Penn College News

Zimmerman Scholarship Established at Penn College

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Two faculty members at Pennsylvania College of Technology who are also alumni of the institution ­­have established a building-to-endowed scholarship at the college.

The scholarship was created by Thomas A. Zimmerman, an associate professor of psychology who has worked at Penn College since 1984, and June Kilgus Zimmerman, a part-time sociology faculty member who is also employed as an oncology social worker by the Susquehanna Health Cancer Center.



June and Thomas Zimmerman have established a scholarship at Pennsylvania College of Technology.Thomas Zimmerman is a 1967 liberal arts graduate of Williamsport Area Community College, Penn College’s immediate predecessor. He received a bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College and a master’s degree from Bucknell University.

June Zimmerman is a 1971 liberal arts graduate of WACC who also attended Lycoming College, earning her bachelor’s degree with a dual major in psychology and sociology.

Primary preference for the Tom Zimmerman and June Kilgus Zimmerman Scholarship will be given to students who are enrolled full time in a bachelor-degree program, have declared a minor in either psychology or sociology, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher.

“I have been fortunate in my life to have two jobs that I truly enjoy,” June Zimmerman said. “I have the best of both working worlds; by profession, I’m a medical social worker, working in that field for more than 30 years, currently working as an oncology social worker, and I’m an adjunct instructor, working as such for over 20 years, teaching sociology. The reason I say the best of both worlds is that I apply theory within my social work practice.

“In my teaching life, I bring skills and experiences from the practice that I perform each and every day into our discussions of the underlying theory. A professor that I admired when attending WACC told me early on, ‘June, do what you love and love what you do, find your passion, and once you do, your work will benefit you and others.’ All I can say, is that it has!

“I feel that when I was asked to teach here, another circle in my life was being completed. I started my education here, and I will eventually end my career at this place where I began. Thank you, WACC/Penn College! We appreciate what has been given to us by higher education; Tom and I want to help make possible similar educational opportunities and experiences for others.”

“Tom and June have an incredible history with the college as both longtime faculty and WACC graduates,” said Robb Dietrich, executive director of the Penn College Foundation. “It is therefore fitting that they would add to that legacy by establishing this scholarship to benefit future generations of students in the areas of study about which they are so passionate.”

Students interested in applying for any of the more than 200 scholarships administered by the Penn College Foundation may complete the online scholarship application.

For more information about making a gift to the Penn College Scholarship Campaign or establishing a scholarship fund to support the college and its students, email or call the Institutional Advancement Office toll-free at 866-GIVE-2-PC (866-448-3272).

For more about Penn College, which is celebrating its Centennial throughout 2014, call toll-free 800-367-9222.