Faith
Integrity
Diligence
Excellence
Service
Fall 2015
Vol. 79, No. 1
Entered as Periodical
at Post Office, Media, Pa.
The Williamsonian
A PUBLICATION for alumni and friends of Williamson COLLEGE OF THE TRADES
Name Change Celebration
Makes New Name Official
Presenting a banner with Williamson’s new name during the Name Change
Celebration are (from left to right): Jared Pendleton 1W6, senior class president; Board Chairman Wayne Watson 4W8; and President Michael Rounds.
3 Make Top Ten At SkillsUSA Nationals
Three Williamson students made the
top ten at the SkillsUSA national competition in Louisville, Ky., in June.
Cody Palmer 1W6, a construction
technology-masonry student, won a
silver medal in the masonry competition; Bill Davis 1W5, a construction
technology-carpentry graduate, came
in seventh in the carpentry competition; and Joe Goodwin 1W5, a machine
tool technology graduate, came in ninth
in the CNC technician competition.
Accompanying the students were
Dan Hiltebeitel, SkillsUSA advisor and
director of construction technologymasonry; Ken Nelson, director of construction technology-carpentry; and
Carmen Martella, director of machine
tool technology.
Continued on page 6
Convocation Kicks Off New Year
Nicholas DeBenedictis, chairman
of Aqua America, Inc., in his keynote
address at the 125th Convocation in
September, officially opening the new
school year, said to the students, “The
time has never been better to choose a
career as a skilled craftsman, and you
couldn’t have picked a finer institution
than Williamson College of the Trades.
“Whether you’re just starting out or
nearing the end of your time here, Williamson’s unparalleled reputation will
open doors for you after graduation and
throughout your career. And that is because Williamson values and educates
the whole person — a tradition that
dates all the way back to the school’s
Continued on page 6
After 127 years, the Williamson Free
School of Mechanical Trades officially
became Williamson College of the
Trades on July 1 during a Name Change
Celebration on the lineup pad in front
of the Main Building with a large audience of alumni, trustees, faculty, staff,
students, and friends.
Remarks were given by Wayne Watson 4W8, board chairman, representing
the past; President Michael Rounds,
representing the present; and Jared
Pendleton 1W6, senior class president,
representing the future.
Watson said changes were made over
the years to keep the school up-to-date
and relevant for the good of the students. “Of all the changes made over the
years, this one is perhaps the most significant because with this change a Williamson education will become more
valuable to its students than it ever was
before. We are making this significant
change in Williamson’s history, while
staying true to our founder’s Deed of
Trust.”
Rounds said, “It took us many years to
get to this point and a great deal of hard
work. During these years, there were
times it looked as though the dream of
including the word college in our name
might never become a reality. But we
are here today because the dream did
become a reality.
“For now on Williamson will be referred to by a name that reflects what
the school truly is — a postsecondary,
associate degree-granting institution
that teaches the trades. We believe the
name change is a critically important
step for Williamson’s future.”
He added that although the name had
changed, Williamson’s unique mission
has not. He reminded the audience that
the name change was made possible
when Gov. Thomas Corbett signed the
legislation permitting this in June 2014.
He also had State Sen. Dominic Pileggi,
who played a large role in making this
happen, stand for a round of applause.
Pendleton said, “Speaking on behalf
of the Class of 1W6, I am honored to
be here today as president of the first
class that will graduate with Williamson
College of the Trades on our diplomas.
This is truly a historic milestone in Williamson history and I am proud to be a
part of it. Having the new name on our
diploma will be a door-opener when we
look for jobs.”
He also said he is glad the school will
continue to do what it always has done
— provide its students with a trade
education while instilling in them the
school’s five core values that will serve
them well in life— faith, integrity, diligence, excellence, and service.
Next, Mario Civera Jr., chairman of
the Delaware County Council, accompanied by Councilman John McBlain
and Pileggi, presented Rounds with a
resolution honoring Williamson for its
name change and its outstanding missContinued on page 4
Toll Brothers CEO Inspires Seniors
At 122nd Commencement
Douglas Yearly Jr., CEO of Toll Brothers, the fourth largest builder of luxury
homes in the country, in his keynote
address at Williamson’s 122nd Commencement told the Class of 1W5, “You
are being sent into the world as Williamson men and with that comes a great
sense of pride and honor and a level of
technical expertise in your chosen trade
that is unparalleled among your fellow
tradesmen.”
He added that the school’s five core
values — faith, integrity, diligence, ex-
cellence, and service — will guide them
through difficult times and provide a
foundation on which to build their lives.
“You have formed great friendships
during your past three years. Treasure
those friendships. Take care of each
other. Take care of this school. You are
all Williamson men and there is a bond
between you that can never be broken.
Treasure it.”
Commencement opened with an invocation by Rev. Daniel Norton of the Class
Continued on page 6
Trustee Larry Turner (left) congratulates William Patterson, for completing
his three years of learning at Williamson. The Class of 1W5 is the last class