Pennsylvania College of Technology's Alumni Relations Office will be the hosts for alumni of one of the college's predecessors, Williamsport Technical Institute, at the fifth annual WTI reunion on June 17.
"This reunion gets bigger every year as we locate more and more of our 'lost' WTI alumni," said Barbara A. Danko, director of alumni relations at Penn College. "Last year, 75 alumni returned to the college for the reunion. We hope this year will bring even more back to campus." Danko added that WTI alumni are located throughout the United States and around the world.
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. WTI became a separate postsecondary institution in 1941 and educated thousands of students from 1941-65, after which it became known as Williamsport Area Community College. In 1989, the institution became a special-mission affiliate of Penn State and changed its name to Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Danko said the college lost track of almost all WTI alumni over the years. Renewed efforts over the past four years have resulted in more than 1,300 alumni being located. Reunion invitations have been mailed to all of those WTI alumni.
"Any WTI alumnus who didn't receive an invitation in the mail also is welcome to attend," Danko said. "The only reason they didn't receive an invitation is that we don't have their current address." Danko said WTI 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 (877) PCT-ALUM or (877) 728-2586.
At the reunion, WTI alumni will have opportunities to see what has and hasn't changed in their program areas -- and at the college as a whole -- as they visit with old and new friends.
Regardless of whether they can attend the reunion, any WTI alumni who have not been contacted by the Penn College Alumni Relations Office are encouraged to call (877) PCT-ALUM, send e-mail to alumni@pct.edu or write to Pennsylvania College of Technology Alumni
Relations Office, 1 College Ave., Williamsport, PA 17701-5799.
The college's alumni-outreach efforts include mailing the college's quarterly magazine, One College Avenue, and providing updates on special opportunities and events.