Penn State Brandywine has received a one-year grant of $39,000 to benefit student scholarships from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust, West Conshohocken. The award will fund students who are enrolled as full-time Penn State Brandywine undergraduate students and have a financial need for the 2008-2009 academic year that cannot be met by other aid programs.
Each eligible student must be a permanent resident in the Delaware Valley Area—Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties—or of the city of Camden, N.J., and in good academic standing. Each student receiving a grant is also required to submit an original thank you letter to Smith Trust.
Bob Wetzel, director of development at Penn State Brandywine, said, "Many talented students from our region could not afford a Penn State education without financial assistance. Gifts from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust and other donors help ensure that these students receive the scholarship support they need to succeed during college and beyond. We are honored and most grateful for the generous support of the Smith Trust."
As part of the grant, Smith scholars will meet with trustees, advisors, or the grant administrator at a social event providing students an opportunity to interact with their benefactor in a relaxed atmosphere. The grant states that "having this important group of people present at the visit bolsters the students' confidence in their education as well as their commitment and loyalty to the educational institution."
The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Scholars Award was established by a bequest in the will of William Wikoff Smith, former president and CEO of Kewanee Industries. It was Smith's intention to support students and programs in the Delaware Valley. He was extremely dedicated to this area and wanted his resources to stay and benefit those who live and work here. He hoped to pass on to future generations the importance of giving to others and supporting the community.
Founded in 1967, Penn State Brandywine (formerly Delaware County) offers ten undergraduate baccalaureate majors and three associate degrees as part of the Penn State University Commonwealth. The mission at Penn State Brandywine is to maintain a campus that serves as the primary medium for meeting Penn State's land-grant, educational mission, while preserving the characteristics that make the campus unique.