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Thank you Mr. Gindlesberger for the heartfelt comments below about the Shippensburg University Foundation’s most recent Scholarship Dinner and the talented and deserving SU students who receive our scholarships!

Scholarships truly make a difference for Shippensburg Univeristy students. Alumni and friends, if you’ve ever considered establishing a scholarship for the benefit of SU Students, there is no better time than today. There are many ways to fund a scholarship – call the SU Foundation at 717-477-1377 and we can help you find a way that works best for you.

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I went to dinner the other night.

I go to a lot of dinners.  But this one was particularly special.

It was at Shippensburg University, and it was a scholarship dinner.  In the room were two groups of people.  First there were those students who had been awarded scholarships to assist them with the finances necessary to attend the university.  And then there were those generous heroes who had donated the money to underwrite the scholarships.

My wife, Maxine, and I sat at a table with six students.  Actually seated with us were five extraordinary students and an empty chair.  The empty chair was for a student who we understood was working on an assignment and could not afford the time away from the project.

After an invocation, we began talking together.  What an eye opener.  It turns out that the students were pursuing studies in high achievement areas.

The first student was taking advanced coursework in management information systems.  This student was preparing for a career in organizing the information needs of a future employer’s organization.  He was building a framework on which to make well-considered operational, tactical, and strategic decisions.  He was hoping someday to design and implement procedures, processes, and routines that would provide detailed analytical reports through modern, computerized systems.

The second was a day trader.  He was a finance major at the John L. Grove College of Business within Shippensburg University.  His course of study had led him to the Brad E. Hollinger Stock Trading Room and its Bloomberg Terminal.  This is a Wall Street trading platform used by investment bankers and equity traders.  Not only had this fellow mastered the course work, but he was actually taking the dollars he was making in a part-time job and investing them smartly, providing him an additional income stream to help pay for his education.

Then there was the young woman who was a biology major and aiming to be a doctor and cardiologist.  There was no mistake in her seriousness about that career.  It is what she wanted, and no one was about to stand in her way.  She had already applied to the best medical schools, been accepted and was preparing her way following college graduation.

The fourth student was studying to be a land planner.  He was considering obtaining a master’s degree and eventual advanced licensure.  I asked him what he expected to accomplish as a land planner.  He hoped that his work would lead to better urban environments in which people could live and work.

And the fifth student was devoted to becoming a social studies teacher.  He wanted to teach high school students about government, geography, history, economics, civic ideals and current events. He was aware of the humdrum of lesson plans, assigning and grading homework, and creating and leading district determined classroom activities.  Yet he felt that he could endow high schoolers with a deeper appreciation of our history, economic system and way of government.  He expressed his concern for how little young people sometimes know today, and how important it is for them to know who we are as Americans, the relevance of our constitution, and how to strengthen the safeguards to preserving our way of life.

These young adults blew me away.

Then the program began.

First were introductions.  Then polite applause.  Short welcoming speeches.  And more polite applause.  More speeches.  My wife’s elbow in my rib cage to keep me awake.  And finally each of three students walked to the podium to express gratitude for the scholarships they had received.  I wish everyone could have heard what these three college students said.

They had each overcome hurdles, to get where they were.  One had to carry the weight of her family when no one else could.  Another was a chemistry major and looking to make discoveries that could benefit humanity.  A third was a person of color who had overcome adversity that would have swallowed and destroyed a lesser person.  The self-confidence and drive for achievement and excellence that these students exuded brought participants to their feet.

We all know that charities need financial support from folks like you.  Whether it be the animal shelter, BOPIC (Building Our Pride in Chambersburg – Jack Jones, Executive Director), the Coyle Free Library, Women in Need, the American Red Cross or your local church.  They all need your support.

Yet the scholarship programs at Shippensburg University, Wilson College, Penn State Mont Alto or at your own alma mater are something that you should carefully consider.  There is no substitute for offering young people the opportunity to gain an education and the capacity to bring positive change to our world.

It is not the scholarship program that benefits.  It is the education of a real life and deserving human being that your money supports.  Your $100, $1,000, $10,000, $100,000 or more to a college or university can make the difference between young people being able to afford an education or not.  Between having dedicated teachers in our schools or not.  Between your having someday a doctor on which your life may depend or not.

Please give until it hurts.  It is your time and talents that make all of the difference.

Bill Gindlesperger is a lifelong central Pennsylvanian, a Trustee at Shippensburg University and the founder and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions, a provider of print buyer’s software for managing direct mail, marketing and print.  He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com

On February 9, the SU Foundation and Shippensburg University celebrated the dedication of the new Charles H. Diller Jr. Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation. The Center is the result of a gift made by Mr. Charles H. Jr. and Mrs. Jane E. Diller to Charting the Course, Lighting the Way, the Campaign for Shippensburg University. The Center complements the University’s newly established entrepreneurship major and minor and provides additional funding for student competitions, speakers, entrepreneurship mentors, student organizations, seminars, conferences, and other opportunities.

Accompanying the university’s newly established entrepreneurship major and minor, the Charles H. Diller Jr. Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation joins several other unique programs in the Grove College of Business.

“As part of a unique entrepreneurial eco-system, it joins forces with the Small Business Development Center and the Brad E. Hollinger Stock Trading Room, offering hands-on learning to complement students’ academic programs,” said Dr. Barbara Lyman, interim president of Shippensburg University.

The center is the result of a gift made by Charles H. Jr. and Jane E. Diller to the Shippensburg University Foundation’s comprehensive campaign, Charting the Course, Lighting the Way, the Campaign for Shippensburg University.

Charles Diller Jr., retired executive vice president from JLG Industries and member of the Grove College of Business Advisory Board, was drawn to supporting the center because of the opportunity it provides students.

“It is very relevant for today’s young adults, in whatever profession they choose, to learn to cope with risk, spot opportunities and have the ability to be innovative. That is why I chose to endow this center as my contribution to the recent campaign,” said Diller.

According to Dr. John Kooti, dean of the John L. Grove College of Business, the creation of the center supports a hallmark of the college in that it prepares students both academically and professionally. “The Charles H. Diller Jr. Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation contributes to this distinction by affording business and non-business students the opportunities to be creative and entrepreneurial.”

What starts as an idea evolves into reality as students work through a research process, business plan development and vetting of their idea by a leadership advisory council. Students then have an option to pitch their idea to a group of venture capitalists who might have interest in funding their plan.

The center also provides students and local entrepreneurs with access to high-quality speakers and seminars. During Global Entrepreneurship Week last November, the center hosted its first speaker, Brad Hollinger ’76, who founded Vibra Healthcare and is co-owner of the Williams Martini Formula Racing Team.

While the center resides in the Grove College of Business, the opportunities it provides are open to students from all disciplines who have dreams of becoming young entrepreneurs.

“We look forward to seeing a future of successful student entrepreneurs who can state that it all started because of the knowledge, skills, networking opportunities and support they received through the Charles H. Diller Jr. Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation,” said John Clinton, president and CEO of the SU Foundation.

 

During the Leadership Benefactors’ Celebration Dinner, outgoing National Annual Fund Co-Chairs, alumni Rich ‘88 and Lori ’95 Pizzarro, welcomed the incoming chairs, Judy Fogelsonger ‘82M and Forbes Borthwick.  A highlight of the Pizzarro’s term as co-chairs was a $100,000 challenge gift which successfully raised over $375,000 for the Annual Fund. “We are grateful to everyone who participated,” said Rich, “and we wish Forbes and Judy great success in the next two years.”  Rich will continue as a member of the SU Foundation Board and Lori as a volunteer with the General Alumni Board.

In the tradition of jump starting their fundraising efforts, the Pizzarro’s gave Judy and Forbes the $2.00 and $100 bills which previous Co-Chairs, Ron and Kate Conard, had given them.  To ‘up the ante’, they also gave another $100 bill to help launch their efforts.  “We appreciate the gesture,” said Judy. “We have big shoes to fill so every dollar helps!”

Judy and Forbes are long time volunteers with the SU Foundation.  Judy also serves on the College of Business Advisory Board. In 2014, she established the Judy K. Fogelsonger Scholarship.  “We are looking forward to learning more about Annual Fund initiatives,” said Judy, “and working with the Foundation staff and volunteers to accomplish the $2.7MM goal.”

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Rich Pizzarro ’88 and Lori Baker Pizzarro ’95 love their alma mater and have supported it with their time, talent, and treasure since they graduated.  In 1995, Rich received the Outstanding Young Alumnus award and since 2000 has been a valued member of the SU Foundation Board of Directors.  Lori has served on the General Alumni Board since 2012.  Asked if they would be the SU Foundation’s Annual Fund National Co-Chairs for 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, the Pizzarro’s did not hesitate.  But nothing is business as usual with Rich and Lori.  In December 2015, they decided to infuse the Annual Fund with some new energy and excitement by declaring a $100,000 challenge gift.  This was launched with a video and campus-wide “I accept the challenge” initiative.  The challenge was an incredible success.  At its completion on June 30, 2016, the challenge had more than tripled the original $100,000 and attracted 1,306 new donors to the Annual Fund. That is truly alumni love in action benefitting students in all ways the Annual Fund touches their lives on a daily basis.  The Pizzarro’s were presented with a plaque at the recent Presidents’ Recognition Reception recognizing their significant contribution to the Annual Fund.