brought home six gold medals . In just its third year attending the National Collegiate Landscape Competition , Williamson horticulture students placed 19th out of 49 two- and four-year colleges . For the third consecutive time , the college took first place in the arboriculture event . Performing so well at these national- and state-level events gives us confidence that Williamson students are mastering the high-level trade skills needed to succeed in the workforce .
Our students also had the opportunity to learn more about our core value of service during our successful Service Week in May . Our seniors , freshmen , faculty , and staff provided needed aid to 26 organizations in the local area and one in North Carolina . We hope that our students will see the value of using their gifts and talents to help others in need and will carry this core value of service forward throughout the rest of their lives . While Service Week was going on , the entire junior class of 2W5 focused on leadership during the seven-day Junior Leadership Expedition . This expedition is the most impactful event in their 1,000-day journey and is a crucial component of our three-year Lenfest Leadership Program . The experience is critical in preparing juniors to step fully into leadership roles in their senior year .
Each year we thank our major donors at the Scholarship Celebration event , where donors have an opportunity to connect with their sponsored scholar at a dinner and program . Our own board chairman Bill Bonenberger was the event ’ s keynote speaker . Bill and his wife Janet are among the Legacy Society members , whose contributions to Williamson have created endowed Legacy Scholarships that provide the revenue needed to educate one student annually in perpetuity . A highlight of the evening was a check presentation by Lori Cushman , president of the Justamere Foundation , for a $ 500,000 gift to endow a Legacy Scholarship . This is the foundation ’ s second endowed scholarship gift since 2022 . We thank the Justamere Foundation and all of our donors for their dedication and support of Williamson and its mission .
We also held a very successful 50th reunion for the Class of 7W4 . They enjoyed attending Alumni Day , their reunion dinner , the new Alumni Breakfast , and some of them took part in the Commencement ceremony . Their gift to Williamson was an impressive $ 74,000 , and we thank them for their generosity .
Our new Williamson Association of Alumni continues to host many well-attended events . Recent events included the 50th Annual George Patton 6W6 Golf Outing , the Alumni vs . Student Cornhole Tournament , the 3rd Annual Phillies Outing , and the Alumni Jersey Shore Beach Bash in North Wildwood . Additionally , the Alumni / Student Mentoring Program continues to grow with dedicated alumni who help our students gain invaluable life skills through career coaching and mentorship .
We have two new excellent additions to our Board of Trustees . Attorney John DiNome , general counsel and manager for Philadelphia Academic Health System / Center City Healthcare , brings many years of business and legal experience . He is a West Point graduate and a proud Army veteran . John Heenan , along with his wife Bernadette , recently funded the renovation of the Clara Schrenk Memorial Chapel and the construction of the Thomas and Agnes Heenan Chapel Mezzanine . John founded and ran several companies and is a proud Marine veteran .
Trustee Bill Strine retired from the board after serving Williamson for 25 years , many of those years as board secretary . He served on many committees and helped in countless ways . His most noteworthy accomplishment , along with his wife Judith , was donating the funds to construct the Judith A . and William B . Strine Dormitory . The new residence hall enables us to expand our enrollment – something Bill was very passionate about ! We thank him for his many contributions to Williamson over so many years . Trustee Jim Obermeier , President , CYMA Builders and Construction Managers , Inc ., has taken over as board secretary , and we look forward to his continued contributions to the college in this role .
On a sad note , we lost our trustee Tom Ott on May 27 after a courageous battle with cancer . Tom was a great friend of Williamson long before he began serving as a board member . He did so much to enhance our Power Plant Technology program and led our Energy Island Project . Tom willingly and generously shared his vast knowledge of the power industry with us . He was also an immense help in the establishment of our new Construction Technology-Electrical program and was instrumental in creating and developing the curriculum . Williamson lost a great family member with Tom ’ s passing , and we will forever appreciate and remember his years of service to our mission . Rest in peace , Tom .
As we move through the 2024-2025 school year , Mary Nell and I want you to know how grateful we feel to continue to serve here at Williamson . We enjoy our interactions with you immensely . We offer our deep and heartfelt thanks to all of our employees , alumni , and friends who help us meet our mission of preparing qualified young men to be respected leaders and productive members of society . Thank you for believing in us and supporting us . None of our successes and achievements would have been possible without your support . We promise to keep working hard so that you will find Williamson worthy of your support now and in the future . May God continue to bless you and Williamson College of the Trades .
For Williamson !
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