Faith
Integrity
Diligence
Excellence
Service
Fall 2014
Vol. 78, No. 1
Entered as Periodical
at Post Office, Media, Pa.
The Williamsonian
A PUBLICATION for alumni and friends of The Williamson School
Gov. Rendell Inspires ’14 Class
At 121st Commencement
The Class of 1W4 anxiously awaits the conferring of degrees and diplomas
and going out into the world as “Williamson Men” at the conclusion of the
121st Commencement.
Gain ’14 Wins SkillsUSA Bronze
Brandon Gain 1W4, who graduated
this year from Williamson’s construction technology-masonry program,
won a bronze medal in masonry at the
SkillsUSA national competition in Kansas City, in June.
Also competing were: Carpentry
— Bill Davis 1W5, construction technology-carpentry; Automated Manu-
facturing Technology — machine tool
technology seniors Mike Fenstermacher, Chris Massey, and Keith McCarthy;
and Industrial Motor Control — Richard Smith 1W5, power plant technology.
Dan Hiltebeitel, SkillsUSA adviser
and director of construction technoloContinued on page 4
Convocation Kicks Off New Year
Williamson’s school year got off to its
official start with the 124th Convocation on Sept. 9.
Guests, who included trustees, alum-
Trustee Larry Turner inspires students at the Convocation, telling
them “Relationships are as valuable
as gold.”
ni, friends, faculty, and staff, enjoyed
breakfast in the dining room and then
observed the student lineup and raising
of the flag in front of the Main Building.
Everyone then moved to the Clara
Schrenk Memorial Chapel for the Convocation. Guest speaker Trustee Larry
Turner, Esq., a partner at Morgan, Lewis
& Bockius, LLP, in an inspiring speech
directed at the students, repeated his
theme several times — “Relationships
are as valuable as gold.”
He said what will make you successful in life are your trade skills and hard
work, but you also need relationships.
In building relationships, he said be
willing to interact and share, look for
common ground, be prepared to make
meaningful contributions, and recognize and understand the gifts being
placed before you. “You are learning a
trade and so much more here at Williamson. You should take your education seriously.”
Continued on page 2
The 70 members of the Class of 1W4
were sent into the world as “Williamson
Men” during the 121st Commencement
with words of encouragement from
former Pennsylvania governor and Philadelphia mayor Edward Rendell, who told
the graduating seniors to “Go for it and
don’t be afraid of failure. Define success
for yourself. Don’t let anyone else do it
for you.” He also said they should do
something they love.
President Michael Rounds presented
Rendell with a steel cube manufactured
by machine tool technology students as
a gift of appreciation.
Commencement opened with an invocation from Bryan Wert, a member of
the Class of 6W4 who were celebrating
their 50th anniversary.
Rounds, presiding at his first Williamson
commencement, which was also part of
the closing of the year-long 125th anniversary celebration, called the seniors
“truly special.”
Eric Gardner, senior class president,
had his classmates stand for a round of
applause and said he and his classmates
could never give enough thanks to those
who helped them get to where they are
now. He then passed the senior gavel to
Matt Roy, president of the Class of 1W5.
Thomas Wisneski, vice president of
education, presented student awards,
followed by the conferring of diplomas
and degrees by Rounds, with assistance
from Wayne Watson 4W8, board chairman; Wisneski; Anne Hayes, registrar;
and Walt Lee 7W8 Alumni Association
president.
Russ Harvey 5W0 lead the singing of
the alma mater and Mark Specht 7W7,
chaplain, gave the benediction.
Commencement closed with the start of
a new tradition in honor of Williamson’s
125th anniversary. The 1W4 class gift,
the Commencement Bell, a large brass
bell mounted on brick piers near the flag
pole, was used for the first time in what
is planned to be a long tradition. Marching in a line, each graduate walked up to
the bell, with Tim Burbage, class adviser,
standing nearby, and rang it one time,
signifying that he is now an alumnus.
The ceremony concluded with many
hugs and handshakes of congratulations
and refreshments on the lawn.
’64 Class Presents $50,700 Gift
The Class of 6W4 maintained the tradition of 50th anniversary classes presenting Williamson with a generous class gift when they announced their gift
of $50,700 during the Alumni Banquet at the Porch Restaurant at the Lamb
in Springfield in May. Pictured above, presenting a large check facsimile to
President Michael Rounds (right) is fund-raising committee chairman (left),
Therman Madeira. Rounds said, “To receive such a large gift from such a
small group of men shows their generosity and willingness to support Williamson’s mission. We can’t thank them enough.”