Stories of Impact & Support
Stories
Every individual who has been influenced by Bloomsburg University has a personal story to tell. A first-generation college student. A dedicated teacher. A record-setting student-athlete. A successful alumnus. These stories illustrate our university’s commitment to preparing students for personal and professional success. Each success and moment in time combines to create an even bigger picture — that among the Bloomsburg University family, each of us has the opportunity to make an impact on the Husky Experience.
For Bob Meeker '75, it all began in 1971 when Bloomsburg offered him a chance to prove himself during the summer as a probationary student, or "probie." If he performed well, he could return as ...
“Having scholarships, I would say, definitely has pushed me harder to maintain my good grades, and just staying on the right track, as well as pouring myself back into the Bloomsburg commu...
Dr. Stephanie Turrise '95 is an accomplished nursing professional who has made significant contributions to the field of healthcare. She earned her BSN from Bloomsburg's Nursing Program and subs...
For Matt Thran '84, originally from Whippany, NJ, his decision to attend Bloomsburg significantly impacted his future. But for Matt, it wasn't just his experiences or what he learned that made t...
“We wanted to join the Huskies All-In Giving Challenge to help build and grow that foundation of donor support that a school like Bloomsburg needs to help all its students succeed. That starts w...
From meeting on campus as first-year students to starting their lives together after graduation, Anne ’79 and Charlie Wilson ’79 attribute a great deal of success to their time as undergrad stud...
Barbara Connor ’66 knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl, when she would come home from school and play school. She always loved learning and how it felt when she connected...
The gift of a Professional Experience Grant (PEG) created an opportunity for Allison Sowers to develop a deeper understanding of herself and the world she lives in during a recent internsh...
Thanks to the generosity of donors and the support of the Student Veterans Association at BU, Charlie was able to make a smooth transition, not just from a financial perspective but also i...
Even when she was a little girl, Kara always knew she wanted to work in healthcare. It was about the time she was a junior in high school that she decided to pursue a career in nursing. Wh...
Thanks to the support she's received from Donors, she is not only on track to complete her degree, she's actually set to finish in three years. She was able to do that because of gifts to the Bl...
Growing up in Bloomsburg, hearing the stories of what BU was like from when my mom and dad attended, then seeing my sister also go on to become a Husky, coming to BU was pretty much a fore...
Maggie went home for her first spring break and didn’t return to campus for almost a year due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Just before the pandemic, her dad lost his job of more than 20 years...
"Without the gifts I received from donors, I don’t know if I would still be here, let alone having a successful year," says Gabi. "The scholarships I received served as a reminder that som...
Lizmeidy "Liz" Hernandez '20 benefited greatly from Donor Support during her time here at BU. From scholarships, to professional experience grants (PEGs) that provided her the opportunity to stu...
When Regina (Gina) Hitcho Garretson ‘69/’72 MA began her undergraduate degree at Bloomsburg, she discovered her deep passion for special education. Her time at BU fostered her love for helping s...
Steve has been a loyal donor to BU students for many years. Prior to establishing his scholarship, Steve made an annual gift to the Delta Pi/Sigma Pi alumni sc...
When Dennis Siegmann ’68 stepped foot on Bloomsburg University’s campus for his first semester, it looked quite different than it does today. He found the most palpable thing about the universit...
As a first-generation college student himself, Dr. Michael Martin, Associate Professor English and Director of the Professional Writing and Digital Rhetoric Program at BU, knows firsthand what a...
Emergency Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes, tailored to help each student with their unique circumstances.
Every fall, more than 3,500 students arrive at Bloomsburg University, eager to move in and start the new semester. As they pull up to their new home, students and their supporters are gree...
Scholarships play a major role when it comes to impacting student success. Sometimes, they inspire students to strive for more. That was exactly the case for Collin.
For Huskies like Luna, scholarships are more than just financial support. They are the key to making her BU experience more than just getting her degree.
Nya Johnson ’24 knew the moment she arrived at BU for her first visit that this was where she wanted to spend her next four years.
Scholarships build confidence and help students achieve success by showing them that hard work pays off. That was especially true for Portia Woodward, a senior Art History major from Sweet Valle...
For Tyshaun Pollard ’21, a first-generation college student from Harrisburg, PA, the scholarships he received transformed his life while also helping him realize his lifelong dream of playing co...
Twin sisters Finn and Luka Joy would not be at Bloomsburg without the scholarships they received. And that would have been a missed opportunity for them and the University.
Eduardo “Ed” Ramos is a long-time BU donor and volunteer, specifically as a participant in BU’s ZIPD conference. He is grateful for the experience to give back and help students realize their fu...
Ed Piatkowski ’86 understands the value of a BU degree and how that value changes as time goes by, at least to the student who receives it.
Giving back to BU has always been important to Eric Pettis and his family. He began with a gift of ten dollars the year after he graduated and grew his support until he eventually created the Pe...
Proud Huskies like John often support multiple initiatives throughout the year to help BU students. John has been a loyal supporter to BU since graduating in 1990. In fact, he hasn’t missed maki...
When Lamar Oglesby ’07 first arrived at Bloomsburg, he wasn’t fully prepared for the academic rigors of college. But thanks to some good advice and mentors who pointed him in the right direction...
Cheryl Tedder grew up in the Philadelphia area, and when it was time to start looking at colleges, she visited several state schools because she knew that would be the most affordable option for...
Brittney, who completed her MBA in 2021, knows and cherishes the value of her BU education. Ever since she was a young girl, the Bloomsburg native knew she wanted to go to BU to get her degree, ...
Scholarships made the difference for Ashley. After applying to six schools and being accepted at each of them, Ashley made her choice to become a Husky when she received her scholarship offers ...
The gift of a Professional Experience Grant (PEG) created an opportunity for Allison Sowers to develop a deeper understanding of herself and the world she lives in during a recent internsh...
Jason Stone, a senior biochemistry major from Dresher, won first place for his oral presentation on his research at the 84th Annual Intercollegiate Chemist Convention, held virtually and hosted ...