The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced that a team of students from Lenape Technical School in Ford City, Armstrong County, has been selected as the statewide winner for the 2022-2023 Innovations Challenge.
Mentored by Jason Zimmerman, a teacher at Lenape Tech, team members include Elijah Mumau and Robert John. The team’s proposed solution to this year’s challenge, addressing the shortage of truck parking along Pennsylvania’s critical cargo arteries, included a plan for affordable, eco-friendly, and innovative rest stops called Eco-Stops. To offset cost and minimize their environmental impacts, Eco-Stops would be constructed using a recycled asphalt lot and concrete printed facilities and be powered via solar panels. The team’s presentation included an example location, cost breakdown, and a plan for adding EV charging options.
“It’s incredible to see the next generation of problem solvers at work trying to address a real transportation issue that we are currently facing,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “These young minds have been hard at work, and it’s encouraging to see their commitment to working on these issues. The future is in good hands.”
Nine regional winners were selected earlier this year and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT acting secretary and a panel of judges in Harrisburg last month to determine the statewide winner. For this year’s challenge, the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) will provide a combined total award of $4,000 to the statewide winning team.



The front entrance to Wild Hudson Valley’s Eco Camp and Forest Farm in Cairo, NY. (Photos courtesy of Wild Hudson Valley)
Anna (and Corinna) with July’s Wild Harvest Box.
He was the husband of Dorothy M. (Wert) Tomlinson. John was born in Doylestown on Sept. 20, 1934 to the late John W. and Madaline R. (Conner) Tomlinson. He served our country honorably in the U.S. Air Force during peacetime. Pastor Tomlinson was Pastor of the Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, Center Valley, from 1982 to 1999; Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Wilkes-Barre from 1976 to 1982; Pastor of the New Ringgold Parish from 1971 to 1976; and Seminarian Assistant at St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church in Bethlehem from 1969 to 1971. He was previously employed by Swartley Bros. of Lansdale as an assistant to the electrical engineer from 1960 to 1967. John was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Allentown. He attended Ursinus College from 1952 to 1954; graduated from Temple University in 1969 with a B.A. degree; was a graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, from which he received a Minister of Divinity Degree in 1971; was past Secretary of the Lehigh Mission District; and served on the Board of Lutheran Congregational Services, formerly Lutheran Services of the Lehigh Valley.