#huskythanks

[bloomsburgu]

Harley, your wish has come true ... ✨💕👑🐾 #MakeAWish #BloomUpward #HuskyThanks #family (at Nelson Field House) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clpg9M2LO2F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bloomsburgu]

$2 million in scholarships allocated for first-generation students

BLOOMSBURG – Bloomsburg University and the Bloomsburg University Foundation (BUF) announces that the BUF Board has voted to commit $2 million in scholarships as a need-based award to first-generation college students from Pennsylvania.

The university will award the scholarships starting immediately for first-time students who enroll at BU for the fall 2021 semester. The initial award of $500,000 per year will become an annual renewable scholarship for students in the Class of 2025 who maintain successful academic standing.

"We are so thankful to the BUF Board and our donors for committing to provide such much-needed scholarships," said BU President Bashar W. Hanna. "They are leading our Husky Pack by example, and I can't thank them enough for the work they've done to make this happen."

BU's commitment to making a four-year degree more attainable for first-generation students was recently recognized when the university was named a First-gen Forward Institution by The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) and The Suder Foundation. The First-gen Forward designation recognizes higher education institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing first-generation college students' outcomes.

"One of the biggest challenges for current and incoming students is the harsh reality that they may have to postpone their education due to financial obstacles, especially during these uncertain times," said BUF Board President Drew Hostetter. "That's what we're here for, to help support students and advance the success of this university. Right now, this is the best way for us to do that."

To qualify for the scholarships, recipients must be first-generation, full-time students. They must also be Pennsylvania residents with demonstrated financial need or meeting the criteria to receive Pell Grant assistance.

"This effort by our Foundation is going to make all the difference for many students enrolling this fall," said BU Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Services Tom Fletcher. "What's so important is the renewable component, which shows prospective students that the BU community is here to provide the back-up they need to not only help them enroll but also to stay on track for timely completion of their degrees."

To learn more or make a gift to help BU students facing immediate financial need, visit giving.bloomu.edu/GiveNow or call 1-855-282-4483.

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Alumni and donors step up to show support for students during challenging year

BLOOMSBURG – The numbers are in, and the results show that Bloomsburg University alumni and donors at all levels have come together to provide support for BU students when they needed it most.

Despite many pandemic-related fundraising challenges, BU alumni and donors answered the call to assist students in their time of need. The donors' response helped create opportunities and alleviate financial stress for students to the tune of a 58% increase in giving from 2019, a $2 million+ increase to BU’s endowment growing to more than $60 million, the creation of 32 new scholarships, and a nearly 70% increase in donor support on Giving Tuesday.

“2020 was certainly a challenging year for us all, but the commitment of our alumni and donors in supporting our students exemplifies the Husky spirit of resilience and togetherness and has truly been an inspiration,” said BU President Bashar W. Hanna. “We are fortunate to have such a dedicated community, and I am forever grateful for their commitment to our students and their success in especially challenging times.”

During a tumultuous year filled with unprecedented academic and logistical challenges, many students also faced financial crisis due to job loss and other circumstances. In addition to regular fundraising efforts, these challenges sparked the Strengthen the Pack Campaign for emergency student aid, which raised more than $105,000 from 241 donors. The fund helped BU administrators deploy resources to students facing urgent short-term needs like computer and internet access, temporary housing needs, tuition assistance, and food insecurities.

"While I'm typically in awe of the support and generosity of our alumni and friends, this past year has been extraordinary," said BU Vice President for Advancement Erik Evans. “What was especially encouraging was more than 75% of the gifts we received were $250 or less. This shows that donors at all levels are giving what they can to support our students, and they know that every gift counts. When everyone comes together to give, it makes all the difference."

Annual gifts to the Bloom On Fund, emergency aid, and scholarships to help recruit and retain students made for a promising year of support, but the generosity didn't stop there. BU donors also bestowed several transformational gifts, which are equally vital to the advancement of the University, including a $10 million gift from Steph Pettit '89 to support student-athletes, a $1.5 million gift from Craig A. Diehl Esq. '82 to establish a center for law school preparation and $500K gift from Mike Boguski to support Professional Experience Grants (PEGs).

Finally, in addition to immediate-use funds provided, BU donors also stepped up to show their commitment to future Huskies by pledging more than $6 million in gifts through estate intentions, an increase of $2.2 million in the previous year.

To learn more about how donor support impacted the BU community during 2020, visit giving.bloomu.edu/Impact, or to make a gift go to giving.bloomu.edu/GiveNow.

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Steph Pettit makes $10 million donation to BU

Bloomsburg University and the Bloomsburg University Foundation proudly announce a $10 million gift from Steph Pettit ’89, with $5 million supporting athletic priorities, specifically scholarships, and a $5 million trust to support future university needs. In recognition of the impact this donation will have, BU will rename and brand the upper campus athletic complex to Bloomsburg University Pettit Athletic Complex.

This latest gift from Pettit will increase scholarship dollars for BU student-athletes, bolstering the recruiting efforts of the Huskies’ coaches.

“My goal is to elevate the athletic program at BU by giving the coaches the resources needed to recruit student-athletes from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and beyond with stronger academic and athletic profiles,” said Pettit. “Competition is fierce in the world of intercollegiate athletics, and our coaches need more scholarship money to compete at the highest levels. I am honored to be able to make this gift and support their efforts to compete for championships at the conference level and be competitive on a national level.”

The gift makes Pettit the largest donor in BU history, bringing his total contributions to more than $12.5 million.

“This gift by Steph, who often calls Bloomsburg his home, is truly transformational for Bloomsburg University,” said BU President Bashar W. Hanna. “We talk about the grit and determination shown by our students. This is an attribute Steph has shown from the first time he set foot on campus and continues today. On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, and alumni, I want to thank Steph for his extraordinary generosity to our University. His gift will impact generations of Huskies.”  

“Steph’s passion for BU is unmistakable,” said BU Director of Athletics Michael McFarland. “He is truly an ambassador for all our teams with a desire to see each of them be successful. This gift, we hope, will also inspire others to contribute and help BU become the premier athletic program we all know it can be.”

Pettit, who was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters in the spring of 2019, graduated with a degree in mass communications and was a four-year member of the Huskies football team. He was part of the 1985 squad that was the first team in school history to win 12 games while capturing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title and reaching the NCAA Division II semi-finals.

After graduation, he was a sales manager for E & J Gallo Winery before taking ownership of Clean Earth Systems, Inc. in 1993. The company began as a small, corrugated box company, and has since grown into a nationwide distributor of hazardous waste containers with 15 warehouses with sales teams in each. Clean Earth Systems' innovations have reinvented hazardous waste storage while maximizing efficiency, through cost-effective, sensible, and environmentally-responsible hazardous material transportation, and disposal.

Pettit has given back in many ways to BU. He served on the record-setting $62 million It’s Personal campaign cabinet as the lead advocate and ambassador supporting athletics. Pettit also co-chaired the First & Goal football scholarship campaign as well as establishing the SP-59 annual football scholarship, the Under Armour Football sponsorship, and the Steph Pettit Legacy Scholarship.

He also supported athletics with a $1 million contribution for stadium improvements to the former Sports Stadium and additional athletic scholarships. The now Steph Pettit Stadium has hosted four NCAA National Championships since being renamed and has been selected to host the 2020 NCAA Field Hockey Division II National Championships. Steph Pettit Stadium serves as the home to Huskies' field hockey, men's and women's soccer, and women's lacrosse teams, in addition to hosting local high school teams, BU athletic summer camps, and university intramural and club activities. Pettit also supported the banner project at Redman Stadium that improved the look of the facility.

Pettit also supports his academic department, mass communications, by funding experiential learning opportunities through a production company for current students that features documentary and long-form video projects.

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Boguskis make $500,000 gift to support professional experiences at BU

Michael ’85 and Beth Boguski have committed $500,000 to the Bloomsburg University Foundation to support experiential learning opportunities for students. In recognition of this gift, prior commitments, and continued support of the student experience, Bloomsburg University named the dean’s suite in the Zeigler College of Business in their honor.

Since 2014 the Boguskis have championed professional development for students at Bloomsburg University, starting with a gift of $1 million to support BU’s commitment to Professional U. Their latest gift will assist students applying for Professional Experience Grants (PEGs); Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs; and students competing in the Husky Dog Pound.

“We believe it is important to help fund the education of Bloomsburg University students, especially experiential learning,” Michael Boguski said. “Providing our students with access to internships and professional experiences is a competitive advantage for them and is a mission we are pleased to support.”

“Mike and Beth Boguski embody the unique spirit and determination of our students,” said BU President Bashar W. Hanna. “They share our passion for and commitment to our mission of providing experiential learning opportunities for our students so that they can achieve success during and after their years at BU. I am ever grateful to Mike and Beth for their continued generosity and support of Bloomsburg University.”

A former member of the campaign cabinet for BU’s largest-ever capital campaign and a current member of the BU Foundation board, Michael Boguski maintains a strong connection to BU. He was a first-generation college student who began his career in risk management and insurance in 1986 after graduating from Bloomsburg University with a BS degree in Business Management.

Boguski spent the last 22 years at Eastern Alliance Insurance Group, a member of the ProAssurance family of Companies. In May of 2019, he assumed the role of President, Specialty P&C at ProAssurance in Birmingham, Ala. Eastern Alliance Insurance Group, under the leadership of President Kevin Shook, continues to partner with Bloomsburg University on numerous student initiatives, including the Earned Income Tax Credit program.

As one of eight in his family to graduate from the university, including his son Michael in 2018, The Boguskis place a high value on the experiences and the education they received at BU.

“BU is a special place with special people and was an all-around great college experience for me,” Boguski added. “We are extremely pleased to support the student experience into the future. Our family is proud to have our legacy associated with these positive and impactful opportunities for BU students.”

[bloomsburgu]

“Bloomsburg really changed my life back in 1981. I came here from a rural school and not really confident in the future, but I wanted to be here and thought it was a great opportunity. This place really transformed me individually." — Mike Boguski, president of ProAssurance. #BUClass1985 #GiveTueBU #HuskyThanks #GivingTuesday (at Sutliff Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5nsktznVTs/?igshid=19cmxe5m7iz7u

[bloomsburgu]

Stepping up early

From student loans to career aspirations to starting families, many young Bloomsburg University alumni have a difficult time finding the extra cash to make a philanthropic gift to their alma mater.

However, a recent trend has emerged of more and more BU grads under the age of 40 deciding to make giving back a priority by making a gift to Bloomsburg University in their will to endow a scholarship and pledging an annual gift of at least $1,000/year to activate the scholarship and support students who can immediately benefit from some similar opportunities.

For some, it’s a connection to specific BU programs, professors and mentors that helped shape them into who they are today. For others, it’s a sense of obligation to return the favor of benefits they received as students, or just to help current and future students like themselves.

No matter the reason, one common thread connects them. They are committed to supporting the success of their fellow Huskies.

Kimberly Abney ’09

For Kimberly T. Abney ’09, a certified school counselor in the Philadelphia School District, the decision to support BU students through annual giving in 2016 at the age of 28 was about one thing – paying it forward.

Kimberly made her commitment to create an annual scholarship to benefit students, who like her, attended BU’s Act 101/Educational Opportunity Program by providing a $1,000 dollar current-use scholarship. Three years later, she couldn’t be happier with her decision.

“This experience has really been an honor for me,” Abney says. “Not just to give back, but also that I’ve been able to inspire others to give too. I’ve had the opportunity now to support two recipients. It’s been a pleasure to meet and mentor them, and now I’m more motivated by their success.”

Abney’s commitment to supporting student success is encompassed by more than just her gift. She also recently founded TGIF – Thank Goodness I’m Female, an alumni-based mentoring program designed to help students overcome the issues she and her classmates faced when they were adjusting to life at college. TGIF has since become recognized as a student organization on campus and Abney could not be more proud. She credits the alumni mentors who helped build TGIF and the female student participants who trusted them to help them succeed.  

For Abney, the choice to make this gift, even though she was also faced with varying expenses that many young college grads share, was something she was determined to do.

“I never wanted to let my student loans hold me back from what I wanted to do,” Abney adds. “I stick to a strict budget, and a part of that budget is my commitment to giving back because it’s important to me. The scholarship has changed my life to make me more focused on my dreams. In January 2020, I will graduate with my doctoral degree in Education Leadership where my research is based on the TGIF alumni-based mentoring program.”

Lamar Oglesby ’07

Lamar Oglesby ’07, associate director of grant and contract accounting at Rutgers University and his wife Dominika always knew they wanted to give back to support students who came from similar backgrounds as them, but really had no idea how to get started.

“We always contributed to BU and various organizations both through financial contributions, and volunteering,” Oglesby says. “It wasn’t until we saw the article about Kim, that we discovered we could give back in a way that so meaningful to us personally.”

Lamar and Dominika, who met at Bloomsburg, value their experience at BU and the relationships they built as students, wanted to give back in a way that would commemorate their time at BU. The best way for them to do that was to make a gift that would support students who face the same sort of struggles as they did.

“When I first decided to go to Bloom, I wasn't required to participate in the ACT 101 program, but it was highly suggested and it was the best advice I took,” Oglesby Adds. “I was very underprepared academically going into college, but the program really helped to prepare me for the rigors of college.”

In addition to the normal challenges of college, Oglesby’s financial circumstances were very unstable, which added a lot of stress. He had to take on full-time employment along with being a full-time student, as well as other means to generate income. “Financial stress can lead good people to make poor decisions. I was one of those students who put their future at risk in an attempt to alleviate some of their financial pressures,” Oglesby says.

The young couple, who live in Philadelphia and who celebrated the birth of their fourth child in February 2019, certainly have a lot of reasons to allocate their finances to other needs, but for them giving back is a priority.

“We are very giving people,” Oglesby adds. “When we thought about giving back to Bloom, the question was never whether or not we would, or why we would, it was about how we would. When we saw that we could help young students of color who came from where we came from and faced similar challenges, we knew we were making the right decision.”

Ayana Bennett ’10

Philadelphia native Ayana J. Bennett ’10 never dreamed of going to college because no one in her family ever had. She never even talked to anyone about the possibility as she was growing up.

Luckily, I had a guidance counselor in high school who saw potential in me and pushed me to visit colleges, including BU,” says Bennett. “Thanks to her, I ended up qualifying for six different scholarships, and suddenly, the idea of going to college was becoming a reality.”

When Bennet came to Bloomsburg, because she did not do well on her SATs, she had to attend summer classes provided as part of the ACT 101 program. Bennett made several lasting friendships through the Act 101 program and still reaches out to those friends on a regular basis to help her as she moves forward in her career as a health and wellness coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

When Bennett learned that her fellow classmate and friend, Kimberly Abney ’09 had made a gift to provide an annual scholarship for current BU students, she was intrigued and wanted to find out how she could do the same.

“Thanks to the scholarships I received, I graduated from BU debt-free,” says Bennett. “When I learned that Kim was making a gift that could benefit students right away, I couldn’t wait to join her.”

Bennett, a 31-year-old single mother, was so inspired, she decided to increase her gift to $2,000 per year to support two students each year and plans on continuing to do so for as long as she is able.

“When I think about whether or not I can afford to make these gifts I just remind myself that if I wasn’t using the money for this, I’d be spending it somewhere else, like on Netflix or buying shoes,” Bennett says. “So to me, it’s a decision to dedicate that money to something much more meaningful.”

Josh Sonntag ’14

Josh Sonntag, ’14, also from Philadelphia is enjoying a successful career as the first geospatial engineer to be hired at the Enterprise Business Intelligence organization within Comcast Headquarters in Philadelphia.

When Sonntag first arrived at BU, he didn’t see himself as being on the right path toward his current position, but nearly five years later, he is living proof that time, effort, and guidance from dedicated faculty can have an enormous impact on the course of someone’s life.

As a freshman, before he could declare a major, he would have to prove that he could handle the demands of college through the initial summer program.

It was during his time in the summer program that he began to develop an interest in geography and the environment. As soon as he was able to, Sonntag declared his major in Environmental, Geography and GeoSciences (EGGS).

In the final semester of his senior year, Josh secured an internship that he credits with launching his professional career. Since graduating, his experiences at Bloomsburg have continued to pay dividends.

Through everything, Sonntag maintains that none of these opportunities would have been possible without the extraordinary mentorship provided by his professors at Bloom, especially Dr. Jennifer Haney, Dr. Sandra Kehoe-Forutan, and his advisor, Dr. John Hintz.

This experience, along with the memory of his own inauspicious start to his college career inspired Josh to give back. In July 2018, at the age of 26, Josh decided to make an annual gift of $1,000 to support a student who can immediately benefit from some similar opportunities.

“Bloomsburg took a chance on me,” says Sonntag. “And it was very important to me that I could give back. I knew right after I graduated; I told myself once I was able to that I wanted to give back to the school.”

Elizabeth Miller ‘17

For Elizabeth Miller ’17 of Port Jervis New York, making the decision to give back just two years after her graduation was brought on by a combination honoring her father’s memory and inspiring students to broaden their worldviews.

Miller, who currently works at Pace University in New York as an education abroad program assistant, established her annual gift in memory of her father Douglas Miller, who was a firefighter in New York in 2001 and died rescuing victims of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

“I’ve spent a lot of time trying to learn more about the events that led to my father’s death,” Miller says. “That’s part of the reason I chose to pursue a dual major in History and Arabic studies with a minor in Middle East studies. But what I ended up discovering was a beautiful culture that is often misunderstood and that just because there was a tragedy, doesn’t mean we can’t move forward.”

According to Miller, her time as a history major at BU prepared her for life after college. “There were so many professors and mentors who helped guide me, they really were like my family,” she says.

Her history department family made such an impact on her, she decided she wanted to help do the same for future students.

At 24 years old and currently studying for her master’s degree in Middle East studies at the City University of New York Graduate Center, Miller created a scholarship to support students who like herself are high-achieving in academics and demonstrate a commitment to global learning.

“This was something that was very important to me and a way for me to honor my dad while also remaining a part of the university,” Miller adds. It’s a small sacrifice for me to forgo a $5 cup of coffee every day.”

[bloomsburgu]

Gift establishes the Diehl Center for Law School Preparation

Bloomsburg University students pursuing law school will soon have a place on campus to assist them with the process thanks to a $1,500,000 gift. 

The Diehl Center for Law School Preparation will be a resource for all students considering law school, as well as faculty advising interested students. In addition, BU is also collaborating to develop new 3+3 agreements with Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh law schools, as well as with Widener Commonwealth Law School and Widener Delaware Law School.

The center is named for Craig A. Diehl, Esquire, CPA ‘82, who graduated magna cum laude with an accounting degree from BU in 1982. He later worked with Price Waterhouse in Baltimore for several years before moving on to the Dickinson School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1988. In 1990, Diehl opened his law practice specializing in tax law and preparation, bankruptcy, real estate, estate administration and planning, corporate law, contracts, and civil litigation.

The Diehl Center’s main objective will be to provide information and assistance to students about careers in law, the law school experience and how to prepare for it, and the application process. The Diehl Center will also eventually offer experiential programs, such as a summer institute for prelaw students, a speaker series, law school recruiting events, trips to law schools, and informational events about applying to law school.

“On behalf of current and future Bloomsburg University students, I express my deep appreciation to Craig for this generous gift to establish this law school preparation center,” said BU President Bashar Hanna. “This gift will benefit students across several colleges who are interested in pursuing a career in law and will give our students a distinct advantage as they navigate the law school preparation and application process.”

“BU currently lacks a single repository of information about the law school application process where interested students can be directed,” said Diehl. “I am honored to be able to establish this center where BU students can go for assistance in pursuing their law degree. This center will look to assist students with the process of applying for law school with advisors there to lead them in the right direction.”

“My goal was to give back to Bloomsburg in the manner that provides a legacy gift from my family and also helps the university,” said Diehl. “I’m blessed to have the ability to do this gift. I’m very proud of it and want to see it develop and help BU recruit and retain talented students.

Over the last five years (not counting 2018-19), an average of 15 BU students have gone on to law school after graduation. Loren Selznick, JD, will be the director of the Diehl Center.

“Each year a number of BU students express interest in law school, but until now these students have not had a coordinated, university-wide resource serving them,” said Selznick. “Thanks to the generosity of Craig Diehl, BU will have a unique center dedicated to students exploring and preparing for law school.”

Selznick continued, “We’ll be there to answer all the questions students may have, including ‘Is law school for me?’ The Diehl Center will be the place to go for answers, meet other students interested in law school, and participate in activities relating to law school and legal careers.  The Center will advise students and sponsor activities like law school visits, trips to law school fairs, law-related competitions, seminars, speakers, engagement with BU alumni and networking events. BU students in any major in any college are welcome.”

Diehl is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He has lectured on various business topics to organizations throughout Central Pennsylvania and annually participates in providing legal pro bono services.  

He was also a standout on the tennis courts for the Huskies. During his career, he posted a then-school record 99 wins against 30 losses. He won four PSAC singles titles and three double crowns along with four team titles in his four years. He also won the 1979 ECAC Number Two Singles title as a freshman. 

During his senior year, he was also ranked in the top 25 of the Middle States Tennis Association (MSTA), along with being awarded the number one men's player for Central Pennsylvania. He was an NCAA qualifier, an NCAA scholar-athlete and helped the team to national rankings of 8th, 13th, and 14th during his career. He was inducted into the BU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, the York County Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Spring Grove High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

Since graduating, Diehl’s been ranked number one by the Middle States Tennis Association (MSTA) four times in singles and once in doubles. The MSTA encompasses all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and northern West Virginia.