UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Eligible high school students in Indiana County may get help with their college costs if they enroll in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, thanks to the generosity of a local couple.
Thomas and Sandra Spring, of Home, have given $500,000 in appreciated securities to endow the Thomas and Sandra Spring Scholarship in the College of Agricultural Sciences. First preference for funds will go to students who are graduates of Marion Center High School. Students graduating from any other public high school in Indiana County also may be considered.
The Springs explained that the scholarship fund is in memory of their two sons, Tom Jr. and John, who were in the graduation classes at Marion Center High School in 1978 and 1979.
"We are proud to have one of the largest scholarship programs among the colleges at Penn State, but it wouldn't be possible without the generosity of people like the Springs," said Tracy Hoover, associate dean for undergraduate education. "This scholarship could provide the financial support that makes a Penn State degree possible for some Indiana County students, and we are delighted that the Springs have chosen to make a gift that will help young people achieve their educational and career goals in the agricultural sciences."
A native of Danville, Tom Spring is a 1958 alumnus of the College of Agricultural Sciences with a bachelor's degree in agricultural education. After graduation, he taught agriculture for two years and worked for Agway before joining W.H. Johns trucking company. Before retiring from the company as terminal manager, he oversaw a territory stretching from Pennsylvania to Michigan.
In retirement, he serves as treasurer of the Indiana County Municipal Services Authority and is active in the local Lions club.
Sandra "Sonnie" Spring grew up in Meadville and graduated from Meadville Area High School. She retired after a 41-year career in customer service with Musser Forests Inc., a family-owned mail-order firm that ships nursery stock to U.S. and Canadian customers.
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.