Scholarship Celebration Dinner Recognizes Scholarship Sponsors

The benefactors who have provided endowed scholarships to Williamson students were recognized for their support and met with the scholars they are helping at the first annual Scholarship Celebration Dinner in the Rowan Hall dining room on April 26.

Keynote speaker Michael Piotrowicz, Williamson’s longest-serving trustee, thanked those in the room who have provided scholarships and said “We are thankful for everyone here. We are one of greatest institutions in the world and we need resources to meet our mission.”

He added, “We always say a Williamson education is free, but nothing is free. It costs $30,000 a year to educate one student and we have 250 students. It requires $7.5 million a year to run the school and $5 million of this amount comes from the endowment, which means we are $2 million short every year. We need to raise that much each year. Endowing Legacy Scholars helps to make our institution viable for another 100 years. We created this group to get our endowment up. It takes a donation of $500,000 to endow a Legacy Scholar and these endowments will help Williamson in perpetuity.”

Piotrowicz said donors are needed, but you also need scholars to give support to. Speaking to the scholars he said, “You were selected as someone special. You are dedicated, hard working, and have Williamson’s character.”

He opened his remarks by talking about some of those who endowed Legacy Scholarships.

“Charles and Elaine Huntoon heard a student talk about Williamson at Rotary and liked what they heard. Now they are here supporting our scholars.

“Robert Pellegrino 9W8 wanted to give back because his Williamson education means a lot to him.

“The C.W. 4W9 and Marjorie Schrenk Family Foundation was created by Clarence “Micky” Schrenk and his wife Marjorie. Micky did a lot for the school over the years and said, ‘I want to give back as much as Isaiah Williamson did in founding the school. If it were not for Micky, I never would have heard of Williamson.

“Scott DeWire 8W2 passed away recently after an 8-year battle against ALS. He was a Williamson man, had Williamson in his heart, and wanted to do something special. Now his name will live on forever.

“Everyone is special, but Lee Rowan is the most special. The Rowan connection is amazing. Henry Rowan was one of the largest benefactors in the history of Williamson. He fell in love with the place. When he passed away, Lee said, ‘I want to do something for Williamson’ and she funded the expansion of the dining room and provided so much to the Power Plant Technology Program that it was named the Lee Rowan School of Power Plant Technology in her honor.”

He closed saying, “We now have 16 Legacy Scholarships and our goal is to have 50.”

In his introduction of Piotrowicz, President Michael Rounds said “Michael Piotrowicz has served on our board for 30 years. He is the longest serving board member and in that time he has made an impactful difference at Williamson. We can never thank he and his wife Pam enough.”

In his opening remarks, Dr. Samuel Wrightson, dean of education, said “Every time I drive onto campus I can’t escape the reality of the importance of endowment support. Our endowment pays the costs of running our college up to 3 p.m. on Thursday. We here at Williamson have to raise the funds for every Friday of the year. The Legacy Scholarships provide the support needed to fund our Fridays and we thank you very deeply.”

Next, Joshua Johnson 2W0, a recipient of the Scott Simpson Scholarship in Horticultural Studies, thanked the Legacy Scholarship donors for their support.

Thomas Wisneski, vice president of research and assessment, opened the evening with welcoming remarks and a meal blessing and closed it with a benediction.

Prior to the start of the formal portion of the event, everyone enjoyed a meal prepared by Tim Burbage, director of food services, and his staff and served with student help.

---

2017-18 Named Scholarships: Donors & Scholars

William J. 7W9 & Janet Bonenberger
The Bonenberger Family Scholarship
2017-18 Bonenberger Scholar: Wade H. Pegon 1W9, Construction Technology-Masonry

Carpenter Technology
Carpenter Technology Scholarship
2017-18 Carpenter Technology Scholar: John F. Gilbert 1W8 Machine Tool Technology

Scott F. DeWire 8W2†
To be awarded in the 2018-19 academic year

Henry Dunlap Scholarship Fund
Henry Dunlap Scholarship
2017-18 Dunlap Scholars: Shai Eis 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Matthew D. Ruskowski 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Timothy J. Bozzelli 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Jereimi S. Ortiz 1W9, Construction Technology-Carpentry; Nick Rodriquez 1W9, Power Plant Technology

Louis S. Fiske Memorial Fund
Fiske Scholars
2017-18 Fiske Scholars: Shai Eis 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Matthew D. Ruskowski 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Timothy J. Bozzelli 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Jereimi S. Ortiz 1W9, Construction Technology-Carpentry; Nick Rodriquez 1W9, Power Plant Technology

Charles W. & Elaine Huntoon
Charles William “Chip” Huntoon† Scholarship
2017-18 Huntoon Scholars: Timothy J. Bozzelli 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Shai Eis 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Matthew D. Ruskowski 1W8, Power Plant Technology; Dan Killion 1W9, Power Plant Technology; Luke Myers 1W9,  Construction Technology-Carpentry; Jereimi S. Ortiz 1W9, Construction Technology-Carpentry; Nick Rodriquez 1W9, Power Plant Technology; Brian Ehly 2W0, Power Plant Technology; Timothy MacFarland 2W0, Construction Technology-Masonry; Matthew Saviski 2W0, Power Plant Technology

Maguire Foundation
Maguire Scholars
2017-18 Maguire Scholars: Dan Killion 1W9, Power Plant Technology; Luke Myers 1W9, Construction Technology-Carpentry; Brian Ehly 2W0, Paint and Coatings Technology; Timothy MacFarland 2W0, Construction Technology-Masonry; Matthew Saviski 2W0, Power Plant Technology

Robert Pellegrino 9W8
The Pellegrino Scholarship in honor of Ian Murta 9W8†
2017-18 Pellegrino Scholar: Bradley Jones 1W9, Power Plant Technology

Michael T. & Pamela K. Piotrowicz
The Piotrowicz Family Scholarship
2017-18 Piotrowicz Scholar: Cody Bregande 1W9, Power Plant Technology

The Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation
The Rowan Family Scholarship
2017-18 Rowan Scholar: Konstantinos Karros 2W0, Power Plant Technology

C.W. 4W9† & Marjorie J. Schrenk Family Foundation
The Schrenk Scholarship
2017-18 Schrenk Scholar: Devin Fox 1W9, Construction Technology-Masonry

Scott Simpson
Scott Simpson Scholarship In Horticultural Studies
2017-18 Simpson Scholar: Joshua Johnson 2W0, Horticulture, Landscaping & Turf Management

W.W. Smith Charitable Trust
W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Scholarship
2017-18 Smith Scholar: Andrew Barr 1W8, Power Plant Technology

The Snider Foundation
The Snider Foundation Scholarship
2017-18 Snider Scholars: Caleb Hawkins 1W9, Horticulture, Landscaping & Turf Management; Giovanni Scalfaro 1W9,  Construction Technology-Carpentry; James Carey 1W9, Power Plant Technology