Johnson College Announces $5 Million Comprehensive Capital Campaign for Campus Enhancements

Johnson College publicly launched its new, $5 million comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” during a community kickoff event on Wednesday, June 8, where it revealed plans for major campus-wide projects.

The “Innovation at Work” campaign consists of four components that will create an environment for growth and success: the construction of a new gateway building, which will become the official entrance to the campus and include new lab and classroom space; the expansion of Woolworth Hall which houses on-campus lab space for programs including Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Electrical Construction Technology; the creation of a Transportation Education Center; and support of the College’s Annual Fund and student scholarships.

A crucial catalyst for the “Innovation at Work” campaign is a $1 million contribution from Ideal T. Saldi, a Johnson College alum from the class of 1949, and his wife, Frances Saldi, alongside other funders who have invested in the College. The Saldis’ gift, announced in April before the college community, is the largest gift from a Johnson College alum to date and will have a lasting impact on the school, and its students. To honor this gift, the new, state-of-the-art gateway building will be named Ideal Saldi Hall.

“At the heart of this campaign is our students. It is focused on helping them be successful,” President and CEO, Dr. Katie Leonard said. “We strive to carry forward Orlando S. Johnson’s vision of providing a trade school to the region where young men and women can learn useful trades that will enable them to make an honorable living and become contributing members of society.”

As the world of technology continues to change rapidly, Johnson College must change with it. The College’s facilities must remain in sync with industry as new technologies, emerging fields of study, and more sophisticated equipment modernize how the world does business. 

Dave Boniello, president of Simplex Homes, Johnson College Alum from the class of 1984, former Johnson College Chair of the Board of Directors, and chair of the “Innovation at Work” Capital Campaign, announced that during the campaign’s silent phase, the College has already raised 75% of its $5 million-dollar goal thanks to loyal and generous donors from the community. After noting his personal pledge to support the campaign, Boniello asked the Johnson College community to join him in participating in the school’s most comprehensive capital campaign thus far.

“If you have an opportunity to support Johnson College and its students, through the “Innovation at Work” campaign, your gift will have a tremendous and lasting impact on our students, employers, and the region. Together, We Work!” said Boniello.  

For more information about Johnson College’s comprehensive, 5-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” visit Johnson.edu/innovationatwork.

Photo Caption: Johnson College publicly launched its new, $5 million comprehensive, five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” during a community kickoff event on Wednesday, June 8, revealing plans for major campus-wide projects. One of the four projects announced is the construction of Ideal Saldi Hall. Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College, and Mr. Dave Boniello ’84, President of Simplex Homes and chair of the “Innovation at Work” Capital Campaign, stand in front of a rendering of Ideal Saldi Hall. For more information about Johnson College’s comprehensive, 5-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” visit Johnson.edu/innovationatwork. 

Johnson College to Host 29th Annual Golf Tournament

The 29th Annual Johnson College Open will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, PA (rain or shine).  Proceeds from this annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Each academic year, Presidential Scholarships are awarded to four qualified and deserving full-time students.

Sponsors of the 29th Annual Johnson College Open to date include:

Presenting Sponsor: Gerrity’s Supermarkets

Advertising Sponsor: Lamar Advertising

Platinum Marketing Sponsor: Sweda Advertising

Gold Print Sponsor: Sprint Print

Gold Sponsors: Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Fastenal Company, L.R. Costanzo Company, Inc., Peoples Security Bank & Trust, PNC Bank, Shea Demolition, Simplex Homes, Stevens & Lee, and Vacendak Construction,

Silver Sponsors: Toyota of Scranton, ecampus.com

Cart Sponsor: ShopRite

Breakfast Sponsor: Troy Mechanical, Inc.

Pot O’ Gold Sponsor: Cristiano Welding Supply

Gift Sponsor: Sordoni Construction Services, Inc.

Cocktail Sponsor – Topp Business Solutions

Mulligan Sponsor: Milnes Engineering, Construction, and Surveying

Hole in One Sponsor: Gibbons Ford

Photo Caption:

Recently, sponsors of the 29th Annual Johnson College Open met on the Johnson College campus to discuss the event being held on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, PA.  Proceeds from this annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Left to Right – Front row: Ashley Bechaver – Gibbons Ford, Joyce Fasula – Gerrity’s Supermarkets, Dr. Katie Leonard – Johnson College, Liz Finley – Sweda Advertising, and Michael Dennen – PNC Bank. Back Row: Marcelo DeSousa – Fastenal, J. Patrick Dietz – Peoples Security Bank & Trust, Debbie Kolsovsky – PNC Bank, Pat Rogers – Toyota of Scranton, Lisa Akulonis – Citizens Savings Bank, Bill Stevens – Sprint Print, Bryan Boles – Topp Business Solutions, and Karen Baker – Johnson College

Carpentry Auction Raises $5,781 for Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA

Johnson College’s Carpentry Auction that was held on-campus on April 20, 2022, raised $5,781 to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

More than 80 items were auctioned off, including cutting boards, tables, cabinets, a bookcase, and more. All items were created by students in the Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program. Most of the items were made from re-purposed materials.

Photo Caption: 

Johnson College’s Carpentry Auction that was held on-campus on April 20, 2022, raised $5,781 to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Pictured left to right: Kneeling: Tim Gromelski, Johnson College student, Andrea Marques, Johnson College student, and Alley Basalyga, Johnson College student. Standing: James Van Der Veer, Johnson College student, Gordon Sebring, Johnson College student, Chris Henderson, Johnson College student, Nathan McKane, Johnson College student, Marsha Pigga, Executive Director at Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA, Tim Jackson, Johnson College student, Tyler Gries, Johnson College student, and Josh Bilinski, Johnson College student.

28th Annual Johnson College Open to be held May 21, 2021

The 28th Annual Johnson College Open will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, PA (rain or shine).  Proceeds from this annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Each academic year, Presidential Scholarships are awarded to four qualified and deserving full-time students.

Sponsors of the 28th Annual Johnson College Open to date include:

Presenting Sponsor: Gerrity’s Supermarkets

Advertising Sponsor: Lamar Advertising Company

Platinum: Shea Demolition, Inc.

Platinum Marketing Sponsor: Sweda Advertising

Gold Print Sponsor: Sprint Print

Gold Sponsors: Fastenal Company, Johnson Controls, L.R. Costanzo Construction Services Company Inc., Peoples Security Bank and Trust, PNC Bank, Reilly Associates, Simplex Homes, Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., Toyota of Scranton, Stevens & Lee, and Vacendak Construction.

Cart Sponsor: ShopRite

Breakfast Sponsor: Troy Mechanical, Inc.

Lunch Sponsor: Christiano Welding Supply

Dinner Sponsor: Kutztown University  

Gift Sponsor: Action Lift, Inc.

Cocktail Sponsor – Topp Copy

Mulligan Sponsor: A. Pickett Construction, Inc.

Hole in One Sponsor: Gibbons Ford

Photo Caption:

Recently, sponsors of the 28th Annual Johnson College Open met on the Johnson College campus to discuss the event being held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor, PA.  Proceeds from this annual golf tournament support the Johnson College Presidential Scholarship Fund. Left to Right – Row 1: Joyce Fasula- Gerrity’s Supermarket, Katie Leonard, Ed.D.- Johnson College, and Joe Shea ’85 – Shea Demolition, Inc. . Row 2: Atty. Marianne Gilmartin – Stevens & Lee, George Sweda- Sweda Advertising, and Karen Baker- Johnson College. Row 3: Jennifer Davis- Sordoni Construction Services, Inc. and Nick Costanzo- Costanzo Construction Services, Inc. Row 4: Stephen Midura- Johnson Controls, Inc., Nicole Costanzo- PNC Bank, Pat Dietz- Peoples Security Bank & Trust, Laurie McMillan- Kutztown University, and Dave Boniello ’84- Simplex Homes. Row 5: Katie Gallagher- ShopRite, Ashley Beechaver- Gibbons Ford, Patrick Rogers- Toyota of Scranton, and Marcelo DeSousa- Fastenal Company.

Johnson College to Host 4th Annual Auction for Children’s Advocacy Center

Johnson College’s Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology program will host an auction to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 on the Johnson College campus. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the auction starts at 6:00 p.m.

More than 60 items will be available to bid on including cutting boards, tables, cabinets, a book case and more. All items were created by students in the Carpentry & Cabinetmaking program. Most of the items were made from re-purposed wood. Face masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed.

The 2019 auction raised over $7,000 for the local non-profit. No auction was held in 2020 due to the on-going pandemic. To register, please visit johnson.edu/events/annual-carpentry-auction.

Photo Caption: John Dutter, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology freshman, stains a table he made for Johnson College’s 4th Annual Carpentry Auction benefitting the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 on the Johnson College campus.

Tickets Available for Designer Purse Lottery Fundraiser

Tickets are now available for Johnson College’s first ever Designer Purse Lottery to benefit the College’s Annual Fund. Only 500 tickets will be sold for this February 2021 fundraiser presented by ShopRite. For more details about the designer purses and purchasing tickets visit Johnson.edu/purselottery or contact the Johnson College Development team at 570-702-8991.

Each $25 ticket will list two, 3 digit numbers. Throughout February 2021, if one of the numbers on a ticket comes in during the evening Pennsylvania Pick 3 lottery, that ticket’s owner will win the designer purse of the day. The numbers on the tickets are valid throughout February, so participants can possibly win more than once. Purses being raffled off include Coach, Fossil, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Tori Burch. To celebrate Valentine’s Day the designer purse of the night, sponsored by ShopRite, will be a Louis Vuitton Never Full Classic Bag worth $1,500.

All money raised will benefit the Johnson College Annual Fund. The Annual Fund assists Johnson College in producing the best technicians and technologists for the future essential workforce.

Johnson College Masks Now Available

Johnson College branded masks are now available!! Each mask is $20 with proceeds benefiting the College’s Student Emergency Fund. Visit https://shop.shopnunzis.com/jcmasks/shop/home to purchase your masks today!

The Johnson College Student Emergency Fund helps students if they have an unforeseeable expense related to their schooling, such as the loss of job due to COVID-19, loss of family member who was supporting them, etc. This fund is supported through contributions from members of our Johnson College Community like you. Thank you for supporting our students.

The Johnson College masks have adjustable ear loops and a metal piece on the nose for a comfortable fit.

Day of Giving on August 18 Benefits Presidential Scholarship Fund

On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, Johnson College will host its first ever 24-hour Day of Giving fundraising event. Donations during the Day of Giving will benefit the Presidential Scholarship fund. By participating everyone within the community has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Johnson College’s students. To make a donation visit https://johnson.edu/dayofgiving/.

While campuses around the country closed, and the future of higher education became uncertain, Johnson College and its industry partners kept going. Students worked and learned first-hand just how essential they are to the workforce. They kept the economy moving forward in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond. They are fixing, building, and healing our communities, especially through this global pandemic.

Our students kept all of us going when our lives changed and we had to stay at home. Now it is our turn to give back to them.

Johnson College students receive the education, training and skills needed in today’s essential industries and are critical in helping others and supporting our economy. The more you can assist the College’s students to meet their educational goals, the more you will support the community in this unusual and critical time.