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Alumni Association Honors Outstanding Students
The Alumni Association presented nine members of the Class of 2W1 with the Student Academic Achievement Award during a special chapel on October 19 .
John Rex 7W5 , the Association ’ s 1st vice president , presented the awards after brief remarks and offering his congratulations to the students .
He said normally the awards would have been presented last April when the award recipients were juniors , but the event was postponed because of CO- VID-19 . It was the 25th time the annual awards were presented .
The students honored are : Construction Technology-Carpentry : Austin R . Dubbs ; Horticulture , Landscaping
& Turf Management : Kevin L . Tran and Giuseppe M . Pollino ; Machine Tool Technology : Joshua J . Baldinger and Damian M . Deldeo ; Construction Technology-Masonry : Stephen M . Hanzir and Hunter L . Killinen ; and Power Plant Technology : Anthony V . Marascio and John P . Becker .
Chaplain Mark Specht 7W7 opened the chapel with the pledge of allegiance , a responsorial psalm , and a prayer . President Michael Rounds congratulated the students for their hard work and encouraged them to continue serving as role models for their fellow students .
Each received a certificate and trophy . Kevin Tran 2W1 , an award recipient , was unable to attend .
Pictured are , from left to right , front row : John Rex 7W5 , Giuseppe Pollino , John Becker , Anthony Marascio , Austin Dubbs ; and back row : Stephen Hanzir , Hunter Killinen , Damian Deldeo , and Joshua Baldinger .
Langone , Home Depot Cofounder , To Speak At 128th Commencement
Continued from page 1 gic & International Studies , Inc .
He wrote a book titled “ I Love Capitalism !,” which demonstrates his love of capitalism and his rise to a successful career .
He earned a bachelor ’ s degree at Bucknell University , an MBA at New York University ’ s Stern School of Business , and served two years in the U . S . Army .
He began life in a family without much money . His father was a plumber , but not a good businessman so money was scarce . To make ends meet , his mother worked in a school cafeteria and Langone worked odd jobs , including digging ditches for the Long Island Expressway .
Today , he has become one of the leading philanthropists in the country , giving away millions with a focus on education , medical research , and helping children .
In 2018 , he pledged $ 100 million to New York University ’ s School of Medicine so all of their medical students could attend tuition-free and graduate debt-free .
While a student at Bucknell University , he ran out of money and was about to quit school when the administration gave him $ 300 , the amount he needed to complete his studies . Because his entire career was based on his education , this act of generosity gave him the desire to give back to others .
In December 2019 , while being interviewed on CNBC ’ s “ Squawk Box ,” he praised Williamson as a great college with an outstanding employment rate .
Langone believes very strongly that it is possible to achieve success if one strives for it and he believes strongly in the role of faith in a person ’ s life . A practicing Roman Catholic , he was made a Knight of St . Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI .
2W0 I . V . Club Induction Ceremony Held
Twelve members of the Class of 2W0 were inducted into the prestigious I . V . Club during the 25th Annual Induction Ceremony on Oct . 18 , a virtual ceremony with everyone participating from home on Zoom .
The inductees are : Christopher Belfie , paint and coatings technology ; Jared Dallmann , construction technologycarpentry ; Zachary Faust , construction technology-masonry ; Joseph Galbraith , machine tool technology ; Samuel Gingery , horticulture ; Joshua Johnson , horticulture ; Tichon Johnson , construction technology-masonry ; Konstantinos Karros , power plant technology ; James Moorhead , paint and coatings technology ; Aigars Panzer , construction technology-carpentry ; Christian Ripoli , machine tool technology ; and Sean Steppke , power plant technology .
The induction was performed by I . V . Club members , and included Warren Reichle 0W3 reading the poem “ The Man in the Glass ,” Kevin Welde 9W7 talking about “ the past ,” Joseph Portz 1W5 talking about “ the present ,” and President Michael Rounds talking about “ the charge for the future .” The induction ceremony was led by Joshua Speakman 1W9 .
Rounds said the club is an honorary society that acknowledges seniors who have shown exemplary citizenship , hard work , and leadership and embody the school ’ s core values and he was disappointed that COVID-19 caused the cancellation of the induction ceremony in March 2020 , but was pleased it was able to finally be held virtually .
The ceremony included an invocation and benediction by Sean Howat , assistant to the chaplain , and welcoming remarks by Dr . Michelle Williams , vice president of academic affairs / CAO .
Also taking part in the ceremony were board chairman William Bonenberger 7W9 , Arlene Snyder , vice president for institutional advancement , and I . V . Club members Samuel Oropeza 0W6 , James Strickland 1W9 , and John Coleman 1W9 .
Each inductee received the Deed of Trust , a certificate , and an I . V . Club pin .
Zwolak ’ 07 Receives Board ’ s Young Alumnus Award During Founder ’ s Day Ceremony
The Board of Trustees ’ C . W . Schrenk 4W9 Young Alumnus Award is presented during the Founder ’ s Day ceremony to an alumnus who graduated within the last 15 years and has distinguished himself by making substantial contributions to his profession and to society at an early stage in his life .
Peter J . Zwolak 0W7 , the 2021 recipient of the C . W . Schrenk 4W9 Young Alumnus Award , has been sharing his knowledge of the masonry trade with Williamson students since being named director of construction technologymasonry in 2016 .
Zwolak is also Williamson ’ s coordinator of SkillsUSA , arranging competitions on campus and at the district , state , and national levels and going with the students to all of the competitions .
He has helped out the soccer team as an assistant coach when time permits and joins the alumni team that plays the varsity team each year at Homecoming .
When he became head of the masonry department he said , “ As I was perfecting my masonry knowledge in the field , I felt so grateful for my trade skills that I wanted to share what I knew with other people . The opportunity to come back and teach at the same institution that taught me was a great honor . I now want to pass on the trade knowledge I gained over the years .”
He furthered his trade knowledge working as a member of the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 , laying brick at D & G General Contractors , working at the Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square , working as a bricklayer foreman for Phoenix Contractors of Media , and working as a bricklayer for Premier Restoration of Erdenheim , Pa .
As a Williamson student , he put his trade skills to good use helping others , traveling with a group to Paraiso , Dominican Republic , to help construct a hospital , and to Bay St . Louis , Mississippi , as a volunteer senior coordinator , providing aid after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina . He also was on the soccer , basketball , and lacrosse teams .
Zwolak grew up in Lansdowne and graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School . After graduating from Williamson , he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration at Strayer University in Springfield , Pa .
In his spare time , he has coached basketball at the Catholic Youth League .
Peter J . Zwolak 0W7