Williamsport Technical Institute Reunion Set for June 18

Pennsylvania College of Technology's Office of Alumni Relations will host the fourth annual Williamsport Technical Institute reunion on June 18 for alumni of the Penn College predecessor institution.

"This reunion gets a little bigger every year as we locate more and more of our 'lost' W.T.I. alumni," said Barbara A. Danko, director of alumni relations at Penn College. "Last year, 66 alumni returned to the College for the reunion. We hope this year will bring even more back to campus."

Over the years, W.T.I. alumni have spread throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, Danko said.

The foundation for Williamsport Technical Institute and Penn College was established in 1914 when Williamsport High School expanded its vocational education programs to include adult students.

W.T.I. became a separate post-secondary institution in 1941, educating thousands of students from 1941 to 1965, when it became known as Williamsport Area Community College. In 1989, the institution became a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University and changed its name to Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Danko said the College had lost track of almost all W.T.I. alumni over the years. Efforts over the past three years have resulted in nearly 1,000 alumni being located. Reunion invitations have been mailed to all of those W.T.I. alumni.

"Any W.T.I. alumni who didn't receive an invitation in the mail are also welcome to attend," Danko said. "The only reason they didn't receive invitations is we don't have their current addresses."

Danko said W.T.I. alumni should contact her office no later than June 10 to ensure adequate seating and meals for the reunion luncheon. Alumni can register by calling (570) 320-8000 or 1-877-PCT-ALUM.

At the reunion, W.T.I. alumni will have opportunities to see what has and hasn't changed in their program areas and in the College as a whole as they visit with old and new friends.

The reunion also will feature a demonstration/discussion by world-renowned cabinetmaker Eugene Landon, who resides in the Montoursville area. Landon is a leading authority on 18th century hand joinery. Among his works are a Bible box crafted from Liberty Tree wood that was presented to President George W. Bush on July 4, 2001, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Regardless of whether they can attend the reunion, any W.T.I. alumni who have not been contacted by the Penn College Office of Alumni Relations are encouraged to call the office at 1-877-PCT-ALUM or send e-mail .

The College's alumni-outreach efforts include mailing copies of the award-winning College magazine, "One College Avenue," four times per year and updating alumni on special opportunities and events.