Thank a Donor Week to Recognize Donor Impact
The IUP community is invited to celebrate donor generosity and impact during Thank a Donor Week, April 6–10.
The IUP community is invited to celebrate donor generosity and impact during Thank a Donor Week, April 6–10.
Terry A. Serafini, a 1961 mathematics education and physics education graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania from Pittsburgh, has gifted IUP $1 million for IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine
Following a June 2025 gift to Indiana University of Pennsylvania for its proposed college of osteopathic medicine, IUP alumni Thomas R. Smith has continued his generosity to IUP with an additional gift to create three scholarships and support a number of IUP initiatives.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania students have a unique opportunity to create innovative and multi-disciplinary projects addressing real-world challenges, thanks to the generosity of IUP alumni Tim and Deb Cejka.
Cynthia Vallina, a 1982 political science graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has gifted $100,000 to support students interested in study abroad, students in the Political Science program, and IUP’s women’s rugby club.
Ruth Riesenman, of Indiana, a 1964 alumna of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, retired IUP administrator, long-time IUP supporter and volunteer, and community leader, has gifted $25,000 to support IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign.
IUP graduate Lt. Col. Barry Gasdek, the recipient of awards for heroism and military service, including the Distinguished Service Cross, was the keynote speaker for IUP’s 2025 Veterans Day dinner, which included the unveiling of a portrait commissioned in his honor on display at IUP. The annual event included the presentation of the Theta Chi Heroes Scholarship.
Six student organizations at Indiana University of Pennsylvania participated in the first IUP Philanthropy Cup event, raising funds to support the Student Assistance Fund and creating initiatives to inspire students to “give back” and engage in creative fundraising.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania alumni Tim and Deb Cejka were honored by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education with the 2025 Keepers of the Flame Award for their sustained leadership, vision, and generosity.
Arlene Eva Langley-Mendenhall, a 1978 criminology and sociology double major graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, will gift more than $3 million to establish the Arlene Eva Langley Memorial Scholarship at IUP.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduates David and Becky Walzak’s appreciation of IUP “as the place it all started” has led them to a gift that will make an impact for the future of IUP and for rural Pennsylvania.
Tim and Debra Phillips Cejka, 1973 graduates of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, have continued their ongoing impact on IUP student success through a $150,000 gift to IUP’s Crimson Scholars Circle and Promising Scholars Program.
On Saturday, August 23, following a celebration carnival and in advance of a spectacular fireworks show, Indiana University of Pennsylvania officially launched its Impact 150 comprehensive fundraising campaign, the largest in the university’s history.
The IUP community is invited to celebrate donor generosity during Thank a Donor Week, February 24–28. You will have the opportunity to write a thank-you note to an IUP donor and tell them what their generosity means to you and our students.
Michele Norwood, a retired administrator from Indiana University of Pennsylvania who focused her nearly three-decades-long career fostering student success, has gifted $30,000 to IUP for its ongoing student success initiatives.
Thomas Baker ’05, a graduate of IUP’s Cook Honors College and the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, and his wife have committed $100,000 to IUP to establish a scholarship to support students in chemistry or biochemistry research programs.
Rita Johnson, who retired from IUP in 2019 after 36 years of teaching, has established a scholarship for students studying food and nutrition at IUP.
In conjunction with IUP’s Giving Tuesday/Month of Giving initiative, IUP Ambassadors donated $800 from the group’s Homecoming parade first-place float prize to the IUP Food Pantry and Help Center.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Director of Strategic Partnerships Christina Koren has been selected for the Pennsylvania Business Central’s “Foremost Under 40 2024.”
The IUP community is joining together for the 2024 Month of Giving, which culminates during the global fundraising Giving Tuesday campaign on Tuesday, December 3.
Concurrent Technologies Corporation has donated analytical chemistry equipment valued at more than $142,000 to Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Col. Stephen G. Abel, a 1973 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, has continued his financial support to IUP with a recent gift of more than $30,000.
Jay Althouse, who earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1973 and 1975, respectively), has gifted $25,000 to IUP to support the music program and students planning for a career in music education.
Thomas and Virginia Schott of DuBois, first-generation college graduates and alumni of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Clarion University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest Clarion), respectively, have gifted IUP $25,000 to establish the Thomas and Virginia Schott Social Studies Scholarship at IUP.
Silas Gesser, a senior in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management bachelor’s degree program from Westmoreland County, has been awarded the prestigious Statler Foundation’s Scholarship of Excellence.