CU-Lock Haven alumni couple establishes Change-Makers Scholarship to support retention of future leaders

For one alumni couple, giving back to Commonwealth University-Lock Haven is about more than supporting their alma mater - it's about creating opportunities for students to succeed, grow and ultimately help others do the same.

Through the Lock Haven University Foundation (LHUF), the husband and wife, who wish to remain anonymous, recently established the Change-Makers Scholarship Fund, a new scholarship that will provide $5,000 annually to support hardworking students on the CU-Lock Haven campus. Preference will be given to non-commuter students who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and the scholarship is renewable if recipients remain in good academic standing.

The scholarship's name reflects the couple's vision for the students it will support.

"It is our sincere hope that we can help someone have a positive college experience who really wants to put in the time to succeed, hence the name Change-Makers Scholarship," the couple shared. "We also hope that the recipients walk away with a giving spirit and help others when they are in a position to do so."

For the alumni couple, the scholarship represents far more than financial assistance. It is an investment in students who demonstrate determination, character and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world around them.

"Through our own experiences, we believe change-makers create and motivate other change-makers," they said. "We'd like to see that in the scholarship recipient while they attend Lock Haven and certainly once they leave the university. In addition to business and family commitments, we believe that students should make social commitments that will enrich our world now and into the future."

Their decision to support student retention was shaped by experiences they witnessed both as students and throughout their lives.

"We both saw some very talented friends who had to leave college due to their financial means and in most cases, they never returned," they said. "We've also seen this with many young men and women after we graduated, and it was very sad to see these 'what if' scenarios that never bloomed."

The husband, a 1983 Lock Haven graduate, and wife '82, hope their scholarship will remove financial barriers that often prevent deserving students from completing their degrees. Challenges both proud Bald Eagles understand firsthand, after having to work year-round throughout their college experiences while building the foundation for the lives and careers they would go on to share.

Like many students, they balanced academics with employment and understood the sacrifices often required to earn a degree. Those experiences, coupled with the opportunities they found at Lock Haven, left a lasting impression.

"We both had very positive Lock Haven educational and social experiences," they said. "Ultimately, it was our Lock Haven experiences and connections that allowed us both to have rewarding careers."

While neither received significant financial assistance during college years, they say the most meaningful investments in their lives came later.

"While we both independently funded our paths through college, the 'investment' component really came about during our careers," they explained. "We were both fortunate enough to work with various companies and leaders who invested their trust in us to succeed and be agents of change."

That lesson became central to the scholarship's purpose.

"For us, that is critical," they said. "We want to support students who are hungry to succeed and do great things, not just run out and grab a job."

The couple also hopes their gift inspires others to consider how they can help future generations of Bald Eagles.

"We hope that others will certainly be encouraged to donate as their financial means allow," they said. "We have many successful classmates who share our pride in Lock Haven, so hopefully they will look at this as a way to give back."

They believe alumni support is essential to preserving access and opportunity for students attending public universities.

"The state university system is still a high-quality and relatively affordable means to achieve success, so every dollar we give helps to preserve these institutions and the quality of education they deliver," they said.

Their message to fellow alumni who may be considering a gift is straightforward.

"Get it done!" they said. "The funds are needed now. For every semester you wait, another young man or woman falls through the cracks who deserves a shot to be their academic best."

While the couple has chosen to remain anonymous, their hope for the scholarship's impact is clear.

"If the Change-Makers recipients leave as better people wanting to help others, then we will have succeeded along with them," they said.
For years to come, the Change-Makers Scholarship will provide that opportunity - helping deserving students remain enrolled, earn their degrees and carry forward the spirit of leadership, service and generosity - ensuring that the legacy of two proud alumni multiplies through each recipient uplifted by their support.