By Amanda Coulson
“You are here for one main purpose, and that is to gain theoretical knowledge.” These are the words of a true believer of education, Frederick Willis. Graduating from Penn State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Engineering Mechanics and later becoming a Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania, Fred was nothing but determined for success. He grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, living in Rhawnhurst and attending Northeast High School. Penn State was one of only fourteen schools in the country to offer a degree in engineering mechanics. Fred is highly passionate about this field and even after retirement two years ago he occasionally continues to work with the Independence Seaport Museum performing forensic engineering on the operating systems of the USS Olympia.
Fred went to Penn State Abington, or Ogontz as it was called at that time, for two years, then University Park to finish earning his bachelor’s degree, and continued there for grad school. Fred said “Penn State as a University, gave me what I wanted, which was the theoretical basis to be a mechanical engineer, and they did a good job.” He spent the majority of his time studying, but found some time to play some intramural sports. What he valued the most at Penn State was six years of small class sizes, even at University Park. During high school he was used to having a large class, so Ogontz was a shock in this sense.
“You are here for one main purpose, and that is to gain theoretical knowledge.” These are the words of a true believer of education, Frederick Willis. Graduating from Penn State University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Engineering Mechanics and later becoming a Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania, Fred was nothing but determined for success. He grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, living in Rhawnhurst and attending Northeast High School. Penn State was one of only fourteen schools in the country to offer a degree in engineering mechanics. Fred is highly passionate about this field and even after retirement two years ago he occasionally continues to work with the Independence Seaport Museum performing forensic engineering on the operating systems of the USS Olympia.
Fred went to Penn State Abington, or Ogontz as it was called at that time, for two years, then University Park to finish earning his bachelor’s degree, and continued there for grad school. Fred said “Penn State as a University, gave me what I wanted, which was the theoretical basis to be a mechanical engineer, and they did a good job.” He spent the majority of his time studying, but found some time to play some intramural sports. What he valued the most at Penn State was six years of small class sizes, even at University Park. During high school he was used to having a large class, so Ogontz was a shock in this sense.