We are happy that students at the Pennsylvania College of Technology found their skills are in high demand for prospective careers at a recent career fair.

“The strong turnout at the Career Fair reflects both the strength of our employer partnerships and the value of an applied technology education at Penn College,” Shelley L. Moore, senior director for the college’s Center for Career Design, said, according to Thursday’s edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Both students and employers praised the event, citing the energy and enthusiasm prevalent amidst the crowds.

“You guys put out the best of the best,” Bill Schilling, a refrigeration technician, said. “You also hire teachers who were out in the field. They don’t teach just by the book. They use real-life situations. It’s hands on.”

As we have editorialized before, the future prosperity of both our communities and our nation hinges on developing a diverse workforce — a workforce that offers a wide assortment of skills and abilities.

The school’s focus on technical fields — fields that for years were often neglected by more establishment-minded figures and in more recent years sometimes suffering from shortages of new labor — is absolutely pivotal for the success of communities throughout our nation.

Penn College has established itself as a leader in expanding the scope or scale of education to meet that vital need — not just a leader in our region or state but a leader in the nation, if not the world.

The leaders of the school should certainly take pride in this growth and in all their accomplishments. They truly are an enormous asset to Williamsport and the surrounding communities and we are confident that their successes will continue to enrich the field of education.