this event will support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund.

Left to right – Front Row: Chester Kaufer, Postler & Joeckle and Marcelo DeSousa, Fastenal. Second Row: Dr. Katie Pittelli, Johnson College, Brian Poveromo, American Eagle Outfitters, and Patrick Rogers, Toyota of Scranton. Third Row: Joe Fasula, The Fresh Grocer – Owned and Operated by Gerrity’s, Debbie Kolsovsky, PNC Bank, and Doug Cook, Johnson College. Fourth Row: Megan Armillay, Condron Sweda Advertising, and David Boniello ’84, Simplex Homes. Fifth Row: Bobby Lynott, Widmer Signs/PA Signs, Kathleen Martin, NET Credit Union, and Matt Locci, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Sixth Row: Kristen Wolfe, Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., Melissa Howells, Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., and Chris Stone, Stone Office Equipment.

Instant Decision Day for Veterans and Current U.S. Military Service Members is May 15

Johnson College’s Instant Decision Day for Veterans and those currently serving in the U.S. Military will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held virtually and in person on the College’s Scranton campus in Ideal Saldi Hall. To register to attend in person or virtually, visit Johnson.edu/instant.

During the Instant Decision Event, Johnson College will provide prospective veteran students and those currently serving in the U.S. military with an immediate enrollment decision. They must supply their high school transcripts and can bring their college and military transcripts if applicable. It is highly recommended that the prospective student complete an application before attending.

Applications for Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Veterinary Nursing programs are excluded from instant decisions.

Johnson College to Host 8th Annual Carpentry Auction for Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA

Johnson College’s Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program will host an auction to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, inside the Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology lab in Woolworth Hall on the Johnson College Scranton campus. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the auction starts at 6:00 p.m. The auction is open to the public. 

More than 70 items will be available to bid on, including cutting boards, chess boards, tables, benches, and custom woodworking. All items were created by students in the Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program. Many of the items were made from re-purposed material. The 2024 Carpentry Auction raised over $10,000 to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA.

Register for the event at https://johnson.edu/carpentry-auction/.

To learn more about the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA, visit https://cacnepa.org/.

Johnson College Hosts Debut Event for Bracey Hall

Johnson College celebrated the completion of Bracey Hall during a debut event at its Scranton campus on April 2, 2025.

This new facility has doubled the size of the former Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning (HVAC) laboratory to provide necessary training facilities for the College’s growing Building Trades programs, specifically HVAC Technology and Electrical Construction Technology.

Members of the Johnson College community and the Bracey family gathered to see the newly constructed building that will allow more students to enroll in the College’s hands-on Building Trades programs to meet industry needs throughout the region and beyond.

“We prepare our students for the workforce from the moment they step on campus, ensuring they have the skills, knowledge, and experience to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of technology and industry,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, President and CEO of Johnson College. “This building—Bracey Hall—will help us do just that. It’s vital to our continued growth and success, allowing us to better serve the increasing demand for skilled technicians and technologists.”

Bracey Hall is one of four components of the College’s comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work.” It was named after the Bracey family in recognition of their immense support of Johnson College and its building trades programs. The Bracey’s pledged a major gift to the College’s capital campaign, aiding its mission to meet the needs of its students, industry partners, and the community through real-world, hands-on, and industry-driven education.

In addition to the transformational gift from the Bracey family, the College was awarded a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the City of Scranton. The grant will help the College expand its workforce development programming for high-tech and in-demand fields, including HVAC and Electrical Construction. The HVAC and Electrical Construction Technology programs also benefitted from a $280,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant for campus technology upgrades.

Walter Wood ’11, HVAC Program Director and Chair of the Building Trades Division at Johnson College is elated by the opportunities the new space will provide his students. “The demand for skilled technicians is increasing, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of preparing our students for success in various industries, both locally and globally. This expansion is about more than just space—it’s about creating an environment that fosters innovation, teamwork, and excellence,” he said.

Construction of Bracey Hall began in 2024, following the official reveal of the building, designed by Studio KLP Architects. Under the construction management of L.R. Costanzo Co., Inc., the building took shape quickly with the help of many of Johnson College’s industry partners and alumni.

Johnson College Hazleton to Host Spring Open House on April 12

Johnson College Hazleton will hold its Spring Open House on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CAN DO Training Center located inside the Humboldt Industrial Park at 370 Maplewood Drive in Hazle Township. To register for the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/hazletonopenhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

The Open House will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.

New One-Year Cybersecurity Analytics & Operations Academic Certificate Program

Johnson College is proud to announce the launch of its one-year Cybersecurity Analytics & Operations academic certificate program, starting with the Fall 2025 semester. This program will give students the critical skills to enter the fast-growing cybersecurity field.

The program focuses on network operations and security, offering hands-on experience in troubleshooting, maintaining, and protecting IT systems. Students will learn to safeguard sensitive data by identifying vulnerabilities, penetration testing, network monitoring, incident response, and disaster recovery.

Graduates will be prepared for careers as network associates, incident handlers, information security analysts, IT auditors, and digital forensic examiners. The program also emphasizes critical thinking, troubleshooting, and effective communication—skills vital for success in cybersecurity.

With cybersecurity job growth projected at 33% from 2023 to 2033, the demand for skilled professionals is stronger than ever.

“We’re excited to launch this program to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity experts,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO of Johnson College. “Graduates will gain the technical expertise and soft skills necessary to thrive in this dynamic industry.”

For more information or to enroll, visit Johnson.edu/cybersecurity or contact the Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

Johnson College Receives $15,250 grant from Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc.

Johnson College has received a $15,250 grant from Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc., facilitated by Commonwealth Charitable Management, to support its Industry Fast Track and STEM Outreach programs.

The Industry Fast Track Program (IFT), a partnership between Johnson College and local school districts, allows high school juniors and seniors to simultaneously enroll in high school and college-level courses at Johnson College. Students remain enrolled full-time at their high school while attending classes at Johnson College. This grant will help IFT students cover educational costs, ensuring g they have the resources to succeed in their dual enrollment courses.

In addition, Johnson College’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Outreach initiative, led by the Community Engagement department, provides hands-on STEM learning opportunities for students across the region. This grant will fund the College’s 2025 Summer Camp series, offering free, hands-on learning, in fields such as building trades, robotics, architectural drafting, engineering, and veterinary nursing. The camps will be available to rising 5th to 8th graders, with registration opening in late spring or early summer.

About Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc.

Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc. (PMWI) specializes in miscellaneous metals and structural steel fabrication. They have serviced water, wastewater, and flood control markets for over 40 years. PMWI manufactures several product lines including Standard-Duty Aluminum Interlocking Flat Panel Covers for odor control, Aluminum & Steel Bar Grating, Aluminum Plank Grating, Aluminum Handrails, and Aluminum Ladders. PMWI is the largest manufacturer of miscellaneous metals for water and wastewater treatment facilities in the eastern United States.

Pictured left to right: Tim Frank, Associate Director of Community Engagement, Johnson College; Bob Non, Founder and CEO, Pleasant Mount Welding, Inc.; Kellyn Williams, Associate Vice President of Special Programs, Johnson College.