Student-Restored Vehicle Honored Among Select Company
Published 06.18.2014
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The Verrill Wolf Wagon, a one-of-a-kind automobile meticulously restored by Penn College students, won the "Dawn of a New Era" award at The Elegance at Hershey last weekend. The distinctive 1953 vehicle is owned by Patricia B. Swigart of Hummelstown, and was judged the best post-World War II car at the celebrated concours event. "We're in the big leagues now," said Roy H. Klinger, instructor of collision repair. "I'm very, very proud of our students for reaching the level of an invitation-only show." The car was originally taken to Hershey merely to be displayed as the eye-catching rarity it is, but the judges liked it so much that they insisted it be placed into competition. "Not only was the car a hit at The Elegance at Hershey, but the boys that were there representing Pennsylvania College of Technology were helpful and equally proud of the work done," Swigart told PCToday. "As the restoration program at Penn College is not yet well-known, this was a great time to inform the attendees from all over the country ... to not only hear of the program, but see their exquisite work. We are extremely proud to have such a fine school available for interested, talented young people." Some of the world's finest vintage and antique automobiles graced The Hotel Hershey gardens for the June 13-15 event, attended by a number of Penn College alumni, current students and prospects in the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies. Among them were May graduates Carmen Cicioni and Ryan J. Levesque; and automotive restoration technology majors Sean M. Hunter, of Livingston, New Jersey, and Andrew B. Switch, of Lancaster. The trophy will be displayed by the school, which has been invited to take the Wolf Wagon to other such events − including the March 13-15 Concours d'Elegance at Amelia Island, Florida, the East Coast precursor to the prestigious August showcase at Pebble Beach, California. As Swigart told the Hemmings Daily blog, “I just own the car; the students did all the work.”Photos provided