Penn State Altoona held its spring 2019 Student Showcase Friday, April 26. Students from various disciplines showcased their work through presentations to the college and local business community.
Students from the electro-mechanical engineering technology program presented and demonstrated their senior capstone projects, while those studying business presented on their internship and research opportunities. Students in the security and risk analysis program presented on their internships and capstone projects, and five rail transportation engineering students offered their work on an RTE TRAINS lab model simulator. Winners of Penn State Altoona’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair were also invited to share their performances, oral presentations, and posters.
Twelve students were inducted into the Penn State Altoona chapter of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society: Kelsey Alwine; Katherine Rose Christoff; Ashley M. Conte; Catcher Ray Cumming; Makala B. Doyle; Taylor J. Gontis; Heather Renae Kephart; Sara Liane Ritchey; Blayz Thomas Shartzer; Stephanie Joann Sierra; Nicole M. Watt; and Tanner Richard Yaw. Sigma Beta is a business honor society offered to students in the top 20 percent of the undergraduate business program and who reflect the society's high standards of academic excellence.
The final part of the Pechter Business Plan Competition also took place during the showcase. Matt Pettinato and Andrew Brandt took first place and a $5,000 prize with their business concept, WithU App (One Click, LLC). Jason Dolansky, Taylor Leach, Chad Miller, Stanislav Pinchuk, and Bradley Vitt claimed second place and $3,500 with their product The Independence. The competition, established by Penn State Altoona benefactor Shirley Pechter, consists of a four-phase process for students to take ideas from concept through a feasibility study/market analysis to a full business plan. Local business leaders judged the competition, basing their evaluations on the feasibility of the proposed businesses, the business overviews, and presentations.
The Student Showcase is presented by the Division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology, the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. Visit Flickr to see more photos from the day.