Penn College to Present Alumni Awards at May 17 Commencement

Pennsylvania College of Technology will present "Distinguished Alumnus" and "Alumnus Achievement" awards at commencement ceremonies to be held May 17 at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport.

Walter D. Nyman, director of general services at Penn College and a 1967 graduate of the Penn College predecessor institution Williamsport Area Community College, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony. The award is given in recognition of personal and professional accomplishments, contributions toward furthering the efforts of the College and the high regard in which the recipient is held in the community.

Benjamin A. Hess, Structural Department CAD manager/technician at C.S. Davidson Inc., York, and a 1995 graduate of Penn College, will receive the Alumnus Achievement Award at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. The award is presented in recognition of noteworthy career accomplishments that demonstrate the importance of a Penn College education.

Nyman, a Williamsport resident, earned a degree in Architectural Technology at W.A.C.C. He began his employment with Penn College in 1990 as director of facilities. He was acting dean of general services from January to June 1995 before being appointed to his present position in July 1995. Previously, he had been physical plant director at Lycoming College from 1987-90. He also worked as a self-employed building contractor, as a construction project manager for Centura Development Co. Inc. and Penn State Construction Inc., as a draftsman for Textron Industries Inc., and as a designer draftsman for Construction Specialties Inc. He served in the Army from 1967-70.

He is a life director of the National Association of Home Builders, a member and past director of the Pennsylvania Builders Association, and a past president and director of the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association, for whom he currently serves as executive officer. He has been instrumental in increasing the funding of scholarships and graduation awards given to Penn College students by the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association. Nyman also actively assists the alumni association in its efforts to locate alumni across the country.

Nyman is vice chairman of the board of administration at his church. He and his wife of 35 years, Marion, have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Hess, a resident of York, earned a degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design. He is a member of the Drafting and CAD Technology Department Advisory Board at Penn College, and he has been a frequent guest speaker at the College, informing students about career- and industry-related topics. He has also served as an industry representative at the College's Career Expo events.

Projects he has worked on for C.S. Davidson Inc. include a manufacturing facility for Pella Corp., a retail facility for Boyds Bear Country, a bridge replacement in York County, a parking-garage expansion, and a bridge-inspector program for the York County Commissioners.

For more information about the Office of Alumni Relations at Penn College, call 1-877-PCT-ALUM (toll-free), send e-mail or visit on the Web.