Carbondale Area Students Dive into Exciting STEM Education with After-School Program with Johnson College

Carbondale Area School District, in partnership with Johnson College, is offering 7th and 8th-grade students an exciting opportunity to dive into the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through a dynamic after-school program. This three-day-a-week, five-week program brings real-world STEM concepts to life, helping students gain valuable skills while exploring new career paths.

Under the guidance of Dr. Samantha Masco, a Science and STEM Teacher at Carbondale Area, and instructors from Johnson College, the program offers hands-on lessons in robotics, 3D printing, electrical engineering, and architectural drafting. The curriculum is specifically designed to meet the students’ grade-level needs while encouraging them to think critically and creatively.

“Through the partnership with Johnson College, our students are learning critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that will carry them through high school and beyond,” said Dr. Samantha Masco. “These 21st-century skills are essential for success, and we are fortunate to live in a community where our students receive such strong support from the school district, the city, and local organizations.”

Tim Frank, Associate Director of Community Engagement at Johnson College, highlighted the broader vision for the program. “Our goal is to help students gain confidence in their STEM abilities and inspire them to pursue higher education in these fields. Whether they continue their education at Johnson College or elsewhere, we’re introducing them to topics and skills they might not have encountered in their traditional school curriculum,” Frank said. “It’s amazing to watch the ‘lightbulb moment’ when a student masters a new skill, and you can see the excitement in their eyes.”

As the program continues, students gain a deeper understanding of STEM concepts and begin to see how these skills can be applied to real-world challenges. The hands-on nature of the program also better prepares students to consider potential careers in high-demand industries, both locally and globally.

Mayor Michele Bannon of the City of Carbondale also expressed her excitement about the program. “I love this program simply because it’s a collaboration between two places close to my heart—Carbondale Area School District and Johnson College. Through its hands-on approach, students can dive right in, explore what they enjoy, and gain skills that will impact their futures. These could even lead to future opportunities at local businesses like Pleasant Mount Welding, Hendrick, and Gentex, helping students make a meaningful connection to their community.”

About Carbondale Area School District

The Carbondale Area School District provides students with a safe learning environment that promotes academic excellence for all learners. Students will have the opportunity to work in an engaging and academically stimulating environment. Teachers will be provided with the necessary resources to provide effective instruction, professional collaboration, and ongoing learning through professional development opportunities. The district will maintain communication and essential partnerships with parents and community members to strive to provide the best educational opportunities for our students.

About Johnson College

Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance in their in-demand careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s only technical college, offering 18 associate degrees, four academic certificates, and over 30 continuing education programs. A low student-to-instructor ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on learning. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus with a satellite campus serving the greater Hazleton area, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

Johnson College Hosts Annual 3D Printing Competition

Johnson College hosted its annual 3D Printing Competition for local high school students on Friday, March 22, 2024, at its Scranton campus.

The competition was an opportunity for students from Forest City, Lakeland, Scranton, Wallenpaupack, and Wilkes-Barre Area STEM Academy to showcase their abilities and creativity using science, technology, engineering, and math. Using 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) skills, participants designed and printed a device that could launch a projectile across the College’s gymnasium. 

The student who placed first, James Telep from Lakeland Jr. Sr. High School, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Johnson College. Second place was awarded to Caelum Cahoon from Forest City Regional High School and third place to Gavin Zellers from Lakeland Jr. Sr. High School.

The event, which was sponsored by The New Jersey Chapter of SAMPE and Boyce Products Ltd., featured a keynote address given by Adam Hecht, co-founder and Director of Additive Manufacturing at DiveDesign, a full-service design agency. He gave students a behind-the-scenes look at how DiveDesign is helping to disrupt industries with the use of 3D Printing.

To learn more about Johnson College’s STEM opportunities for local school districts, visit johnson.edu.

Innovation and Creation STEM Program Celebrates Afterschool Programs

West Scranton Intermediate and NativityMiguel School of Scranton students from Johnson College’s Innovation and Creation STEM afterschool programming joined a national celebration of afterschool programs called Lights On Afterschool on October 20, 2022.

The sixth through eighth-grade students showed their support of the National Afterschool Alliance’s Lights On Afterschool event by participating in challenges that used littleBits electrical circuits to illuminate their projects. The first set of students used the littleBits to demonstrate Morse Code through lights. The second set of students participated in an architectural design and drafting challenge using Legos and littlBits circuitry to create structures that incorporated a lighting component. The projects encouraged them to communicate with each other while expanding their knowledge in both STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and history.

Through Johnson College’s Innovation and Creation STEM program, students are exposed to careers and fields they might not have previously known about. They are given the opportunity to engage in STEM-related learning in a way that promotes innovation, creation, problem-solving, and many other essential skills. Students complete projects using a variety of modern robotic, electronic, and engineering equipment that is provided to them by the College.

Additionally, students learn about the steps they can take to expand their STEM education, including Johnson College’s Dual Enrollment and Industry Fast Track programs. Through these programs, students are eligible to earn college credits while they are attending high school.

To learn more about Johnson College’s Innovation and Creation STEM programming, contact Tim Frank at (570) 702-8963 or tfrank@johnson.edu.

About Afterschool Alliance

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. The Lights On After School event is used to draw attention to the opportunities and support that afterschool STEM programming provides to students including academic support, job and college readiness, opportunities for hands-on learning, and so much more. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Pictured left to right: Onix Crespo and Ellie Parker of NativityMiguel School of Scranton.

Johnson College Receives Grant from PPL Foundation For Stem Outreach Program

Johnson College is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will support a STEM outreach program to teach 75 high school students about renewable energy and build their own solar cell phone chargers. 

The goal of the workshop is to introduce participants to solar power concepts with an object that is suitable for everyday use.  Participants will build a solar-powered cell phone charger and learn about solar cells, lithium-ion batteries, and various electronic modules that construct a cell phone charger. The workshop gives the participant an understanding of all the components required to produce a portable solar-powered cell phone charger. The program also introduces the students to occupations in Electrical Engineering and Electrical Construction.

“The PPL Foundation grant gives local high school students the opportunity to experience the real-world, hands-on learning Johnson College is known to provide its students,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, Johnson College President & CEO. “Our STEM Outreach Program provides local students an introduction to in-demand careers within essential industries throughout our region and beyond.” 

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

About Johnson College: Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a caring environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s premier technical college, offering 17 associate degrees and 4 academic certificate programs. A low student-to-teacher ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on instruction. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

About the PPL Foundation: Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation supports organizations working to create vibrant, sustainable communities; promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; and empower each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in eastern and central Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit pplcares.com.

Photo Caption: Johnson College receives a $5,000 grant from the PPL Foundation to teach high school students about the benefits of STEM-related programs. Left to right: Alana Roberts, Regional Affairs Director, PPL Electric Utilities; Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO, Johnson College; Kellyn Williams, Dr. Kellyn Williams, Associate Vice President of Special Programs, Johnson College.

College Receives $5,000 EITC Contribution from Pride Mobility

Recently, Johnson College received a $5,000 EITC contribution from Pride Mobility in support of the College’s STEM Outreach and Industry Fast Track Programs.

Pride Mobility’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. The program offers businesses a tax credit for supporting state-approved educational improvement programs. Johnson College is approved to accept EITC contributions in support of its STEM outreach and Industry Fast Track programs.

Through its STEM Outreach, Johnson College utilizes its experience in providing industry-focused, hands-on technical education to expand its outreach to elementary, middle, and high school students. The outreach raises awareness of the benefits of STEM education and the possibilities of achieving economic independence through employment in a STEM career field.

Johnson College’s Industry Fast Track program offers high school students from participating area school districts an opportunity to enroll simultaneously in secondary and post-secondary coursework at Johnson College. The course meets state requirements for high school graduation while providing college-level courses. Students remain enrolled full-time at their high school while attending classes at Johnson College.

Pride Mobility has been a trusted manufacturer in the mobility products industry since 1986. The organization is dedicated to providing expertly designed, engineered, and tested products incorporating technologically innovative features enabling consumers to achieve the best quality of life and mobility goals. Part of Pride’s vision is to be a long-term Olympic gold medalist within its industry by combining market-leading products with being the friendliest company in the industry. Pride Mobility continues its mission of manufacturing quality, technologically advanced mobility products for people with disabilities and mobility impairments.

College is holding a Diving Into The STEM Degrees Event

On Thursday, April 21, 2022, Johnson College is holding a Diving Into The STEM Degrees event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Moffat Student Center on its campus in Scranton. Prospective students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators from local high schools interested in learning more about the College’s STEM-focused 2-year academic degree programs are encouraged to attend. 

Program Directors and instructors from the College’s Biomedical Equipment Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, and Mechatronics Technology programs will discuss each program’s hands-on curriculum, overall learning goals, and career opportunities. Attendees will also receive tours of each program’s labs.

To attend the Diving Into The STEM Degrees event, please register at https://johnson.edu/stem/ or contact the College’s enrollment team at enroll@johnson.edu or (570) 702-8856.

Johnson College Receives $5,000 from Fidelity Bank

Recently, Johnson College received a $5,000 contribution from Fidelity Bank in support of the College’s STEM outreach activities.  Through these activities, Johnson College utilizes its experience in providing industry-focused technical education to expand its outreach to elementary, middle, and high school students to encourage the pursuit of STEM-related careers.

The outreach activities raise awareness of the benefits of STEM education and the possibilities of achieving economic independence through employment in a STEM career field.

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

Fidelity Bank has built a strong history as a trusted financial advisor to the clients served with full-service offices throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Northampton Counties, along with the Fidelity Bank Wealth Management Minersville Office in Schuylkill County. Fidelity Bank provides a digital and virtual experience via online banking and mobile app, digital services, and digital account opening. Additionally, Fidelity Bank offers full-service Trust & Investment Departments, a Mortgage Center, and an array of personal and business banking products and services. Part of the Company’s vision is to serve as the best bank for the community, which was accomplished by having provided nearly 1,400 hours of volunteer time and over $1.3 million in donations to non-profit organizations directly within the markets served throughout 2020. The Company continues its mission of exceeding client expectations through a unique banking experience, providing 24 hour, 7 days a week service to clients through branch offices, online at www.bankatfidelity.com, and through the Customer Care Center at 800-388-4380.

Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s only technical College, offering 18 associate degree and 4 academic certificate programs. A low student-to-instructor ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on learning. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

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Photo Caption:

Recently, Johnson College received a $5,000 contribution from Fidelity Bank in support of the College’s STEM outreach activities. Left to right: Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO of Johnson College, Eugene J. Walsh, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer at Fidelity Bank, Daniel J. Santaniello, President and Chief Executive Officer at Fidelity Bank, and Michael J. Pacyna, Jr, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Fidelity Bank.  

Registration Now Open for 3D Printing Competition for High School Students

Johnson College will host its second 3D Printing Competition for local high school students on Friday, March 11, 2022 (Snow date March 18, 2022). The competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their abilities and creativity using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) techniques. All students and groups must be registered by a school staff member who will also serve as an advisor while their students are on the Johnson College campus the day of the event. To register, please visit, https://forms.gle/9gCnK8uTiCA4w5eJ7.

Upon registration, a document will be emailed detailing additional information. Registration ends February 11, 2022. Prizes are to be announced.

This year’s competition requires high school students to compete individually to design and make an assembly to span 500mm (19.685”). The assemblies can only be made using 3D printed parts and must weigh no more than 2000 grams. Each assembly will be tested to the point of breaking. The student with the assembly that bears the most weight at the time of breaking will be declared the winner. Each competitor(s) must submit a complete technical drawing of all parts and assembly.

Innovation and Creation Camp for 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade Future Inventors

Johnson College offers a 1-week Innovation and Creation Camp for 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade students from Monday, August 16, 2021, to Friday, August 20, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the Johnson College campus in Scranton, PA. The cost of the camp is $50 per student, and space is limited.

Students will utilize problem-solving and critical thinking skills while learning about the latest robotics and STEM technologies. They will start camp as a passive user of technology but finish as experienced inventors.

For more information and to register, email Tim Frank, Academic Program Specialist at Johnson College, at tfrank@johnson.edu.