D4H Honored on Penn College’s Donor Wall for Supporting Emergency Management Students

A Milestone of Recognition

During the annual Donor Recognition Reception, held in the lobby of the Davie Jane Gilmour Center, Penn College celebrated the incredible contributions of its donors. The event highlighted how alumni, corporate partners, employees, and friends are creating life-changing opportunities for students. Among the honorees, D4H was recognized for our software donation that is now actively supporting students in Penn College's Emergency Management & Homeland Security program.

Student Testimony

One of the most moving moments of the evening came from Colten C.B. Hajicek, a student of emergency management & homeland security and paramedic science. Traveling over 2,600 miles from Redmond, Washington, Colten shared his personal story of growth and opportunity at Penn College.

"Your contributions have made not only my dreams come true, but the dreams of every student who has come here."

Colten highlighted how the D4H software has enhanced their educational experience:

"Not long ago, we gained access to a computer program, thanks to the company D4H. The software allows for quick and easy management of resources during emergency operations. It is a market leader, and we were able to use the D4H program to help organize and plan Rotorfest, as well as work through our lost hiker simulation. Being able to learn from and use this program has helped students prepare for their future jobs."

‍

Real-World Learning Through D4H

Thanks to D4H's cloud-based emergency management platform, students are gaining hands-on experience with the same technology used by over 100,000 responders in 39+ countries. Our donation equips students with real-world skills that are critical for their careers in emergency management.

According to William A. Schlosser, instructor of emergency management & homeland security at Penn College:

"By having access to this software, our students are exposed to modern incident management software that they will use in the field throughout their careers."

Students have already utilized D4H in simulations such as Rotorfest and a search and rescue full-scale exercise at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, managing resources, tasks, and real-time collaboration effectively.

A Commitment to Tomorrow’s Crisis and Emergency Leaders

At D4H, we believe in investing in the future of crisis and emergency management. Our partnership with Penn College is a commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders who will make communities safer and more resilient.

As Robin Blandford, CEO of D4H, emphasized:

"At D4H, we believe in empowering the next generation of emergency managers with the tools they need to succeed. We’re thrilled to partner with Pennsylvania College of Technology and provide their students with hands-on experience using our emergency management software."

Thank You, Penn College

We are honored to be recognized alongside other distinguished donors and to be part of Penn College’s Corporate Tomorrow Makers program. This partnership is a shining example of how education and industry collaboration can create transformative learning experiences.

To see Colten's perspective firsthand, check out our recent live stream: