2019 Annual Report Transforming the FUTURE WORKFORCE 1 23 Years of Message from the Dedicated Service PRESIDENT This past year at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology can most aptly be described as “transformational.” Demand for an education at Thaddeus Stevens College continues to increase year over year, while demand for our In early 1998, the passing of House Bill 1027 graduates increases at an even greater rate. officially changed the school into a College. he opening of the new Thaddeus Stevens and the PA General Assembly, are to be credited College of Technology Greiner Advanced for their generous support of the College. Their Manufacturing Center last Spring marked commitment to fund an expanded dining hall and Ta milestone for the College. There is no dormitory, as well as commitments for additional facility like this in the region, and it serves as a model capital funding, will allow us to expand our programs of collaboration between bi-partisan government, and increase access to an education at Thaddeus industry, and the community coming together to Stevens College of Technology. address an urgent and growing need to meet a labor skills gap in technology, advanced manufacturing and Our loyal donors, including our alumni and industry, construction in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania further support our mission, and I thank them for The dedication of the MAC building in 2002. and across the country. This model is a cornerstone their ongoing commitment to the College’s vision. of the future of Thaddeus Stevens College. I will miss seeing the students every day, witnessing The College remains an anomaly in higher education. first-hand the transformation in their lives, especially While other colleges are experiencing financial the most underrepresented and financially challenges, declining enrollment, and rising costs, disadvantaged students. Collectively, we have Thaddeus Stevens College is on firm financial footing. changed the circumstances of thousands of lives Our benefactor, Thaddeus Stevens, believed that throughout my time at the College and since the education changes lives. Our two-fold mission, to College opened its provide economically disadvantaged individuals in doors to its first Pennsylvania a technical education that enables them students on April 1, to break the cycle of poverty and secure a career at 1909. a family-sustaining wage, and to support the critical Ground breaking of the Advanced workforce needs of Pennsylvania, remains at the I am grateful to Manufacturing Center in 2018. center of all we do. Every decision - from the majors have been a part we offer, to facility expansion, to the faculty who of advancing the educate the men and women who attend our College mission of this - is based on this core mission. great College and the vision of its This year will be my last year at the helm of this great benefactor who so College. Collectively, we set a vision for growth, and wisely knew the have aligned the resources to achieve that vision. I transformational am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead a impact of an team that has been a driving force in advancing the education on the Dr. William Griscom College to this important place in its evolution. The lives of individuals President, Thaddeus Stevens Governor of Pennsylvania, the honorable Tom Wolf, and their families. College of Technology Dr. Griscom address the Adopt A Kindergarten graduation in 2019. 2 3 A Fresh START arcus Richardson started his journey with Thaddeus MStevens College of Technology in 2010, when he enrolled as a full time student following graduation from McCaskey High School in the city of Lancaster. Richardson got mixed up with a bad crowd, and spent some time in prison. Finding a good job, and preparing for the career he envisioned when he started at Thaddeus Stevens College would be a challenge. “I’m from the street. I understand. After you mess up, it’s hard to get a decent job because now you have a record,” said Richardson. Five years after he first enrolled at Thaddeus Stevens, Richardson got the second chance he was looking for through a connection with the CareerLink Re-entry program. He became part of the College’s first Metalcasting “Skill-Up Fast” class, acing the three-week program and immediately landing a job with J. Walter Miller in Lancaster. Richardson applied to the College again, this time enrolling in the two-year Electrical Technology program beginning in Fall 2016. Throughout the two-year associate degree program, he maintained a nearly perfect grade point average while working full time at the foundry. “I realized I wanted to do more and I went back to Stevens for electrical technology,” he said. “It was very hard. I worked a full 40-hour work shift, Monday through Saturday, and was also a full- time student at Stevens. I went to work at 1 a.m., finished my shift, went to school for a full day of “The path to my classes and then repeated it.” career was not easy, it Richardson credits his success to the support he received as a Thaddeus Stevens College student. “I was able to do it because Stevens gave me the opportunity. They knew I was working 40- hour weeks and going to school and they were willing to give me extra help when I needed it,” wasn’t even likely.” Richardson said. “I finished my associate degree in two years and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.” One professor was particularly helpful at a very difficult time. Richardson was awarded a coveted internship, but when the company did a background check and his criminal record came up, the Marcus Richardson, internship was rescinded. Electrical Technology Class of 2018 4 5 Faculty Spotlight Supporting Students Through “That was a blow to me. I thought I’m not doing this anymore,” said Richardson. “Dr. Vincent Miles, who teaches a criminal justice class, said he could relate to me and he helped me get through it. He said, ‘you’re going to take lumps in your life.’ He helped me out of that negative ATHLETICS mindset.” Fast forward to today. Richardson is an industrial Providing Opportunities to Participate, Collaborate and Compete electrician at Armstrong Flooring, Inc. in Lancaster, troubleshooting the high-tech automated machines that make tile flooring. Sports can be a big part of campus life for many college students. “My favorite thing is the thrill of the hunt,” he says. “When Athletics programs provide measurable impact on a college’s mission, a machine goes down, we have to figure out why it isn’t they can increase enrollment and retention, and support ongoing running. The machines are pretty complex. There are lots educational and athletic opportunities. of sensors, and coders and it can be a challenge to isolate the issue.” Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology believes in the value of a well- rounded college experience, including athletics. “We reach students Dr. Vincent Miles The industrial track of electrical technology at Stevens because of athletics. We teach students because of athletics,” explained College taught him about motors, automated processes, Dr. Chris Metzler, Thaddeus Stevens College Athletic Director and Dean Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology presented and installing, programming, and troubleshooting of Student Services. “Some students won’t go on to college unless they the Excellence in Teaching award to Dr. Vincent machines. “It’s really satisfying to get it back up and have an opportunity to play a sport.” Miles, social sciences professor with Thaddeus running and know that company is making money again,” Stevens College. Dr. Miles was nominated by said Richardson. Upwards of 120 student athletes participate in Thaddeus Stevens students and selected by faculty for this award, Bulldogs sports programs. Like all students at the College, participants which is presented to an outstanding faculty Today, Richardson is “making an income that I never have minimum GPA requirements. member who exhibits the following: enthusiasm thought I would make and enjoying what I do on my The College participates in five league sports: football, which is part of in the classroom, preparedness and currency in job.” Richardson has traveled to Detroit and Chicago for an independent league, basketball, wrestling, track and field and cross material, ability to encourage diverse view points Robotics and Lean Manufacturing training as part of his country, all of which are part of the National Junior College Athletic and values differences. job, and he is being groomed to move into a supervisory role. Association (NJCAA). Female students compete in the College’s cross country program. Additional women’s sports team are in the planning Not surprisingly, Richardson has more goals. He plans to stages to meet the increasing number of women who attend Thaddeus go back to college for a bachelor degree in engineering. Stevens College. “I’ve worked my way up but I still have so much more opportunity to grow – whether in my job or to go on to Athletics programming, both the collegiate leagues and the intramural get my engineering degree,” said Richardson. activities such as volleyball, dodgeball and basketball, are integral to the Dr. Christopher Metzler College’s mission. “Thaddeus Stevens College provides under-resourced Graduated from: individuals the opportunity to attend our college and to earn a degree “If you’re willing to work hard enough, you can slowly Elizabethtown Area High School crawl out of any hole,” he added. that results in a family-sustaining career,” explained Dr. Metzler. “Many Clemson University high school athletes want to continue to play at a collegiate level, but Bachelor - Economics; Richardson has a new motivation for his continued may be concerned about the cost of college. While Stevens College Masters - Guidance and personal growth - his son.