College Receives FAA Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grant

Johnson College has been awarded a $423,754 Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The grant will support Johnson College’s efforts to expand the U.S. aviation maintenance technical workforce through student scholarships and new laboratory training equipment. Johnson College is the only Pennsylvania College to receive funding under this program.

“The aviation technology industry is expected to have rapid-paced growth throughout the next decade,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, Johnson College’s President and CEO. “Through this grant, we will be able to provide our Aviation Technology students with elements needed to enhance their hands-on training and help them to successfully enter the workforce with a valuable skillset.”

Johnson College’s two-year Aviation Technology Associates Degree program prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventative maintenance, and necessary safety applications in aviation technology. Through a partnership with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, students will complete airframe and power plant instruction in a lab located at the airport. This opportunity will provide students with a very unique and hands-on learning experience in the Aviation industry.

The grant objectives include the further development and implementation of an FAA-certificated associate degree Part 147 Airframe and Powerplant Aviation Technology program and the development of a robust and sustainable pipeline program for middle and high school students, stimulating interest in aviation technology careers.

To learn more about Johnson College’s two-year Aviation Technology Associates Degree program, visit https://johnson.edu/divisions-of-study/transportation/aviation/.

Johnson College Receives $2,000 Contribution for the Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association Scholarship

Members of the Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association recently presented a $2,000 contribution to Johnson College to support the annual Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to two students in the Automotive Technology Program for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

The Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association was established in 1975 and has been funding the scholarship at Johnson College since 2009. The club raises funds through Cruise Nights held at the Viewmont Mall parking lot throughout the year.

Pictured from left to right: John Gall, Board Member, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association; Chip Bell, President, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association; Jim Williams ’00, Automotive Technology Program Director, Johnson College; John Coleman, ’80, Board Member, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association; Matt Salvia, Secretary, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association; and Tom Lello, Treasurer, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association.

College Receives EITC Contribution from Fidelity Bank

Johnson College received a $5,000 EITC contribution from Fidelity Bank to support students in the College’s Industry Fast Track Program.

The Industry Fast Track Program (IFT) is a joint partnership with area school districts and the College. The program offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to simultaneously enroll in secondary and post-secondary coursework on the Johnson College campus. Students remain enrolled full-time at their high school while attending classes at Johnson College.

Fidelity Bank’s contribution to Johnson College is part of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

To learn more about our Industry Fast Track program, visit https://johnson.edu/dual-enrollment-at-johnson-college/.

About Fidelity Bank

Fidelity Bank has built a strong history as a trusted financial advisor and continues its mission of exceeding client expectations through a unique banking experience. It operates 20 full-service offices throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, along with a limited production commercial office in Luzerne County and a Fidelity Bank Wealth Management Office in Schuylkill County. Fidelity Bank provides a digital banking experience online at www.bankatfidelity.com, through the Fidelity Mobile Banking app, and in the Client Care Center at 1-800-388-4380.

Johnson College Student Veteran Association Donates to Veteran’s Promise

The Johnson College Student Veteran Association donated $500 to Veteran’s Promise on January 3, 2024, following an apparel fundraiser. The purpose of the fundraiser was to raise awareness among the College community for local organizations that support veterans throughout the region, including student veterans.

Dr. Katie Pittelli, Johnson College President & CEO, and Dr. Natalia Melgarejo, Johnson College Student Success Coordinator and Military and Veteran Services Liaison, visited Veteran’s Promise in Dickson City to tour the facility and present the donation. The 501©(3) organization advocates, educates, and raises awareness for all Veterans through outreach for PTSD, suicide prevention, drug and alcohol education, and supporting families of veterans throughout the region.

During their visit, Dave Ragan, founder and president of Veteran’s Promise, shed some light on the impact of PTSD on veterans and families. The facility houses a wall of photos called the “Wall of Heroes,” which honors veterans who had made it home from the battlefield but took their lives on the home front.

Dr. Melgarejo says that the College’s Student Veteran Association chose to donate to Veteran’s Promise to support the work they doing to help veterans in the region, including members of the Johnson College community. 

To learn more about Veteran’s Promise, visit https://veteranspromisenepa.org/.

Pictured left to right: Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO, Johnson College; Dr. Natalia Melgarejo, Student Success Coordinator and Veteran Services Liaison, Johnson College; and Dave Ragan, Founder and President, Veteran’s Promise.

Johnson College Fall 2023 President’s List

Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO of Johnson College, has announced the President’s List of students who have completed the 2023 Fall Semester with a grade point average of 3.90 or higher.

Zekiel Alejandrez, Physical Therapist Assistant, Greentown, PA

Laura Alleva-Cox, Automotive Technology, Archbald, PA

Isabelle Burney, Veterinary Nursing, Duryea, PA

Rachel Butler, Architectural Drafting & Design Technology, Lake Ariel, PA

James Casarin, Electrical Construction Technology, Jessup, PA

Alec Fisher, Automotive Technology, West Wyoming, PA

Nicholas Garoppo, Automotive Technology, South Sterling, PA

Hope Hoanzl, Electrical Engineering Technology, Forest City, PA

Hunter Landers, Automotive Technology, Clarks Summit, PA

Chase Notz, Computer Information Technology, Scranton, PA

Danielle Reese, Automotive Technology, Scranton, PA

Christopher Rosa, Diesel Truck Technology, Scranton, PA

Michael Sarno, Civil Design Technology, Pittston, PA

Kyle Schneider, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Mountain Top, PA

Troy Venesky, Diesel Truck Technology, Clarks Summit, PA

Devin Walsh, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Olyphant, PA

Kevin Williams, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology, Eynon, PA

Instant Enrollment Decision Day is Jan. 4, 2024

Johnson College is hosting an Instant Decision Day for prospective students on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both the College’s Scranton and Hazleton campuses. To register to attend, visit johnson.edu/instant.

During the Instant Decision event, Johnson College will provide prospective students with an immediate enrollment decision. Students must supply their high school and/or college transcripts. It is highly recommended that the prospective student completes a Johnson College application before attending.

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

Johnson College Receives Donation from Total Control Motorcycle Training

Total Control Motorcycle Training presented Johnson College with a 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Motorcycle. The gift will benefit students of the College’s Continuing Education PA State Vehicle Safety Inspector course as well as the Automotive Technology program. It will primarily be used as a tool to administer the tactile test to students attempting to obtain their PA State Vehicle Safety Inspection license.

Johnson College’s Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection course consists of 12 classroom hours, a writing test, and a two-hour tactile test scheduled independently with the course instructor. Students who complete this course receive certification from PennDOT. The class size is limited to 12 students and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date of payment. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid operator’s license for each class of vehicle they intend to inspect. Classes are held at Johnson College’s Scranton campus in the Automotive Center of Weaver Hall.

Learn more about this program and registration details at https://johnson.edu/continuing-ed/pa-state-vehicle-safety-inspector/.

Now Enrolling in Continuing Education Welding Courses

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program is enrolling students in its Fundamentals of Welding and Intermediate Welding courses at the Scranton campus. The Fundamentals course will begin on January 18, 2024, followed by the intermediate course beginning on February 1, 2024.

The Fundamentals of Welding and Intermediate Welding courses provide specific instruction in Oxy-Fuel, Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG, Gas Metal Arc (MIG), and Shielded Metal Arc (Stick) welding processes. The course consists of 40% theory and 60% hands-on practice. Additional lectures are given on basic metallurgy, welding codes, nondestructive examination, and welding symbols.

The fundamentals course fee is $1,870 and includes a PPE kit. The intermediate course fee is $2,750 and includes certification testing fees. The courses can be bundled for a reduced cost of $4,251.

To learn more or enroll call 570-702-8979 or email continuinged@johnson.edu. To register for the course, visit johnson.edu/continuing-ed/welding/.

Transfer Day is December 14

Johnson College is holding a Transfer Day on Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on its campus in Scranton, PA. The College is encouraging current college students who are interested in changing the direction of their education and ultimately their career path to visit its campus.

Students will meet with Enrollment, Financial Aid, Career Services, and Counseling and Disability Services representatives. In addition, staff members from the Registrar’s Office will be on hand for transfer credit analyses and to review potential schedules for the upcoming semester. Students will learn why Johnson College is the leader in hands-on education, how it exposes students to industry from day one, and how its two-year degree programs, focusing on careers in in-demand industries, have the highest return on investment in the short term. 

To attend Transfer Day at Johnson College, students must register online at Johnson.edu/transfer or contact the College’s enrollment team at enroll@johnson.edu or (570) 702-8856.