Academics

Pennsylvania adult learners to benefit from Penn State endowed scholarship

Dan and Agnes Mazur have established a scholarship that will help adult, online learners. Credit: Jill KnightAll Rights Reserved.

Penn State alumni from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, have established the Dan and Agnes Mazur Family Adult Learner Scholarship in the World Campus, Penn State’s online campus.

“We are grateful to Dan and Agnes Mazur for their very generous commitment to Penn State adult learners,” said Craig Weidemann, vice president for Outreach and vice provost for Online Education. “This gift will provide invaluable support to students balancing multiple responsibilities as they pursue their education.”

Adults living in 20 Pennsylvania counties who are enrolled or planning to enroll in World Campus online undergraduate education programs will be eligible for the annual Mazur Family scholarship. The scholarship gives preference to students who reside in one of the following Pennsylvania counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lebanon, McKean, Mifflin, Potter, Somerset or Westmoreland.

Penn State defines adult learners as 24 years old or older; or veterans and active-duty service members; or people returning to school after four or more years of employment, homemaking or other activity; or people with multiple adult roles such as those of parent, spouse/partner, employee and student.

“We are both first-generation college graduates,” said Dan Mazur. “Penn State has made a difference in our lives, and we want to make a similar significant impact in students’ lives. Our experiences with Penn State Outreach and Online Education programs made us aware of the needs of adult learners and helped us focus our gift plans.”

Agnes Mazur added, “For individuals who don’t go to college and then find they can’t support their families on what they are earning, higher education can be the answer. We want our gift to help these adults earn a Penn State degree.”

Dan Mazur earned bachelor of science in business logistics (1970) and master of business administration (1971) degrees from the Smeal College of Business. Agnes English Mazur earned a bachelor of arts degree in French (1974) at Penn State and a master’s degree in elementary education at West Chester University. All three of their children, Timothy, Kathleen and Patrick, attended Penn State.

Originally from Cresson, Cambria County, Dan Mazur spent 38 years in the railroad industry. He was vice president of strategic planning with Norfolk Southern at the time of his retirement in 2008. He is a member of the Penn State Outreach and Online Education Advisory Board. Agnes Mazur, originally from Baltimore, taught elementary grades in Chester County and has served as an adult literacy volunteer.

Dan Mazur will receive the Fischer Family Award of Distinction for his philanthropy and service at the Outreach and Online Education Appreciation Dinner, slated for Oct. 23. The Fischer Family Award recognizes friends, donors, alumni and volunteers who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary service to advance the Outreach vision at Penn State.

Penn State's alumni and friends are invaluable partners in fulfilling the University's land-grant mission of education, research and service. Private gifts from alumni and friends enrich the experiences of students both in and out of the classroom; expand the research and teaching capacity of our faculty; enhance the University's ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty; and help to ensure that students from every economic background have access to a Penn State education. The University's colleges and campuses are now enlisting the support of alumni and friends to advance a range of unit-specific initiatives.

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated October 9, 2014

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