WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Nine Pennsylvania College of Technology students — three of whom graduated in December — passed various categories of the Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification exam taken near the end of the fall 2023 semester at the college’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center.
“Obtaining this license helps give these students an edge in pursuing their career. Employers often want students to have this license, or get it shortly after starting in a maintenance or production position,” said Carl J. Bower Jr., assistant professor of horticulture. “This means these students and graduates can hit the ground running.”
The exam was administered Nov. 20 by the state Department of Agriculture to students in Bower’s "Insects & Diseases of Ornamental Plants" course.
The Penn College students and the categories in which they earned certification:
- Private application: Omar O. Elbanna, Warminster, and Ozzy N. Seney, Canadensis.
- Commercial core exam and Category 6 (ornamental and shade trees): Jason B. Bates, Williamsport; Nathaniel R. Kovalchick, Mount Carmel; Laura A. Snyder, Harrisburg; Zach D. Vent, Everett; Rees D. Watkins, Williamsport; and Brandon C. Wolfe, Albion.
- Category 6 and Category 7 (lawn and turf): Mitchell E. Lesh, Pine Grove.
Elbanna, Watkins and Wolfe each received their associate degree in landscape/plant production technology during commencement exercises on Dec. 16. Seney is enrolled in applied management; the rest are landscape/plant production technology students.
For more about landscape/plant production technology and other majors in Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, visit www.pct.edu/et or call 570-327-4520.
For information about the college, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.