Scholarship at Penn College Memorializes Blair County Surveyor

A new scholarship fund will memorialize a Blair County surveyor who helped develop curriculum for students at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The Ellis James Edwards/New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Scholarship Fund will give preference for awards to students from Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Fulton, Huntington or Somerset counties enrolled in Penn College's civil engineering technology bachelor's degree, or associate degrees in civil engineering technology and surveying technology, who have completed at least two semesters of study with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and who have interned or worked for New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. with satisfactory performance appraisals.

Ellis James Edwards had worked for New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. for 42 years when he passed away in October following a courageous battle with cancer and Lyme disease. He was employed as chief of surveyors at the time of his death.

Edwards was a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, completing the surveying program and earning an associate degree in engineering drafting and design technology. He served on Penn College's Civil Engineering Technology Advisory Committee and Surveying Technology Advisory Committee, panels consisting of in-field professionals who act as partners with faculty and administration in developing curriculum for the majors.

Michelle Edwards, daughter of Ellis Edwards, said her father's favorite saying was, "It is what it is!"

"But those infamous words were replaced with a tear-filled statement about how humbled he was that we were going to try and set up a scholarship with Penn College in his name," Michelle Edwards said. "I, as well, am honored to be able to have such a wonderful memorial for my father and also make a contribution to someone's future."

"College education was very important to my father, as well as to our family as a whole, and having New Enterprise Stone & Lime involved with this scholarship is also an honor for our family," Edwards added. "For my dad, working at New Enterprise Stone & Lime was more of a pleasure rather than just work; it was his passion, and also his dream. Dad is continuing to live his dream in Heaven today. Life is too short to let your dreams and passions slip right between your fingers."

"It was a pleasure to work with the Edwards family and New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. to establish this scholarship," said Debra M. Miller, director of corporate relations at Penn College."Penn College appreciates the service Mr. Edwards provided by serving on our program advisory committees, and I believe this is a wonderful way for his family, friends and former employer to honor his memory. The scholarship will provide much needed assistance to students."

Miller noted that New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. recruits employees from Penn College's civil engineering technology, surveying technology, diesel technology, construction technology and other majors. Recipients of awards from the Ellis James Edwards/New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Scholarship Fund will be given consideration for summer internships with the company.

The first award of $1,000 will be made from the Ellis James Edwards/New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Scholarship Fund for a student in the Fall 2012 semester.

Supporters interested in helping to build the fund to a full endowment of at least $25,000 can make gifts by mail to the Penn College Foundation, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA, 17701-5799, or online .

Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of Penn State, committed to applied technology education. For more information about Penn College, visit on the Web , email or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

For more information about making a gift to support Penn College and its students, visit online , call the Institutional Advancement Office toll-free at 866-GIVE-2 PC or email .