“We are both first-generation college graduates,” said Dan Mazur. “Penn State has made a difference in our lives, and we want to make a similar significant impact in students’ lives.”
In Agnes Mazur’s words, “For individuals who don’t go to college and then find they can’t support their families on what they are earning, higher education can be the answer. We want our gift to help these adults earn a Penn State degree.”
Dan and Agnes have seen how the lack of a college education can impact individuals and families. They have watched the erosion of jobs in the coal, steel, and rail industries in rural Pennsylvania over the last few decades and have noted the negative impact on whole communities. Their scholarship, therefore, gives priority to Penn State World Campus adult students from 20 rural Pennsylvania counties — Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lebanon, McKean, Mifflin, Potter, Somerset, or Westmoreland.
“There just isn’t very much financial aid available to adult learners, and we saw that people in areas such as rural, industrial Pennsylvania need to have an education if they are going to succeed,” Dan said.
The scholarship is made possible both through the Mazurs’ generosity and through matching funds from the Norfolk Southern Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Norfolk Southern Railroad, from which Dan retired as vice president of strategic planning in 2008. The Mazurs can now look forward to seeing students benefit from their scholarship in the near future. The scholarship will be available in the 2016–17 academic year.
Dan received a bachelor of science in business logistics (1970) and an MBA (1971) from the Smeal College of Business. Agnes received a bachelor of arts in French (1974) at Penn State and a master’s in elementary education from West Chester University. All three of their children, Timothy, Kathleen, and Patrick, attended Penn State. Originally from Cresson, Cambria County, Dan spent 38 years in the railroad industry. Agnes, originally from Baltimore, taught elementary grades in Chester County and has served as an adult literacy volunteer.
If you are interested in supporting the World Campus, please visit Giving/PennState.