13 New Members are Inducted into the I.V. Club

Thirteen members of the Class of 1W7 were inducted into the prestigious I.V. Club on March 28 in a ceremony in the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel.

The inductees are: Aaron Berard, construction technology-carpentry; Blake Dunston, power plant technology; Jeff Handley, construction technology-carpentry; Joshua Hauser,  power plant technology; Thomas Heffner, power plant technology; Dominic Marascio, power plant technology; Ryan Martin, machine tool technology; Jesse Martinez, paint and coatings technology; Brian McAlinney, machine tool technology; Sean McCloskey, power plant technology; Robert Sandlin, construction technology-masonry; Ronald Vann, construction technology-masonry; and Kyle Walsh, construction technology-carpentry.

A large number of I.V. Club members were on hand to participate in the induction ceremony and to watch the numbers of their prestigious club grow, along with families of the inductees, trustees, faculty and staff, and alumni.

The inductees and the club members entered the chapel in a processional and then Chaplain Mark Specht 7W7 opened the evening with an invocation. Samuel Wrightson, vice president of education, welcomed the audience saying “This is a solemn occasion as we induct 13 new members into the prestigious I.V. Club. This is not an awards ceremony; we’re here to induct these young men into a distinguished membership. This group of men demonstrate the quality of leadership in exemplifying Williamson’s core values.” He said they will pledge to protect the Deed of Trust. He also asked for a moment of silence in memory of the late Michael Forest 0W8, an I.V. Club member who passed away in November.

Next, club member Samuel Oropeza 0W6, read “The Man in the Glass,” a poem about personal integrity; Corey Jackson 0W3 spoke on “The Past”; William Davis 1W5 then spoke on “The Present”; and President Michael Rounds spoke on “The Charge for the Future.”

Rounds said, “I.V. Club members will ensure that Williamson is still strong into the future. They are charged with protecting the Deed of Trust. Mr. Williamson wanted men across time to protect his school so that it never fades. These are the men that are going to do that.”

Then, Jared Pendleton 1W6 lead the induction ceremony. While holding a copy of Isaiah Williamson’s Deed of Trust, each inductee had a club pin fastened to his jacket by a club member.

The ceremony closed with the singing of the alma mater led by current and past members of the Artisans and then Specht gave the benediction and everyone went to the dining room to enjoy a buffet dinner prepared by Tim Burbage, director of food services, and his staff, and served by students.