For the past 75 years the MU Alumni Association sponsored a departmental award known as the Philadelphia Alumni Award. This award was issued to a student teacher who had excelled in Industrial Arts or, more recently, in Technology and Engineering Education. The award only came with a $200 cash value to the recipient, but it was among the most prestigious awards offered to technology and engineering education majors by virtue of longevity and reputation. Unfortunately, without any input from the department, the alumni association eliminated the award two years ago.
Did we stop offering The Philadelphia Alumni Award?
Of course not! I personally funded it for a year and I contacted the MU Development Office to determine what it would take to find a long-term sponsor for the award. That is when I found out that it takes less to establish a scholarship in your name than one might imagine. The MU Development office requires a minimum commitment of $500 per year for at least four consecutive years to sponsor such an award or scholarship. So, for as little as a $2000 commitment you could sponsor an award such as the Philadelphia Alumni Award, or a new departmental award that bears your name, and you even get to set the criteria (within reason)! If you want a scholarship or award sponsored in perpetuity, that will cost a bit more at $25,000.
Anyone who is interested in sponsoring the continuation of the Philadelphia Alumni Award, or in establishing a new award should contact me directly at len.litowitz@millersvillle.edu . I will get you in touch with the development office.
If you are considering donating to MU, please donate to the AEST departmental facilities and equipment fund at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/aesequ/ and not the general fund.
-Submitted by Dr. Len S. Litowitz
