Bloomsburg University Foundation Celebrates Record $7.5 Million in Student Support at Annual Scholarship Luncheon
Posted on April 30, 2025
The Bloomsburg University Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, April 27, bringing together 127 student recipients and donors to celebrate the transformative impact of philanthropy—and to mark a record-setting year of support.
The celebration highlighted a record-breaking milestone: this academic year, the Foundation awarded more than $7.5 million in scholarships and student support to students through donor-funded contributions — the highest total in its history. Over the past five years, annual awards have averaged $4.4 million, reflecting steady and inspiring growth, including $5.7 million awarded last year.
“Your generosity allows us to keep a Bloomsburg education the most affordable of all the state schools in Pennsylvania,” said Commonwealth University President Bashar Hanna as he addressed the donors in attendance. “That doesn’t happen by chance—it happens because you believe in our students and in their potential. For us to be able to reduce the cost of attendance is nothing short of a miracle. And you are the catalysts for that miracle, and we will forever be grateful.”
Donor speaker Josh Sonntag ’14 shared a heartfelt reflection on his own journey and why he chose to establish a scholarship to give back. “Bloomsburg took a chance on me—a chance no other university even considered,” Sonntag said. “That gratefulness, and my interest in education and giving back, led me to start a scholarship for students like me. None of this would have been possible if Bloomsburg hadn’t believed in me first.”
Recent graduate and scholarship recipient Hailey Hukill ’24 also took to the podium to share her journey as a first-generation college student. “There were moments I thought I wouldn’t be able to go to college at all,” she said. “But Bloomsburg welcomed me, worked with me, and supported me through scholarships. I had a scholarship donor who would help me in any way I needed to reach my professional goals, and that made all the difference. Because of that support, I graduated early with honors and secured two jobs in my field. I am so thankful and ready to give back in the future.”
Stephanie Ulmer, Assistant Vice President of Operations at the Bloomsburg University Foundation, underscored the larger impact of donor support as part of the University's historic fundraising effort.
“With every scholarship awarded to the University through the generosity of donors, we’re not just funding education—we're investing in futures,” Ulmer said. “That’s the heart of our $100 million comprehensive campaign, The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us. I’m proud to share that as of today, we’ve already secured $87.6 million toward that goal. Every one of you is a part of this remarkable progress.”
The event highlighted the enduring impact of donor generosity, reaffirming the vital role alumni and friends play in ensuring access to a high-quality, life-changing education at Bloomsburg University.