Joe Young, Youngie, as he was known, had a vision a few years back at a friend’s funeral to have his students gather and reminisce about their career and lives.

This thought led to the conception of Youngiefest, and the Lehigh County Vo-Tech Machine Shop Reunion from 1-6 p.m. at Cementon Park, 5185 Dewey St., Whitehall.

The Joe Young Reunion is for all of his students from 1969 onward.

Orphaned at age 7, Young made a better life and career for himself.

He graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1959, and then went to Stevens Trade School for Fatherless Boys, graduating in 1964.

He worked in industry at M&M Candies until 1969.

Then, his career in teaching began at Upper Bucks Vo-Tech, followed by South Mountain Middle School, William Allen Vo-Tech and finally settling at Lehigh County Vo-Tech, now Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, for 29 years.

After his retirement in 2000, he continued teaching machine shop courses at local colleges.

His reputation in machine shop teaching allowed him the opportunity to train employees in industry for a number of well-known companies, such as Lutron, Estee Lauder, Johnson and Johnson, Bethlehem Steel and Just Born Candies to name a few.

Now in his 70s, he is still teaching.

Former and present students of Youngie are invited to join Youngie for Youngiefest.

Register at Youngiefest.com.

Youngie is looking forward to seeing as many of his students as possible from the last 50 years of his career.