Alumni Sweethearts Feted on Penn College Campus

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s 2016 Alumni Sweethearts, Timothy D. and Whitnie-Rae (Mays) Haldeman, visited campus recently to stay overnight in the Victorian House and dine in Le Jeune Chef Restaurant.

The Haldemans, of Hanover, won the fifth annual Alumni Sweethearts contest conducted on Alumni Relations’ Facebook page. Of the 14 couples vying for the honor, the Haldemans received the most votes (or “likes”) – 531 – for their photograph taken on the college’s Victorian House lawn on their wedding day, May 16, 2015.

The Haldemans were the first alumni couple married in front of the Madigan Library in what is considered to be the first official alumni wedding on campus. The bride and her attendants used the Victorian House to prepare for the special occasion.

“Returning to the Victorian House – and to campus – was really special for us,” Whitnie-Rae Haldeman said. “The last time we stood in front of the library was when we said ‘I do.’ While walking throughout the Victorian House during our stay, I had vivid flashbacks from the morning of the wedding day when I was getting ready in the Victorian House. The room we stayed in was actually the room where I put my dress on. It was very special.”

Becky J. Shaner, alumni relations specialist, said: “We were so pleased with Tim and Whitnie’s decision to have their wedding on campus last year. Campus is truly a beautiful place to celebrate such milestone moments, and we thank them for sharing their beautiful wedding photo with the Penn College community. We enjoyed welcoming the newlyweds back to campus to enjoy a quiet overnight stay.”

Timothy Haldeman, originally from Columbia, is a 2011 manufacturing engineering technology graduate employed as a manufacturing engineer at R.H. Sheppard Co., Hanover.

Whitnie-Rae Haldeman, a native of Reading, earned an associate degree in advertising art in 2012 and a bachelor’s degree in applied technology studies in 2014. She is a director with Thirty-One Gifts and operates her own photography, graphic design and event-planning business, WR Design Co.

The couple met on the first day of classes in Fall 2010 in the college’s black-and-white photography lab, and their first date was during Homecoming 2010 to see Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, a star of MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” speak in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium.

“It’s so sad, but true,” said Whitnie-Rae Haldeman. “I laugh every time I think back to that!”

During her time at Penn College, Whitnie-Rae Haldeman served as president of the Off-Campus Housing Organization, a Presidential Student Ambassador, a student photographer for Public Relations and Marketing, a community assistant for Off-Campus Living and Commuter Services, vice president of public relations for the Student Government Association, a Connections Link, and as a student chair for College Judicial Council. She helped start the Penn College Star talent show, participated in the Presidential Leadership Program and a Habitat for Humanity Spring Retreat, and was active with Healthy Wildcats.

She received the President’s Award for leadership and service to the college, a Penn College Award for noteworthy involvement on and off campus, and an Awesome Woman Exemplar award. She was crowned Homecoming Queen in 2011.

The Haldemans’ advice to current and potential students is to get involved on campus.

“Whitnie-Rae and I have an interesting dynamic. I had no involvement outside of classes, and she said ‘Yes’ to everything on campus,” Timothy Haldeman said. “After seeing her connections and the people she’s friends with and how she can rely on them even now, I wish I’d been more involved.”

On Friday night, the Haldemans enjoyed a dinner in Le Jeune Chef, a live learning lab for students in hospitality majors.

“We had the cheddar asparagus soup, which was amazing!” Whitnie-Rae Haldeman said. “The entree we both had was Irish rubbed shoulder tender medallions. It was delicious! We then finished with chocolate soup, which we couldn't pass on.”

Timothy Haldeman added, “We have Penn College to thank for our education, our future and our story.”

For more information on Alumni Relations, visit online. For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.