Donors applauded for investing in 'tomorrow makers'

A video expression of gratitude highlighted Monday's 15th annual reception recognizing the alumni, corporate partners, friends, retirees and colleagues whose benevolence sparks the life-changing transformation of Penn College students into successful graduates.

“Thanks to you, our students experience cutting-edge equipment and technology in our classrooms and labs, such as The Dr. Welch Workshop – our makerspace on campus – and the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence," President Davie Jane Gilmour said to those gathered around the Donor Wall in the Student & Administrative Services Center. "They embrace diversity and gain a global perspective while traveling abroad to places like Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Italy. Our student-athletes are scholars in the classrooms and strong competitors on their playing fields, such as the anticipated UPMC Field – the first synthetic-turf field on campus. Leadership opportunities foster personal and professional growth, preparing our students for employment at top-tier corporations, many of whom are in the room this evening."

The president noted that, during the coming academic year, the college will award more than $1.1 million in scholarships – the largest single-year total in college history.

The night’s honorees:

Millionaire’s Society ($1 million+)
American Honda Motor Co.*
Miller Electric*
John E. Morgan Foundation*
UPMC Susquehanna*

Visionary Society ($100,000+)
Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.*
Shell Polymers
RPM Foundation*
Irwin H. Siegel
Southwestern Industries*
Dwight E. Stoltzfus Memorial Trade Scholarship*
Albert and Judy Styrcula*

Heritage Society ($50,000+)
Ed and Linda Alberts*
Hypertherm
Phoenix Contact USA, Inc.
Schneider Electric*
SEKISUI Polymer Innovations LLC.*
Toter LLC.*
Tom and June Zimmerman*

Ambassador’s Society ($25,000+)
Brent and Daria Fish - Fish Real Estate, Inc.
Annie Hackenberg
The High Companies
HRI Inc.
HVAC Concepts
Kenworth of Pennsylvania
Monster Tool Co.
The Williams Companies Inc.

* Denotes a new level of giving society

Siegel and the Styrculas were also welcomed into The Pillar Society, the members of which have established a planned gift to the college or The Penn College Foundation.