They've spread out across the country and around the world in the past 62 years, and alumni of the Pennsylvania College of Technology predecessor institution Williamsport Technical Institute now are being called upon to return June 20 for the third annual W.T.I. reunion.
"The first year, there were 52 alumni attending the reunion," said Barbara A. Danko, director of alumni relations at Penn College. "Last year, 63 alumni returned to the College for the reunion. We hope this year will bring an even larger number of our W.T.I. alumni back to campus."
Williamsport Technical Institute educated thousands of students from 1941-65, when it became known as Williamsport Area Community College. In 1989, the institution became a special-mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University and changed its name to Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Danko said the College lost track of almost all W.T.I. alumni over the years, adding that efforts in the past two years have resulted in more than 600 alumni being located. Reunion invitations have been mailed to all of those W.T.I. alumni.
"Any W.T.I. alumni who didn't receive an invitation in the mail are also welcome to attend," Danko said. "The only reason they didn't receive invitations is we don't have their current addresses."
At the reunion, W.T.I. alumni will have opportunities to see what has and hasn't changed in their program areas and in the College as a whole as they visit with old and new friends.
The reunion also will feature a demonstration/discussion by Penn College's food and hospitality staff and a tour of the new Student and Administrative Services Center.
Anyone who knows W.T.I. alumni is requested to ask whether they have received an invitation. If they have not, the alumni are asked to contact the Alumni Relations Office at Penn College toll-free at 1-877-PCT-ALUM (1-877-728-2586), or send e-mail.