Central Penn College Education Foundation celebrates 10 years of student scholarships

PRLog (Press Release) - Jun. 7, 2012 - The Central Penn College Education Foundation celebrated its tenth year of raising funds for student scholarships in the college's conference center on May 23. The "Celebration of Success" luncheon was hosted by the Central Penn College Education Foundation board of trustees to recognize the efforts of the many individuals, businesses and partnering foundations that have financially supported Central Penn students over the past 10 years. Today, the education foundation has a scholarship endowment of more than $2.5 million, which it reached in spring 2012, and has awarded more than 500 scholarships to assist deserving students in turning their potential into career success.

"The education foundation is truly grateful for the financial support of alumni, friends and partnering businesses and foundations over the past 10 years," says Matt Lane, director of the education foundation. "This support has enabled hundreds of Central Penn students to continue their studies at Central Penn and work toward their career goals."

The event hosted several impressive motivational speakers: radio personality John Resnick shared insightful stories about his interviews with corporate leaders and how they achieved their success; author and president of Tremendous Life Books Tracey Jones, spoke about leadership, using her dog, Mr. Blue, to demonstrate how people can learn about leadership from the canine perspective; and authors Jim Donovan and R.J. Harris, who is also a television and radio host, shared their thoughts on leadership from their personal perspectives. The authors all provided their motivational books for luncheon attendees.

"I was impressed with the education foundation's 10-year celebration and its concept of giving back," says Mary Wetzel, director of the Central Penn marketing services department. "Having the opportunity to learn from such celebrated speakers was wonderful.  For instance, in just 45 minutes, John Resnick shared a wealth of knowledge learned during his 10 years spent meeting with industry leaders on his radio show, 'Legends of Success.'  I'm sure every person in the room, from CEO to Central Penn student, walked away with at least one action item to incorporate into his or her life."

"What Todd Milano [president of Central Penn College] and his team are accomplishing with Central Penn is incredibly unique," says Resnick. "He's taking a learning system a step further into the realm of a caring system and there's no other college like Central Penn in this area."

The luncheon concluded with a question and answer session between the speakers and the student scholarship recipients in attendance: Quinn Wetherall, Suhayla Johnson, LaTanya Gilbert, Ericka Joseph, Kelsey Berkheimer and Greg Jones.

"A great event!" says inspired legal studies major Quinn Wetherall. "I heard life stories of success and failure and learned to never give up. These stories gave me something you can't learn just anywhere and is beyond value at my age: life experience."

The education foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a sole mission to raise funds to support Central Penn College students through scholarships. There are 12 trustees who lead the foundation through their expertise, knowledge of the community and belief in the power of philanthropy to change lives.

Donors are taking notice every year; the foundation is committed to growing the scholarship endowment, and increasing scholarship amounts. In 2011, a total of 143 scholarships were disbursed through the foundation, which raised more than $391,000 in scholarship contributions for the year.