Successful Alumni Day Held

Socializing, visiting the shops, enjoying food, and seeing Williamson’s Association of Alumni (WAA) present awards, were only part of the fun at Alumni Day 2023 on June 3. An added attraction was that for many of the guests it was the first time they saw the new Joseph L. and Marion M. Wesley Student Center (WSC).

The day began with an Alumni Continental Breakfast and meet-and-greet with President Michael Rounds in the WSC. Among the guests were members of the Class of 7W3, celebrating their 50th anniversary of graduating from the best trade school in the country. You could recognize these alumni by the 50th medallion they wore around their neck.

During this time, the gymnasium was available for those who wanted to use the new facility for sports. Others visited the shops where instructors were on hand and alumni enjoyed talking with freshmen about what shop life is like today – and letting them know what it was like 50 years ago.

The Alumni Memorial Chapel in the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel included a service and a moving tribute to alumni who passed away in the recent school year.

The crowd then went to the dining room in Rowan Hall for lunch before returning to the chapel for the President’s State of the School talk. In the talk, President Rounds spoke of the new campus construction projects, academic initiatives, and other key happenings at Williamson. Laura Brown, director of alumni relations, gave an alumni relations assessment. Chris Moran, WAA president, gave an end-of-year report of alumni activities and encouraged all alumni to get involved with Williamson and the WAA.

Next, all returned to the WSC for an Alumni Reception with light refreshments and more socializing. After some words by Moran, the members of the Class of 7W3 who were in attendance, presented Rounds with a large facsimile of the $73,000 check they are giving the school as their 50th anniversary class gift.

Then, Dan Flood 8W1, chair of the WAA’s Award Committee, presented the Alumnus of the Year: Service to School Award to John Barnes 8W4, who recently retired from Williamson’s board and as senior vice president of Exelon Generation and president of Exelon Power. Barnes was unable to attend and Kevin Hatch 0W8, board vice chairman, accepted the award on his behalf.

Next, Flood presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award to Thomas Goeke 8W0, Williamson trustee and retired president of Milacron who started TJG Consulting.

The evening closed with a prayer by Mark Specht 7W7, chaplain. Earlier, guests purchased Williamson items at the College Store and Williamson’s Auxiliary was on hand selling items and sweets.