UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State graduates James and Pamela Reese Arbuckle, of Bellevue, Nebraska, have provided a $50,000 gift to endow the James and Pamela Reese Arbuckle Scholarship in International Agriculture.
Full-time Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences students enrolled in the International Agriculture undergraduate minor or the International Agriculture and Development graduate degree program are eligible for the scholarship -- the first to support students studying international agriculture, noted Deanna Behring, the college's director of international programs.
"In recent years, the College of Agricultural Sciences has placed a growing emphasis on preparing global-ready graduates and encouraging students to take full advantage of international opportunities," Behring said. "We believe an international perspective is critical for graduates entering today's global economy, and we are very grateful for the Arbuckles' generosity in creating this scholarship, which will help students defray the costs of their international education."
A career U.S. Air Force officer, James "Jim" Arbuckle graduated from the College of Agricultural Sciences in 1964 with a major in agricultural science and industry and a commission from Air Force ROTC. He also earned a master's degree from Troy State University in 1979. Pamela "Pam" Arbuckle, formerly a high school French teacher, is a 1966 alumna of Penn State's College of Education, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education.
During Jim's time in the Air Force, the Arbuckles were stationed around the world, including tours in Japan, England and Germany. After 28 years of service, the couple retired to Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Grateful for their educations and experiences at Penn State and overseas, the Arbuckles said they are passionate about helping provide similar opportunities to today's students. "Traveling extensively and experiencing firsthand many diverse cultures have given Pam and me an appreciation for how interacting with other cultures can enhance education," Jim Arbuckle noted.
In his retirement, Jim continues to fly for the Nebraska Civil Air Patrol and builds homes with Habitat for Humanity. Pam serves on a pre-school board of directors and is a member of P.E.O. and Questers, two international organizations that award scholarships, grants and loans that enable individuals to complete or further their education.
The Arbuckles are also experienced travelers. They have visited more than 80 countries -- and still counting -- on all seven continents and have circled the globe several times. The couple has two children and three grandchildren.
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.