Johnson College student organization, Social Force, collected over 100 presents for more than 50 children in the Scranton area. The students sponsored a giving tree in the Moffat Student Center with the names of local children in need. Students, faculty, staff and alumni donated gifts to fulfill the wishes of every child. The donations went to two North Scranton Head Start locations as well as families identified by students and alumni. Under the supervision of Ms. Emily Holmes, Counselor & Manager of Disability Services, the giving tree at Johnson College has provided local children with presents for the last fourteen years.

Johnson College is proud to announce that it has received a grant from The Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation for $5,000. The grant money supports Johnson College’s Animal Care Center which serves the public to provide routine animal care. Specifically, the grant supports the center’s low income spay and neuter services.

The Johnson College Animal Care Center is a public animal clinic staffed by students, veterinary technicians, and a veterinarian from the veterinary technology program.

The low income spay and neuter program serves individuals who make less than $25,000 annually. With documentation, the services are administered at the clinic after an office visit deems the animal healthy enough for a surgical procedure.

Other veterinary services provided by the Animal Care Center include routine exams, dental care, and lab diagnostics. All visits and services are by appointment only. Please call 570-702-8961 to schedule.

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Robert H. Spitz was born in Scranton and was a 1955 graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Miami, Florida. Before retirement, Spitz had been employed by the U.S. Department of Labor and was also the owner of several local Arby’s restaurants. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation was established from his estate in 2015. To date, the Robert H. Spitz Foundation has provided over $1.3 million in funding to the community. For more information on the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, please contact the Scranton Area Community Foundation at 570-347-6203.

Johnson College is proud to announce that its Welding Technology Certificate will now be offered beginning in the spring semester, beginning in January 2020. Since 2012, Johnson College has offered the two semester, 30 credit certificate program. In previous years, the certificate was only offered in the fall semester which led to interested students having to wait to begin their coursework if they did not enroll by the summer.

The Welding Technology certificate course prepares students for entry-level work in the welding industry. Students learn about safety, hand tools, oxyacetylene torches, plasma arc, shielded metal arc welding (stick), gas metal arc welding (MIG), gas tungsten arc welding (TIG), flux cored arc welding, metallurgy, print reading, and weld symbols. This in-demand major at Johnson College starts a full cohort every year, and the College is proud of its placement rate of these students each year. The class of 2018 was 100% employed.

Bill Burke, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services said, “Allowing students to enroll in our welding program in the spring semester is another way for us to get trained professionals out into the workforce faster.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a trained welder is $41,380 annually and the state of Pennsylvania has the fourth highest employment of welders nationally.

“Industry is constantly reaching out to us for more and more trained welders, so we were able to find a way to fill an employer need and get more students into our classrooms,” said Burke. Top employers of certified Johnson College welders include Hendrick Manufacturing, Pleasant Mount Welding, Scranton Craftsman, Cheetah Chassis, Leeward Construction, Master Halco, and Standard Iron Works.

The spring semester at Johnson College begins on January 21, 2020, and interested students can apply through January 10, 2020. Interested students can apply at www.johnson.edu/apply or email the Enrollment Department at enroll@johnson.edu for more information. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Johnson College is pleased to announce it has received a high efficiency combination boiler for the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology (HVAC) program from RJ Walker, Co. and Peerless Boilers. The PBC-34 boiler will serve as a training tool in the classroom. 

Walter Wood, HVAC Program Director, said industry partnerships like the one between the College and RJ Walker and Peerless Boilers are important because of the real world experience it brings into the classroom. He said, “With such a demand in the HVAC field, these companies look to Johnson College to fill industry’s needs.” Students will be able to learn how to install and troubleshoot this type of boiler before completing the program. Michael Visbisky, HVAC Instructor, added that, “With such a changing field, it is a fantastic opportunity for our students to work on a new model of boiler. This is definitely a great new addition to our classroom lab experience and something my students and I are excited about installing and working on.” 

Johnson College held its 27th Annual Johnson College Open on May 9, 2019 at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountain Top, PA.  Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors and participation by students and alumni, the College exceeded its fundraising goal by raising a total net revenue of over $40,000 for the Presidential Scholarship Fund, which this year was awarded to three students. The recipients are John DeLucca, Electrical Construction & Maintenance, Pittston; Evan Kleinart, Computer Information Technology, Greeley; Bethany Severn, Veterinary Technology, Sunbury; Preston West, Diesel Truck Technology, Monroe Township. 

Johnson College is pleased to announce it has received a $4,500 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will support the Solar USB Charger Workshop program.  Johnson College faculty and staff will learn how to create a solar USB charger.  Participants will then recreate the workshop for Lackawanna County middle and high school students, so that they can share the lesson with their students.  The solar power USB charger will also be incorporated into Johnson College’s STEM outreach work with middle and high school students.

The PPL Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.

About the PPL Foundation:

Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation will support organizations that are working to create vibrant, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more than $3 million annually to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.pplcares.com.

Today’s job market relies on people with strong trade skills. The career path can vary, but a strong technical background can set young people on unexpected paths. That is the case with Matthew Kaczorowski, ’17. “To be able to enter the construction workforce a step ahead,” is what his goal was in choosing Johnson College’s Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program. Kaczorowski became interested in carpentry in high school and was able to take classes though Monroe Career & Technical Institute. These classes helped him decide on what he wanted his future to look like. He decided to continue his education at Johnson College.

During his time at Johnson College, he enjoyed the hands-on learning and the small class size. “I was able to participate in each project and was able to receive as much attention and guidance as I needed,” Kaczorowski said. The attention he received from his instructors was vital in developing the skills that he uses at his current job at Martin Guitar. “During my interview, I was told that I looked very natural and comfortable using the tools. This is definitely due to the hands-on experience I gained from Johnson College,” Koczorowski said.

Martin Guitar is one of the leading acoustic guitar manufacturers. Headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, they have been making high-quality products since they opened their doors in 1833. Musical legends such as Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton have all recorded and performed with these acoustic instruments. Martin has influenced the acoustic guitar industry with innovative developments such as X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar, and the “Dreadnought” size guitar. Each instrument is hand-crafted for musicians of all experience levels to enjoy.

As part of the body rim assembly production team, Koczorowski aids in creating the reputable instruments that Martin Guitar is known for. The body of an acoustic guitar is where the sound is produced so his work must be precise. Koczorowski enjoys his work environment, he said, “The environment is very friendly, but focused on the high quality of the product.” Walking through the factory, visitors can see that each of the employees is equally invested in the company’s mission “to be an organization of dedicated co-workers committed to exceptional leadership and innovation in the fretted instrument and string manufacturing industries, while celebrating our heritage and traditions as a family-owned company.” When asked what advice he would give to someone who was thinking about Johnson College, he said “Johnson College will definitely prepare you for the career you are interested in. You’re making a good choice.”

On October 5^th, Educational Opportunity Centers, Inc. (EOC) and Johnson College will host FUTURES: A Lackawanna County Career Exploration & Discovery Conference for High School Students. 

The purpose of the event is to provide a comprehensive career exploration and discovery opportunity for high school students.  Participants will learn about career opportunities and challenges, earning potential, educational requirements, desired skills and training, and more.  The event will connect students and career professionals. There will be a Q&A period and networking will be a part of every session. Participants will learn about student financial aid, college career services, college student support services, and more.

The event is completely free with lunch provided. Parents are more than welcome to accompany their student but students can also attend on their own.

Presenting Organizations Include:

Students can register at https://eocinc.org/futures-conference-2019

A list of sessions and speakers can be found at https://eocinc.org/futures-conference-2019

Peoples Security Bank & Trust, through their EITC administrator, Commonwealth Charitable Management, has allocated $12,000 to support dual enrollment scholarships at Johnson College. Two students at Abington Heights School District will be fully funded for the Industry Fast Track program, which allows students to graduate from high school with half of their Johnson College Associate degree completed. Tunkhannock students will benefit from the dual enrollment credits as well.

The Industry Fast Track Program gives high school students the opportunity to spend a portion of their school day at Johnson College to complete coursework. An Industry Fast Track Advisor will supervise students and monitor academic progress. Benefits to the student include a jumpstart on earning college credits, seamless assimilation into higher education, and financial savings toward a college degree.

“The bank is a strong supporter of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the dual enrollment program. During the latest school year the bank awarded 135 Scholarships totaling $125,000,” said Patrick Dietz, Johnson College Board Member and Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer at Peoples Security Bank & Trust.