The Williamsonian Winter 2017 | Page 2

2 A Message From President Rounds
Clemens Honored By Association Of Fundraising Professionals

2 A Message From President Rounds

Many Significant Events Are Happening At Williamson !
Greetings from Williamson !
It seems that Williamson is always a whirlwind of activity and that has been especially true in recent months . Many positive and important things have taken place that are moving our school forward as it meets its mission . We also are completing some plans that a short while ago we were only dreaming of .
I would like to begin with our honoring of Henry Rowan . As you know , he was a great Williamson benefactor , second only to Isaiah Williamson . His generous support helped to allow us to continue meeting our mission and to accomplish many long-held dreams .
How do you thank someone who did so much ? In addition , he was a humble man who helped because he believed in our mission . He never expected recognition .
As most of you know , we thanked him by renaming the Main Building in his honor — Rowan Hall . In November , we held a beautiful ceremony in the building ’ s lobby at which we formally named the building .
We were honored with the presence of members of the Rowan family — Henry ’ s wife , Lee Rowan , his daughter Virginian Rowan Smith , and her children Rowan Smith Watson and Manning Smith IV .
The audience , which also included many of our trustees , faculty , staff , and the student officers , heard words of praise for Henry Rowan and stories that helped us know a little more about the
man .
The event closed with the unveiling of a portrait of Mr . Rowan painted by Garth Herrick , a local artist known for his masterful portraits . It will hang in the lobby of Rowan Hall as long as our school exists — hopefully , forever .
We also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to another member of the Rowan family — Lee Rowan . Thanks to her very generous support we are currently completing some projects we have wanted to complete for a long time and some others will be completed in the near future .
Thanks to her , we were able to create a water and fuels laboratory for the Power Plant Technology Program and to add solar panels to the roof of the Restall Sports Center . Each of these additions to the program will expand the education of our students and the solar panels , creating 92 kW of energy will save money on our fuel bills .
To recognize her generosity , we have named the Power Plant Technology Program the Lee Rowan School of Power Plant Technology .
She also has provided the funds for the expansion of the dining room . Currently , it is not capable of seating the entire student body at once , but when completed it will seat all of our students as well as many others . There also will be a private dining area for special guests and luncheon meetings .
The Rowan family is going down in Williamson history at the top of our list
of our greatest friends .
Another generous benefactor is the Give Something Back Foundation . Their very generous support is providing scholarships for 40 future students . And , upon learning of their gift , our own trustee Richard Clemens , offered a matching gift .
The fall semester also saw several very powerful endorsements of what we are doing here .
Williamson 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 .
To get this honor , we beat out competitors from many countries around the world and many prestigious schools , such as Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Not bad for a school as small as Williamson .
At the local level , we were named the 2016 Business of the Year by the Middletown Township Business and Professional Association for our support of the business community and contributions to the overall quality of life in the township .
There also are some exciting events coming up that offer a demonstration of the talents of our students .
I encourage you to visit our exhibit at the Philadelphia International Flower Show from March 11-19 . It is always
impressive . And , stay posted for the results of the
SkillsUSA state competitions in April .
Be sure to be in the audience for our 124th Commencement on June 2 . It is always inspiring , watching as the senior class goes out into the world of work with the skills and knowledge gained here . We are fortunate to have a great keynote speaker , James Nevels , founder and chairman of the Swarthmore Group in Philadelphia , one of the largest minority-owned investment advisory firms in Pennsylvania .
In closing , I encourage you to get a copy of the newest best seller — Williamson College of the Trades , by Neumann University history instructor Andrew Miller . The book is full of historic photos and interesting information on the best trade school in America !
For Williamson ! Michael J . Rounds
Trustee Richard G . Clemens was recognized as a Distinguished Honoree by the Association of Fundraising Professionals , Greater Philadelphia Chapter , at the 31st Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon in Philadelphia recently .
Clemens , a senior partner at Sidley Austin LLP , one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the United States , until his retirement in 2007 , was head of the firm ’ s Insurance and Financial Group , a 90-lawyer group specializing in the insurance and financial services industry and he was the firm ’ s first lawyer to serve in an overseas office .
Clemens has a long history of supporting Williamson , financially and in other ways . He has served as a trustee for ten years , but his relationship with the school goes back to 1954-65 when he lived on campus while attending college and law school and his father , James Clemens , was serving as president .
In 2005 , he was the Commencement speaker and officiated at the unveiling of a plaque naming the President ’ s Office after his father for his service and the family ’ s generous support of Williamson over the years . In 2006 , he was

Clemens Honored By Association Of Fundraising Professionals

a speaker at the dedication of the Strine Learning Center and officiated at the dedication of the Center ’ s James and Jeanette Clemens Educational Wing , named for his parents and made possible through a generous donation by he and his wife Judith .
A financial supporter for over 40 years , he has supported Williamson ’ s annual giving program , the Power Plant Technology Program , athletics , and student life . He is also a member of the John Wanamaker Society because he has included Williamson in his estate plans .
Most recently , Clemens arranged for Williamson to become a partner college of the Give Something Back Foundation , an organization that awards scholarships to students of modest means to help them get a college education . This partnership lead to a $ 250,000 grant from the foundation , which he matched .
He is the author of the book , Rescuing America : The Bipartisan Path . Published in 2008 , he appeared on over 25 radio and television talk shows promoting it .
He is a director of the Naples Council on World Affairs , which sponsors lectures on world affairs and operates school outreach programs in Southwest Florida . He is a volunteer consultant for the Executive Service Corps of Chicago , a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono consulting services to charitable organizations on matters concerning governance , strategic planning , board development , and fund development . He also serves as a volunteer fund development consultant for OneGoal , a Chicago-based not-for-profit college access organization that helps innercity high school students finish high school and attend college .
He graduated with honors in 1962 from the University of Virginia ’ s College of Arts and Sciences , where he was a Phi Beta Kappa member , and graduated second in his class from the University of Virginia Law School in 1965 , where he was an editor of the Virginia Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif . He has established endowed scholarships at both the College of the Arts and Sciences and the Law School .
In 2015 , as one of the comanagers of his law school class ’ 50th reunion gift campaign , he helped raise $ 3.9 million in gifts and pledges from his 204 classmates . His class had a gift participation rate of 70 percent , the highest of all alumni classes and 40 percent of his classmates attended the reunion .
He is listed in Who ’ s Who in America and Who ’ s Who in American Law . He served as a captain in the U . S . Army during the Vietnam War from 1966-68 .
Trustee Richard G . Clemens