The Williamsonian

Winter 2017 Vol . 80 , No . 2

A PUBLICATION for alumni and friends of Williamson COLLEGE OF THE TRADES

Main Administration Building Is Dedicated As Rowan Hall

Standing under a portrait of Henry Rowan during the Rowan Hall dedication are ( from left to right ): Board chairman William Bonenberger 7W9 , Virginia Rowan Smith , Lee Rowan , Rowan Smith Watson , Manning Smith IV , and President Michael Rounds .

Williamson Receives 1st Place In Global Education Competition

Williamson College of the Trades came in first place in the “ Ethical Leadership ” category at Reimagine Education 2016 , a global competition designed to recognize higher education teaching methods that enhance learning and employability throughout the world .

The competition , hosted by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania , included 15 categories and such prestigious competitors as Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Princeton University , Stanford University , and hundreds of other schools from six continents .

President Michael Rounds , who accepted the award at the awards ceremony at Philadelphia ’ s Constitution Center , said “ I am thrilled that Williamson ’ s successful and time-tested approach to education has been recognized in this meaningful way . We were selected out of a pool of 500 applicants of prestigious colleges and universities from around the world to receive a first-place award . Continued on page 7

With words of praise and admiration for Henry Rowan from a host of illustrious speakers , Williamson ’ s main administration building , known for many years as the Main Building , was dedicated forever as Rowan Hall , in honor of Henry Rowan , who passed away Dec . 9 , 2015 , in a ceremony in the building ’ s lobby on Nov . 15 .

After an invocation by Rev . Mark Specht 7W7 , President Michael Rounds welcomed the audience , which included Lee Rowan , Henry Rowan ’ s wife ; Virginia Rowan Smith , Rowan ’ s daughter ; and Smith ’ s children , Rowan Smith Watson and Manning J . Smith IV ; the board of trustees ; a number of guests ; and many student officers .

Rounds said , “ I want to welcome you all here for this very special day in Williamson history . Today , we are honoring a man who gave Williamson College of the Trades a debt we can never repay . We are honoring the man for whom the building we are in right now is named .

Give Something Back Foundation Provides For 40 Williamson Scholarships

We named this building in his honor because we want to make sure his name is a part of Williamson for all time .”

Rounds said the gifts to Williamson from Henry Rowan were transformational and make him the one person who did so much to help this school that there is only one other person who did more , school founder , Isaiah Williamson .

He pointed out that the two men shared several traits ; both were very successful in their fields and became very wealthy , both used their business success to help others , and both gave with a humble attitude with no desire for recognition .

Henry Rowan began giving to Williamson in 2000 , but in 2007 decided to make a challenge grant of $ 5 million that would inspire new donors and encourage former donors to increase their gifts , Rounds said . This gift lead him and H . F . “ Gerry ” Lenfest to each donate Continued on page 4

Forty high school students will be able to receive a free education at Williamson College of the Trades thanks to the Give Something Back Foundation ( Give Back ).

Give Back founder Robert Carr presented a gift of $ 250,000 , which was matched with a $ 250,000 gift from Williamson trustee Richard Clemens , a retired senior partner at Sidley Austin LLP , to Williamson president Michael Rounds during a Give Back Partnership Celebration at the school on Nov . 2 .

The students , who will be selected over the next five years , must be Pell Continued on page 4

President Michael Rounds ( left ) and trustee Edwin Mahoney with the firstplace trophy in the “ Ethical Leadership ” category of the Reimagine Education ’ s global competition .

Posing with a facsimile of Give Back ’ s $ 500,000 check are ( from left to right ): trustee Richard Clemens , President Michael Rounds , and Give Back ’ s founder , Robert Carr .