Alumni and supporters kick up their heels during Mont Alto campaign kick off
A western-themed event on May 19 at the Mont Alto campus officially kicked off the campus’ efforts in A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence, the University’s current fundraising campaign. The event was not only complete with stirring words from Penn State President Eric J. Barron, Mont Alto Chancellor Francis K. Achampong and others, but it also gave those in attendance the opportunity to eat barbecue, swing a lariat, and kick up their heels during square and line dancing.
With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st century public university:
- Keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being
- Creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom
- Impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship
“Through the generosity of our benefactors, we hope to open doors for many students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a Penn State education. Opening doors actually represents a significant portion of our goal and efforts,” Achampong said.
Additional Penn State Mont Alto campaign initiatives include:
- Improving human health by training and graduating nurses who have received a top-notch, cutting-edge education enhanced by the latest simulation technologies;
- being a driver of economic development by supporting the creation of new ventures and growth of existing ones; and
- offering students transformative learning experiences by exposing them to the arts and humanities and providing them opportunities to expand their global horizons through study abroad.
Jim Ingram, a 1983 alumnus and volunteer campaign chair for Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses (see story, p. 9), said the campaign will have a transformational impact on the University and across Pennsylvania at its Commonwealth Campuses. He could not attend but sent a video message for the occasion.
Ingram and his wife, Barbara, a member of the class of 1985, previously established a scholarship in his father’s name, Jack Ingram. Since then, they have seen how scholarship support affects Mont Alto students.
“We have heard students share their dreams and aspirations. We have also heard about their financial challenges and how scholarship support can help them to stay in school and graduate,” he said.
A Greater Penn State For 21st Century Excellence has a fundraising goal of $1.6 billion over a five-year period that began in July 2016,” said President Barron.
“All of you play an important role in the overall campaign to create ‘A Greater Penn State’…During our first year, we surpassed $300 million, and this year, we did it again. These are the first back-to-back years exceeding $300 million in our history. And we’re still building.”
23rd Annual Scholarship Social Celebrates Philanthropy
On Oct. 19, Penn State Mont Alto’s 23rd Annual Scholarship Social brought 140 donors and scholarship recipients together to meet and celebrate philanthropy. During the evening they shared a meal, heard inspiring words of gratitude, and listened to the joyful sounds of the Mont Alto Chorale. Highlighting the evening was the announcement of 13 major gifts made to Penn State Mont Alto during the past year.
Penn State Mont Alto finance major and scholarship recipient Derek Walters ’21 expressed his gratitude to the crowd. “Let me be the first to say thank you,” he said.
Walters said he chose to attend Penn State because it provides a world class education, but discussions with his parents about the cost were stressful. Assistance from scholarships eased his family’s financial concerns.
“It’s because of the generosity of F&M Trust, generous couples like Vernon and Elaine Shockley, along with the many other donors who are supporting scholarships, that makes it possible for students at Penn State Mont Alto to proudly earn their Penn State degrees,” said Walters.
The evening’s featured speaker was former Penn State Mont Alto Chancellor David Gnage, who was warmly welcomed by friends and former colleagues.
Gnage and his wife, Marie, felt it was important to establish an Open Doors Scholarship.
“First we believe that the quality of our community and the strength of our society depends on the strength of our economy. And that depends, in the long run, on the overall education of our citizens,” he said.
The Gnages also believe in kindness and the power of giving back, which Gnage demonstrated by telling the story of Mont Alto alumnus Al Kligman ’39, a friend he met during his time at Mont Alto.
The son of poor Jewish immigrants, Kligman grew up in the 1920s and 30s and was too poor to attend the then Forest Academy. But with the help of the academy’s director, his fees were covered. Kligman went on to earn both his forestry and biology degrees from Penn State and eventually became a medical doctor, who developed Retin A, a skin cream that repairs sun damaged skin. This made Kligman a financial success and he, in turn, established an endowed scholarship which continues to support Mont Alto students today.
“That one act of kindness by the Mont Alto director to help Al with his college finances has been multiplied many times and is still touching lives today,” said Gnage.
Lastly, Gnage said he made the gift because it was matched by the University, which tripled its effect.
Currently, Penn State Mont Alto has 94 endowments—not yet including those announced during the evening—which awarded 335 scholarships this year, totaling $553,178, according to Chancellor Francis K. Achampong.
Open Doors and Other Scholarships Help Students Overcome Obstacles to Their Penn State Degrees
These individuals have endowed $30,000 Open Doors and other scholarships at Penn State Mont Alto. These gifts represent $1,045,000 being added to Mont Alto’s campus endowment and will support students for years to come.
Recent major gifts to Penn State Mont Alto
Open Doors Scholarships (need-based), matched 2:1 by the University through June 30, 2018
- Brian ’76 and Carranda ’98, ’01, ’17 Barkdoll ($30,000)
- Cumberland Valley Tree Service-Landscaping, George ’85 and Lisa Pogue ($30,000)
- Randolph Ehrenzeller ’69 and Patricia McGuire-Ehrenzeller ’69 ($30,000)
- First Community Bank of Mercersburg, Robert (Bob) Fignar ’85, President and CEO ($30,000)
- Robert ’68 and Rebecca Foor ($30,000)
- David C. and M. Marie Gnage ($30,000)
- Joseph T. ’75 and Deborah K. Kearse ’73 ($30,000)
- The Class of 1958; Chuck and Carol Strauss, Ralph Heilig and Marie Wolson, George Siehl ’16, Lou and Bobbi Shain, John Zimmerman, Ralph and Gisela Peace, Pat Werner, Rolph Anderson, Richard and Dorothy Hunter, Bob Slagle, Maurice and Irene Hobaugh, Paul Shogren ’51, and faculty members Craig Houghton and Elizabeth Brantley ($34,203)
- William L. ’66 and Peggy J. Hoover, ($50,000)
- Jeff and Margaret Stouffer ($50,000)
Other Endowed Funds
- Nicholas ’75 and Linda ’76 Sainato — Professor Gordon Bowker Program Fund for Forest Technology and Engineering ($25,000)
- Ken and Bonnie Shockey — Miner Choir Endowment ($25,000)
- Marilynne Stout ’84 — Penn State Mont Alto Lion Pantry to support student food insecurity ($25,000)
To discuss how you might impact the Penn State Mont Alto campaign with your philanthropic support, contact Randall Ackerman, director of campus development, at rackerman@psu.edu or call 717-749-6116. To learn more about A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence, visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.