The president of Pennsylvania College of Technology has issued a fundraising challenge in support of a scholarship fund established by the Student Government Association at the college.President Davie Jane Gilmour announced that she will provide a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $2,000, if that amount is raised by Penn College student organizations for the Tracy A. Garis Memorial Scholarship.
Garis, a dental hygiene major, Resident Assistant and Student Ambassador from Hellertown, was killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 80 in Luzerne County on June 4.
"The initiative displayed by establishing the scholarship in memory of Tracy is impressive in its own right, but what the student body has been able to achieve in just one semester is truly remarkable," Gilmour said. "The level of support from across the Penn College community has led the student government leadership to set a goal of having the scholarship endowed by commencement. The matching challenge is just my way of helping them achieve their goal."
The scholarship established in Garis' memory will give first preference for awards to a full-time student in one of Penn College's bachelor's or associate degrees in dental hygiene who is an active student leader on campus. Gilmour started her career at the college as an instructor in the dental hygiene major.
Less than four months after the establishment of the Tracy A. Garis Memorial Scholarship, the SGA-led effort to permanently endow the fund is more than halfway to its goal.
Through a series of fundraising events and individual contributions, $13,621 had been raised as of the end of the 2010. A total of at least $25,000 is needed to endow the scholarship.
Fundraising efforts during the fall semester included proceeds from the balloting for Homecoming king and queen, a 24-hour rocking chair Rock-a-Thon held by the Sigma Pi Fraternity, and an SGA-sponsored "Dress Down Day" among Penn College employees. The Student Nurses' Association and Campus Crusade for Christ have also made contributions to the scholarship fund.
Adam J. Yoder, president of the Student Government Association, said several ideas for fundraisers during the spring semester are under consideration.
"SGA is exploring every opportunity to raise additional funds toward our goal," Yoder said. "We look forward to working with any student organizations interested in conducting a fundraiser in support of the scholarship."
Gregory J. Miller, vice president of internal relations for SGA, initiated the drive to start the Tracy A. Garis Memorial Scholarship. He said he's honored to have Gilmour's generous support.
"I'm certain we'll meet this challenge," Miller said. "I look forward to reaching our goal for this scholarship, so we can keep the memory of who Tracy was as a student here at Penn College."
Penn College is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, committed to applied technology education. The college has more than 6,200 students enrolled in bachelor-degree, associate-degree and certificate majors.
For more information about any of the college's more than 100 fields of study, visit online, e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
For more information about establishing a scholarship fund or other ways of making a gift to support Penn College and its students, visit on the Web, call the Institutional Advancement Office toll-free at 866-GIVE-2-PC, or e-mail.