WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Pennsylvania College of Technology and Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity joined on Thursday at the site of a Habitat home to observe the national day of mourning for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at 100 years old.
The nonprofits, working together to build a three-bedroom home at 508 Fifth Ave., lowered a U.S. flag at the building site in memory of the late president. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteers, leading the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for over 35 years.
“Habitat has successfully removed the stigma of charity by substituting it with a sense of partnership,” Carter once said.
“President and Mrs. Carter’s legacy will be felt throughout the Habitat community,” said Bob Robinson, executive director of Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity. “Together, they worked alongside over 108,100 volunteers who built, renovated or repaired more than 4,447 homes in 14 countries, all while raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing. As we continue to tackle this critical social issue, we look forward to more people embracing the Carters’ commitment to social justice and basic human rights.”
The Fifth Avenue home is being built primarily by Penn College students under the direction of faculty and Habitat staff.
“We are honored to pay homage to the memory of President Carter, who valued the importance of home ownership, which is at the heart of our residential construction programs,” said Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies. “The sense of partnership he demonstrated through his work with Habitat for Humanity is exactly what we’re accomplishing with Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity in this project.”
Ground for the Penn College Build was broken in September, and by the conclusion of the Fall 2024 semester, students had practiced site layout, heavy construction equipment operations, concrete construction, masonry construction and framing, ending the semester with a fully enclosed structure. Habitat staff installed underground plumbing, and Penn College General Services staff have provided support.
“The 508 Fifth Avenue project house showcases the unique connections of education, service and real-world impact,” said Garret L. Graff, assistant professor of building construction technology and the college’s construction supervisor for the build. “By working on this home with Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers, Penn College students aren’t just developing technical expertise: They’re learning the value of teamwork, resilience and contributing to something larger than themselves. The finished home will stand as a testament to their hard work and the transformative power of community partnerships.”
Student work is set to continue throughout the spring semester and in the 2025-26 academic year, ultimately providing invaluable experience to students in at least six Penn College majors – from architecture to heavy construction equipment technology, and from building construction to electrical construction – and providing an affordable home for a family in need.
For more about Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity, call 570-322-2515 or visit www.lycominghabitat.org.
To learn more about Penn College’s building and construction majors, call 570-327-4520 or visit www.pct.edu/building. For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.