Montgomery County Community College: Scholarship Will Help Montco Grad Earn His Next Degree

Press release from the Montgomery County Community College:

Diane VanDyke

August 24, 2021

Like many students, William Drewes was uncertain about what he wanted to do when he
graduated from high school. He tried working as a house painter, but he quickly realized
that wasn’t the career for him.

Instead, he changed directions and decided to try Montgomery County Community College.
Montco was close to where he lived in Lansdale with his grandmother and great-grandparents,
and he felt comfortable on the campus when he visited it. Since he helped to care
for his family, he wanted to attend a college that was nearby.

In the beginning, he hit some bumps in the road while he was learning French, but
he didn’t give up.

“My advisor, Ms. (Jennifer) Gordon, was amazing,” said Drewes, who quickly turned
his grades around and made the Dean’s list. “She helped guide me so much.”

Along with the helpful guidance from his advisor, Drewes found his professors to be
motivating and encouraging.

“History Professor Anna Raskin was amazing. Hearing her own stories about living in
the Soviet Union made the class very impactful. It was probably one of my favorite
history classes I took at Montco,” he said.

“History Associate Professor Patrice Laurent has a fun sense of humor and eased my
anxiety about returning to school,” he added. “History Instructor Sanket Desai was
full of passion with his lectures – I really wish I could have fit another class of
his in my schedule,” he said. “I am awful at math, but Math Assistant Brandon Professor
Klarman was super supportive explaining things.”  

“I’ve never met anyone as passionate about the evolution of North American regional
architectural styles as Geography Assistant Professor Wayne Brew, and he’s the only
person I’ve met who matches my enthusiasm for eight tracks and hi-fi systems,” he
added.

This inspirational learning environment, together with Montco’s caring faculty, helped
Drewes connect the dots between his long-time enthusiasm for history and a major.

“I’ve always been interested in history,” said Drewes, who enjoys Greek and Roman
myths and reading the histories. “I remember learning about the holocaust in fifth
grade, and I couldn’t fathom how such a horrible thing could happen, and I wanted
to learn more about it.”

Following this direction, Drewes earned his associate’s degree at Montco, and he is
continuing his education at Temple University, majoring in history. He is considering
a career as an archivist, although, at this point, he wants to keep his options open.

As he packs his belongings to move to Philadelphia, Drewes is grateful for the Ryan
Johnson, Ph.D., Endowed Scholarship that is helping him take this next step in his educational journey.

Dr. Ryan Johnson was a beloved professor of history at Montco’s Pottstown Campus who
passed away in 2013 at the young age of 32 years. He was a dedicated educator with
a passion for history and a strong belief in the importance of higher education and
lifelong learning.

In honor of his love for history and devotion to education, his family and friends
established the endowed scholarship. This prestigious award is given to a graduating
student who has displayed academic excellence, a passion for history, commitment to
ongoing education and resilience in overcoming obstacles.

“(History Assistant) Professor Douglass Powell told me about the scholarship, and
it will help a lot,” said Drewes, who appreciates the financial support that will
allow him to complete his next degree.

Although Drewes and Johnson did not have a chance to meet, the two would have connected
over their shared interests in history and vintage toys.  

Drewes started collecting vintage toys from the 1970s and 80s, including He-Man, G.I.
Joe action figures, Jem and the Holograms, when he was in his early teens and went
to flea markets with his grandfather. Before vintage toys, he collected Coca-Cola
memorabilia. Similarly, Johnson was a collector of Transformers action figures.

“I’ve always enjoyed going to markets and shops and finding items from the past,”
said Drewes, who continues to pursue his hobby through online searches.

In the years since he graduated from North Penn High School in 2016 and worked as
a painter, Drewes now has a clear picture of his future with a pathway to achieve
it, thanks to his supportive family, Montco faculty and the Ryan Johnson, Ph.D., Endowed
Scholarship.

This press release was produced by the Montgomery County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.