Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades

The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades is a men's junior trade college located in Media, Pennsylvania, 14 miles away from both Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. It was founded on December 1, 1888 and is not affiliated with any religious organization, although it does subscribe to a "Judeo-Christian" belief system.

Williamson is the only trade college in the United States of America that gives all students full scholarships to cover tuition, textbooks, and room and board. The school uses their endowment to cover two-thirds of their student costs each year, with the rest coming from private fundraising. The college and its students do not accept federal financial aid.

Programs of study are offered in carpentry, masonry, horticulture, landscaping, turf management, machine tools, painting, and power plant technology. Upon graduation, students receive Associate's degrees in their chosen fields, unless they opt for a lesser diploma in carpentry or masonry. The term of study at the college is three years.

The majority of Williamson 250 students come from the region of Southeastern Pennsylvania, which the school considers to be its preferred area to draw from when selecting new students. Approximately 95 new students are offered admission to the college each year. To be eligible for admission, students must be unmarried and no more than 20 years of age.

All students are required to live on-campus in supervised dormitories, attend a daily chapel service, and follow a dress code. Students must also participate in at least one official student activity each year; choices include team sports, the student newspaper, and student government.

The Williamson athletics teams, which compete in Division III of the National Junior College Athletic Association, are known as the "Mechanics". Sports offered are football, cross country, basketball, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, and baseball.

Williamson is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology.

References

* [http://www.williamson.edu/admissions/procedure.htm Williamson Admission Procedures and Requirements] - "accessed April 16, 2006"
* [http://www.williamson.edu/about/approach.htm Williamson Approach to Education] - "accessed April 16, 2006"
* [http://www.williamson.edu/about/ataglance.htm Williamson At a Glance] - "accessed April 16, 2006"
* [http://www.williamson.edu/about/history.htm Williamson History] - "accessed April 16, 2006"
* [http://www.williamson.edu/studentlife/index.htm Williamson Student Activities] - "accessed April 16, 2006"

Notable Alumni

*Walter Strine - Founder, Media Real Estate
*Thomas Goeke - CEO, Klockner Pentaplast
*Phillip Brown - Shift manager of Eddystone Generating Station
*Zachary Reagan - Real Estate mogul

External links

* [http://www.freewebs.com/wtlax Williamson Men's Lacrosse]
* [http://www.williamson.edu/ Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades]
* [http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3182 The College Board: Williamson Free School]