Penn College alumnus establishes three $100,000 scholarships

Larry A. Ward, a longtime benefactor and distinguished alumnus of Pennsylvania College of Technology, has added to his philanthropic legacy by establishing three $100,000 endowed scholarships at the institution.

“We are very grateful for Larry’s continued support of Penn College and our talented students, who will be tomorrow’s industry leaders. Larry’s dedication to the institution is inspiring and transformative. Like his previous gifts, these endowed scholarships will impact generations of students by expanding access to our nationally recognized distinctive approach to applied technology education,” said Penn College President Michael J. Reed.

The Larry A. Ward ’66 and Howard Troup Manufacturing Endowed Scholarship Fund, Larry A. Ward ’66 and Allen Ely Mechatronics Endowed Scholarship Fund, and the Larry A. Ward ’66 Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology Endowed Scholarship Fund will benefit students from the School of Engineering Technologies who have demonstrated an “ability to work through and solve problems in a hands-on manner.”

Ward, a 1966 graduate in engineering drafting technology, exhibited such ability in becoming a titan of the packaging industry. One of his many inventions is the Arc-Tronic Hole Perforator, which uses an electric arc to produce clean vent holes in plastic film for all types of packaging, including food products. In 1989, he started Packaging Progressions Inc. to market the innovative industrial unit. The company became a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-speed interleaving and stacking machines before being sold in 2019.

While growing Packaging Progressions Inc. into a $30 million-a-year business, Ward began supporting his alma mater by donating materials and equipment, sponsoring a commencement award for mechatronic students and hiring Penn College graduates and interns. He also established a friendship with Howard W. Troup, assistant professor/co-department head of automated manufacturing & machining.

In 2020, Troup played a key role in selecting 50 new mills and lathes – featuring both manual and automated operations – for a refurbished 14,299-square-foot machining lab made possible by a $1 million gift from Ward. It was in that lab, known today as the Larry A. Ward ’66 Machining Technologies Center, where Ward, college officials and Troup’s family surprised him with the namesake scholarship.

“It’s going to take me a while to wrap my head around this. I truly appreciate this,” Troup said when looking at a certificate signifying the Larry A. Ward ’66 and Howard Troup Manufacturing Endowed Scholarship Fund. Full- and part-time students enrolled in automated manufacturing technology, machine tool technology or manufacturing engineering technology will be eligible to receive awards from the fund.

“The scholarship is a thank you to Howard for all the great work he does every day with the students at Penn College to help American manufacturing grow,” Ward said. “I’m just happy I can do this for him because he deserves it. He has done so much for so many companies by training the right students. He has done so much for America. We need more Howard Troups.”

“Larry and I have had a great partnership,” Troup said. “We have impacted a lot of students in a positive way. It fills my heart every day to be able to do that, to make a lasting impact on people.”

“Howard has been instrumental in updating both our curriculum and facilities to reflect the needs of our industry partners in automated manufacturing and machining,” added Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies. “Having his name on an endowed scholarship geared to manufacturing students is a very appropriate honor.”

The second scholarship announced honors Ward’s former chief engineer – Allen Ely. The Larry A. Ward ’66 and Allen Ely Mechatronics Endowed Scholarship Fund will be available to full-time students seeking an associate degree in mechatronics technology or a bachelor’s degree in automation engineering technology: mechatronics.
 

The third $100,000 scholarship, the Larry A. Ward ’66 Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology Endowed Scholarship Fund, will be open to full-time students enrolled in one of the following majors: electronics & computer engineering technology: robotics & automation emphasis, electronics & computer engineering technology: electronics & computer engineering emphasis, electronics & computer engineering technology, and automation engineering technology: robotics & automation.

In addition to the three scholarships and the $1 million gift for the revamped machining lab, Ward donated $300,000 last fall to create the Larry A. Ward ’66 Engineering Design Pilot Plant. Scheduled to be operational for the Fall 2026 semester, the space will provide hands-on access to manufacturing tools so engineering design students can translate concepts into real-world prototypes.

“I’ve built three successful businesses. I hold several patents, and my machines are operating in over 15 countries. But my most satisfying achievement is right here in this space at Penn College,” said Ward, who received the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022. “I’m so proud and excited of what’s happening here. Penn College is giving manufacturers the people they need to do the job. I love America, and I love Penn College.”

For more about giving opportunities at Penn College, visit www.pct.edu/give, email collegerelations@pct.edu or call 570-320-8020.

For information on programs offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.