Johnson College students are once again doing what they can to feed those in need this Thanksgiving. Lynn Krushinski of Johnson College says, “Students have been collecting food on campus for United Neighborhood Centers for more than 30 years.”

New for 2013, Johnson College partnered with WNEP-TV’s Feed-a-Friend and kicked off the event with Ryan Leckey live on campus. The response this year was overwhelming because bigger collection boxes were used that accumulated more donations. “Every box on campus was filled to the top,” says Tim Robinson, Marketing Manager, “Not just light boxes of stuffing, but nearly a ton of very heavy canned goods. We had to divide them into smaller boxes so they could be carried.”

A pick-up truck with overflowing boxes was loaded up at the College on Monday and delivered to United Neighborhood Centers in Scranton, a collection point for WNEP-TV’s Feed-a-Friend in Lackawanna County.

The contributed donations come at a time of high unemployment rates and greater demand on area food banks. “People are starving,” says Johnson College student Brian Kavanaugh who is a member of the College’s “Social Force” club that helped organize and manage the event. He adds, “It’s great to know we had such a strong outpouring of generosity from our students who we know are having trouble making ends meet themselves. We know a few fellow classmates that are on the receiving end of these donations. We’re just happy we can help.”

This Thanksgiving more than 800 pounds of medical supplies and equipment are headed to medical relief efforts overseas from Johnson College in Scranton.

The supplies include surgical gowns, shoe covers, latex gloves, mobile blood pressure units and countless bandages and gauze pads. “We put to use all donations we receive, but over the summer we received such an outpouring of generosity from our industry partners that we were overwhelmed,” says Melissa Cencetti, the Department Chair of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Johnson. The largest part of the donations was valued at nearly $18,000 and came from VaxServe in Scranton, a Sanofi Pasteur company, which is a national healthcare supplier.  The supplies were distributed among Johnson College’s Health Sciences Division including Radiologic Technology, Veterinary Technology, and the Physical Therapist Assistant programs, and are being put to good use. However, there were still hundreds of cases of supplies that the College could not use and decided to donate to another organization that could.

Mr. Tim Robinson, Marketing Manager at the College, made a connection with Samaritan’s Purse in North Carolina, which is an international humanitarian aid organization. Samaritan’s Purse paid to have all the supplies picked up and shipped to their distribution center at their headquarters. There, the supplies will be redistributed to medical clinics and hospitals all around the world wherever there is a need. Their current mission is sending supplies to typhoon victims in the Philippines. Chris Johnston from Samaritan’s Purse says, “Last year more than $10 million of critically needed equipment and supplies were sent to medical facilities in more than 60 nations.”

The surplus supplies filled three pallets, weighed nearly 850 pounds and has a retail value of more than $4,000. “We’re thankful not only for the extreme generosity that we received from our industry partners, but that we could pay it forward,” says Ms. Cencetti, “It’s great to know that every last piece of this generosity will benefit people that truly need it.”

For more information on Samaritan’s Purse visit them at http://www.samaritan.org/

Johnson College Veterinary Technology students are getting lessons on how to teach service dogs new tricks.

Susquehanna Service Dogs trains dogs to assist people with disabilities. The dogs are often raised with their trainers before being placed.

Meg Irizarry is a volunteer dog trainer and shares, “We try and match dogs to individuals based on their needs. We take the dogs to meet their possible new owners and see if that dog can help improve their lives and make them more independent.”

Johnson College students watched as a yellow lab named Freckle was taught how to turn on a light switch through the use of “shaping” –  where a “clicker” noise maker and positive reinforcement of a doggy treat are used together in repetition to slowly teach the dog how to complete the task. “We typically use labs because they respond very well to shaping,” says Mrs. Irizarry, “Also, labs are known to be a stomach on legs!  They love treats and respond very well to this type of training.”

If you’d like more information on Susquehanna Service Dogs, you can read their blog at http://susquehannaservicedogs.blogspot.com/ or contact them through Keystone Human Services at 717-599-5920 or by email at ssd@keystonehumanservices.org.

To learn more about Johnson College’s Veterinary Technology program, go here or see our2013 commercial here.

Johnson College will begin offering compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems to its transportation division students, in both the diesel and automotive programs, starting in 2014. Johnson College co-hosted an event with Cabot Oil & Gas about the expanded use of CNG in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Here are highlights from the event, including remarks from George Stark from Cabot Oil & Gas, Dr. Ann L Pipinski, President & CEO of Johnson College, Andy Douglas, National Sales Manager for Kenworth Trucking, Dave Spigelmyer, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Pennsylvania State Senator John Blake, (D) 22^nd District,  and E. Christopher Abruzzo, Acting Secretary of PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EVENT

 

Johnson College will hold its first ever “Transfer Day” on Thursday, November 14th starting at 4pm at Richmond Hall on their Scranton campus. The idea is to give current college students opportunity to find a new direction for their future career path.

“If the road they’re on now isn’t the path they want to be going down, now is the perfect opportunity for students to change course,” says Melissa Ide, Vice President of Enrollment Services. “We can show them how to save time, money, and more opportunity with several high demand careers paths that we train for.” Johnson College offers 13 associate degree programs in 5 divisions of study, including Business, Construction & Design, Health Sciences, Electronic & Industrial, and Transportation. “Our employment rate of almost 90%, which shows these fields are really in high demand and our alumni are happy with their education,” adds Katie Leonard, Senior Vice President of  College Advancement.

The Johnson College Transfer Day will be held on Thursday, November 14th beginning at 4pm in Richmond Hall on campus at 3427 North Main Avenue, Scranton, 18508. Students should bring their transcripts with them.  They will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid, and Career Services.  A transfer student will also be on hand to share his experience.

To find a new direction for your career, to learn more and to register, call Bobbie at 570-702-8900 or visit www.johnson.edu/transferday by November 13.

 

An Iraq War Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient helped to raise funds for a fallen Luzerne County Solider with the stroke of a pen. Sgt. Bryan Anderson is a triple amputee, losing both legs and his left hand in an IED blast in Baghdad. Johnson College hosted “Bryan Anderson Day” on October 16th, where he was the keynote speaker for their scholarship awards luncheon.  Sgt. Anderson signed copies of his book No Turning Back which were sold at the event.  Johnson College raised more than $350.00 and donated all the proceeds to the “The 1st Lieutenant Michael J. Cleary Memorial Fund.” Lt. Cleary was a Dallas, PA native and was killed in Iraq in 2005 during an ambush by hostile forces having just completed a demolitions mission. The fund supports other gold star families and organizations that support veterans. Johnson College also welcomed Lt. Cleary’s father, Jack Cleary of Dallas, to the event. Sgt. Anderson travels the country as the national spokesperson for Quantum Rehab in Exeter, PA and as the national spokesperson for USA Cares which supports post 9-11 veterans and their families.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Mike Garnett, Cleary Memorial Fund, Kingston; Jack Cleary, Dallas, Cleary Memorial Fund; Sgt. Bryan Anderson, Iraq War Veteran, Quantum Rehab Spokesperson; Eric McCabe, Kingston, Cleary Memorial Fund; Dick McLane, Quantum Rehab.  (Plus Bryan’s Dog Mya)

Johnson College will host Cabot Oil and Gas on its campus today to celebrate the positive impact that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is having on the community. Cabot is highlighting record breaking production numbers that are now, in turn, producing successful financial investments in new technologies, new jobs and soon, new educational opportunities that place Johnson College on the cutting edge of training their Transportation Division students for the jobs of tomorrow.

Johnson College and Cabot Oil and Gas will also be joined by speakers Dave Spigelmyer President of  the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Andy Douglas, from Kenworth Trucking, State Senator John Blake and PA Secretary of DEP, E. Christopher Abruzzo.

Several major trucking companies in the area will feature large equipment displays from vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) to equipment used in the production and delivery of it. Pocono Peterbilt will present Duryea Borough’s newest dump truck powered by CNG. Kenworth of Pennsylvania will provide a CNG powered truck cab. Five Star International, Stadium International, Sherwood Freightliner, Prime, Inc. and Mack Trucks will also be in attendance.

2013 Homecoming at Johnson College wrapped up with the Men’s Basketball team getting its first win in a new sports league, while playing in an updated gym with a new mascot cheering them on.

The Johnson College Men’s Jaguars beat Christendom College from Virginia 56-37 Friday night during its first ever NJCAA basketball league game and home game of the season. This game was the first one played in the Jaguars’ new “den” after the College renovated it’s gym by painting the walls, sanding and repainting the floor in the school’s new colors, and adding it’s new logos to the pads at both ends.

Earlier in the week, Johnson College’s homecoming kicked off early Thursday morning with WNEP-TV’s Ryan Leckey unveiling their new mascot “Johnny the Jaguar” to the public during “Leckey Live.”  Johnny was the senior class gift for 2013 which is why his number will always be 13. “You can catch Johnny at more than just our sporting events,” says student life director Sarah Williams, “He’ll be at all events on campus where we can help promote school spirit!” Johnny was hand made by BAM! Mascots in Canada.  He was custom built for Johnson College. Students will get to “be” Johnny through an audition process each year.

The Men’s Basketball Team also challenged former alumni to take the court against them following their league game.

Feed-a-friend donations were accepted in-lieu of tickets for admission to all events, including Friday night’s basketball games.

Outside in the parking lot of the Moffat Gym, huge crowds gathered all night for five area food trucks invited to campus to feed visitors including Drinker Mobile from Dunmore, Muncheeze from Montrose, Captain Don’s Chilly Willy from Scranton, Halal Food from Scranton, and The Picnic Stand Food Truck from Clarks Summit. Tania from Halal Food in Scranton was really excited that the college welcomed so many local food vendors to campus for the night, “We’re so thankful for what they are doing for the community. It’s really great!” 7 year-old Garrett Robinson ordered from Muncheeze’s truck from Montrose and agreed the food was great, “It’s the best toasted cheese sandwich I’ve ever had!”

The events wrapped up with a celebration bonfire and pep rally. “This event is just another way that Johnson College is reaching out to the greater community and giving back,” said Katie Leonard, Senior VP of Institutional Advancement.

Johnson College unveiled its brand new mascot this morning. “Johnny the Jaguar” is now walking the campus to greet visitors at campus events. Johnny was the senior class gift for 2013 which is why his number will always be 13. “You can catch Johnny at more than just our sporting events,” says student life director Sarah Williams, “He’ll be at all events on campus where we can help promote school spirit!” Johnny was hand made by BAM! Mascots in Canada.  He was custom built for Johnson College. Students will get to “be” Johnny through an audition process each year.