Bloomsburg Alum John Makara ’90 Creates Scholarship for Women in STEM

by Luke Wilson '24

John Makara ’90 has recently donated $30,000 towards a scholarship in his family’s name, with an additional $1,200 for early activation.

The Makara Family Scholarship for Women in STEM will support female students at Commonwealth University (CU) – Bloomsburg who are seeking careers in STEM, specifically Mathematics, Digital Forensics, and Computer Science.

This scholarship is designed to lift financial burdens from young women who already face a myriad of challenges in traditionally male-dominated fields.

“John’s dedication to Bloomsburg is a reminder that giving back is more than just donating money, it’s about being part of a vision,” said Jerome Dvorak, Executive Director of the Bloomsburg University Foundation. “Through this scholarship, John is opening doors for students and helping them achieve what may have previously been impossible.”

After earning his bachelor's degree in computer science with a minor in Mathematics at Bloomsburg in 1990, Makara continued his studies at Villanova University, where he completed a master's in computer science. He then built a successful career spanning more than two decades in IT management.

Although he enrolled as a first-generation student, Makara’s parents supported him every step of the way. “My dad worked in a machine shop,” Makara remarked, “He definitely knew that a college education would give me and my sister better opportunities.”

He passed that encouragement on to his daughter, who is studying material sciences engineering at Drexel, and eventually created a scholarship built upon what he learned from both his education and from those closest to him.

“It's really twofold, right?” Makara explained, “It was inspired by my daughter’s journey -- and it's a way to honor my late mother as well.”

Despite working at five different companies – Lockheed Martin, Hay Group, PHH Mortgage, Loan Logics, and now Freedom Mortgage – Makara ran into Huskies at every turn, strengthening his connection to the Bloomsburg Alumni network.

Over the years, Makara has made consistent contributions to Bloomsburg, and this recent donation puts his total contributions at over $50,000.

Before creating his scholarship for women in STEM, Makara primarily focused on the Dr. Edward J. Kerlin Memorial Scholarship, citing Dr. Kerlin as one of the most prominent figures in his entire life.

Following his six years on the Bloomsburg Alumni Association Board of Directors (2012-2018), Makara has been a dedicated supporter of the Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD), taking part in Career Bootcamps and CoHST events and serving annually as a panelist since 2015.

In his spare time, Makara also volunteers as a tour guide at the USS New Jersey Battleship Museum, and coaches girls’ travel basketball.

“I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can give back,” Makara stated, “I think about… ‘What’s my legacy going to be?’ ‘What did I do to help make things a little bit better?’ That's what I'm working on.”

John Makara is proof that alumni engagement makes a substantial difference in the lives of students, and consistent involvement can be just as encouraging to someone entering the workforce as a scholarship.

To learn more about The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us and how you can make a difference, visit https://giving.bloomu.edu/the-campaign-for-bloomsburg-it-starts-with-us.