Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

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As a high school senior, Jake Reider was sure of two things. He wanted to work with his hands—and knew a four-year degree wasn’t for him. After years of laboring in landscaping, Jarrett Ruof wanted to challenge himself with a new skill. These aspirations led both to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology—and into personally and financially rewarding careers in Lancaster County.

Industry Partnerships. Impactful Internships.

Paid internships aren’t exactly the norm in the broader higher education landscape; but at Thaddeus Stevens College, it’s standard practice. In 2023’s graduating class, 72% of students completed an internship—and 100% of those experiences were paid.

Pepperidge Farm, a subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company, not only offers a paid internship program, but it frequently keeps students on part-time during the rest of their schooling. That was the case for Reider, who walked into the Denver, PA-based plant as a summer intern—and never left.

Bill Beyer, plant maintenance manager, says Stevens interns arrive with a great technical education and are full of drive. “Those two things are really the key to the foundation of getting a great employee. Jake fits both categories,” said Beyer.

Reider, now an electromechanical technician, was excited to receive a full-time job offer after he graduated in 2023. “It was a good starting salary at a young age,” he says. “I was very blessed to have the opportunity to stay here.”

Career Satisfaction: Where Tech and Creativity Intersect

As a career-changer, Ruof was intentional about seeking completely new experiences when he started at Stevens. He graduated in 2017 with an associates degree in electrical technology and certificate in general machinery. Through extracurricular involvement he learned to create custom replacement parts for antique printing equipment.

“It was a great feeling of satisfaction to get those old presses running again. I learned from that experience just how important the creative aspect of work is to me,” he said. “I needed to find a position where I’d be able to solve problems and design parts and equipment,” he said.

He found just that as a project controls supervisor at Stryten Energy, a Georgia-based firm with a manufacturing facility in West Lampeter Township.

Engineering manager Aaron Shaffer immediately noticed Ruof’s breadth of knowledge, problem-solving skills, and work ethic.

“His ability to find root causes of issues is invaluable to my team,” he says. “I rely on Jarrett as a subject matter expert for automation, machining, and electrical work.”

Alumni like Ruof and Reider are paving the way for future success stories. The college graduated its largest class to date in 2024, with 98% securing employment or furthering their education.

Hand-in-Hand: Program Enhancement. Workforce Development.

Companies like Stryten Energy and Pepperidge Farm also boost the local workforce by helping shape and advance industry education. Beyer, also a Stevens graduate, serves on an  advisory board that helps the school prepare students for current marketplace needs.

“This industry is continually evolving, and we have to keep pace with it,” he says. “We give feedback to instructors so they can continually improve their program.”

Likewise, companies benefit from hiring new talent. Says Shaffer, “[Stevens] graduates bring in a lot of new ideas and knowledge, and they help solve industry problems.”

Learn more about Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the programs they offer.

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