McCormick Family and Friends Commit $1 Million to Endowed Scholarship Honoring James and Maryan McCormick at Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg

U.S. Senator David H. McCormick, his brother Douglas McCormick, their respective spouses Dina and Michele, and longtime family friend Daniel A. Klingerman, along with his wife Monica, have committed $1 million to the James H. and Maryan G. McCormick Scholarship at Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg (CU-Bloomsburg). This endowed scholarship honors the legacy of James and Maryan McCormick, who have collectively dedicated over 70 years to public education, by supporting Pennsylvania students with financial need.

“This scholarship is about more than honoring my parents’ names,” said Senator David McCormick. “It is about honoring their life’s work and their belief that every young person deserves the chance to pursue their dreams. We are proud to help ensure that legacy for future generations of Pennsylvanians.”

The announcement punctuated the dedication of the newly renovated McCormick Center, which was originally named in honor of their father, James H. McCormick, former Bloomsburg President and first chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The building will be home to state-of-the-art classrooms, simulation labs, and collaborative spaces designed to prepare CU–Bloomsburg students for professional success.

This is more than a gift—it is a promise,” said CU Interim President Dr. Jeffery L. Osgood. “By honoring Jim and Maryan, the McCormick family and their friends are affirming that education is the great equalizer, the great accelerator, the great hope of Pennsylvania. They are saying to every young person with a dream: you belong here, you can grow here, you will lead from here. That is the spirit of Bloomsburg. That is the spirit of the Commonwealth. And for that vision, for that faith, we are forever grateful.”

Douglas McCormick reflected on his family’s deep Pennsylvania roots and his parents’ values, noting his own educational journey from Pennsylvania to West Point and Harvard Business School before eventually founding Washington D.C.-based investment firm HCI Equity Partners. “My father always saw education as the great enabler,” he said. “By supporting future teachers, public servants, and leaders in the state they call home, this scholarship will extend his and my mother’s impact for generations to come.”

Senator David McCormick serves the Commonwealth in the U.S. Senate, and Daniel Klingerman employs more than 1,500 Pennsylvanians through his businesses, continuing his decades-long investment in the region’s economic vitality.

For Klingerman, a close friend of the McCormick family for decades, supporting this scholarship is a deeply personal tribute.

“Jim McCormick has been a mentor and role model to me and to countless others,” said Klingerman. “His leadership helped shape Bloomsburg and Pennsylvania’s system of higher education. This gift is a way to say thank you—for his vision, his friendship, and his extraordinary service.”

The James H. and Maryan G. McCormick Scholarship will provide half-tuition support (currently $4,500 annually) for up to four years to incoming, first-year students from Pennsylvania with financial need. Eligible majors include education, political science, leadership, and public policy—fields that reflect Jim and Maryan’s shared dedication to shaping future leaders and expanding access to education.

Vice President for University Advancement Erik Evans noted the transformative nature of this commitment:

“Philanthropy powers the difference between buildings and breakthroughs,” Evans said. “This pledge reflects the very heart of our campaign—people coming together to create opportunities that transform lives. By honoring Jim and Maryan’s legacy, the McCormick family and the Klingermans are not only celebrating a lifetime of service to education, they are opening doors for generations of Pennsylvania students. This is what happens when local leadership unites for a statewide impact.”

The scholarship builds on the momentum of The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us, which has now raised over $91 million toward its $100 million goal to transform learning experiences across campus—including $14.1 million dedicated to innovations at the McCormick Center.

“Today we celebrate a building that prepares students for the workforce,” said Osgood. “And through this scholarship, we celebrate a legacy that ensures those same students have the means to access a Bloomsburg education in the first place. That combination is how we change lives—and it’s exactly what Jim and Maryan devoted their lives to achieving.”

To learn more about how you can support students at CU-Bloomsburg, visit giving.bloomu.edu.