Administration

Memorial scholarship assists Ag Sciences students with college costs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Bradford County dairy farmer Robert E. Macafee encouraged his children to attend college, and all three were able to graduate from Penn State. Now other students may have that same opportunity, thanks in part to the generosity of Macafee's family.

With a pledge of $50,000, Macafee's widow, Joan, of Sayre, has created the Robert E. Macafee Memorial Trustee Scholarship in the College of Agricultural Sciences. First preference for funds will go to students whose home residence is in Bradford County.

The Trustee Matching Scholarship Program maximizes the impact of private giving while directing funds to students as quickly as possible, meeting the urgent need for scholarship support. For Trustee Scholarships created through the end of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students on June 30, Penn State will provide an annual 10 percent match of the total pledge or gift.

This level is an increase from the program's original match of 5 percent, and it is available only for new endowments of $50,000 or more. The University match, which is approximately double the endowment's annual spendable income, continues in perpetuity, multiplying the support available for students with financial need.

"Since my father's untimely passing in 1991, it has been my mother's hope to honor him in some way related to agriculture," said Brian Macafee, Robert and Joan's son. "I was very excited to share this opportunity with her, after I learned about it through a colleague at work. My family looks forward to the benefits this memorial scholarship will provide future students."

The Macafee children include two sons, Wayne and Brian, and a daughter, Joy. Wayne, who earned his bachelor's degree from Penn State in nuclear engineering, is employed as a mechanical engineer by Penn State's Facilities Engineering Institute.

Brian graduated from the College of Agricultural Sciences with a bachelor's degree in agricultural systems management and technology. He currently helps manage the Department of Farm Operations at Penn State.

Joy Macafee Theil earned her bachelor's degree from Penn State in accounting with a minor in business law and is employed by Corning Inc. as a division controller.

The Macafee gift will help the College of Agricultural Sciences to achieve the goals of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. This University-wide effort is directed toward a shared vision of Penn State as the most comprehensive, student-centered research university in America.

The University is engaging Penn State's alumni and friends as partners in achieving six key objectives: ensuring student access and opportunity, enhancing honors education, enriching the student experience, building faculty strength and capacity, fostering discovery and creativity, and sustaining the University's tradition of quality. The campaign's top priority is keeping a Penn State degree affordable for students and families.

Last Updated June 3, 2014

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