Fall 2018 Student Showcase

Penn State Altoona held its 2018 fall Student Showcase, supported by by the division of Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology, Friday, Dec. 7, in which 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 course projects, and one rail transportation engineering student offered a design analysis of a passenger rail line between Altoona and State College.

Student at 2018 Student Showcase event
Image: Penn State

New to the showcase was a presentation by three second degree nursing students about opportunities available and possible experiences in Penn State Altoona’s accelerated BSN program.

The first phase of the Pechter Business Plan Competition also took place. Out of three teams of competitors, two were selected to move on to the next phase: Jason Dolansky, Taylor Leach, Chad Miller, Stanislav Pinchuk, and Bradley Vitt with The Independence, and Matt Pettinato with the WithU App (One-Click, LLC).

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 students moving on in the competition will work on their plans in the business incubator throughout the spring semester at the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, creating detailed descriptions of their business concepts, potential market, and likely competitors. During the spring 2019 Student Showcase, first, second, and third place winners will be selected and receive a monetary award.

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.

View the original story.