Featured Donor
Dr. Michelle McCollin
Dr. Michelle McCollin
There are people who are world-changers, impact-makers, people who transform the world in everything that they do. Michelle McCollin was one of these people.
Dr. McCollin was a Special Education professor at SRU from 2004-2018. She was invested in her students and believed that she should, must, live by example to teach her students how to make this earth a better place. She lived this in and out of the classroom.
In 2012 she founded Eyes4Africa which, with Dr. McCollin at the helm, delivered more than 5,000 prescription eyeglasses to Nigeria. Eyes4Africa also conducted eye clinics and provided school supplies to the country. Dr. McCollin would share pictures with her SRU students in order to give them a global perspective on helping others, and instill in them that teaching goes beyond the school building.
On campus, she was active with the Black Faculty and Staff Association, even serving as its Vice President. According to a Letter of Declaration by the group, her involvement “was a major influence on the organization’s forward progress.” She was a consistent contributor to the Black Faculty and Staff Association Scholarship (formerly the African American Caucus Scholarship) which led to its endowment in September 2017. For this reason, in spring of 2018, following her unexpected death, the name of the scholarship was changed to the Dr. Michelle McCollin Memorial Scholarship. This was to honor all that she had done.
In fall 2011 Dr. McCollin told Rock Magazine, “I believe that thoughtful, committed people can change the world.” In her lifetime, she showed that this is absolutely true.
There are people who are world-changers, impact-makers, people who transform the world in everything that they do. Michelle McCollin was one of these people.
Dr. McCollin was a Special Education professor at SRU from 2004-2018. She was invested in her students and believed that she should, must, live by example to teach her students how to make this earth a better place. She lived this in and out of the classroom.
In 2012 she founded Eyes4Africa which, with Dr. McCollin at the helm, delivered more than 5,000 prescription eyeglasses to Nigeria. Eyes4Africa also conducted eye clinics and provided school supplies to the country. Dr. McCollin would share pictures with her SRU students in order to give them a global perspective on helping others, and instill in them that teaching goes beyond the school building.
On campus, she was active with the Black Faculty and Staff Association, even serving as its Vice President. According to a Letter of Declaration by the group, her involvement “was a major influence on the organization’s forward progress.” She was a consistent contributor to the Black Faculty and Staff Association Scholarship (formerly the African American Caucus Scholarship) which led to its endowment in September 2017. For this reason, in spring of 2018, following her unexpected death, the name of the scholarship was changed to the Dr. Michelle McCollin Memorial Scholarship. This was to honor all that she had done.
In fall 2011 Dr. McCollin told Rock Magazine, “I believe that thoughtful, committed people can change the world.” In her lifetime, she showed that this is absolutely true.
Featured Scholarships
Keith Lawton (L) and his "favorite sidekick," his wife, Monique (R)
The Lawton Family Scholarship
This isn’t the life you want: Keith Lawton’s father made him work during the summer from the time he was sixteen. It was hard and difficult work. This summer work instilled in Lawton the exact message that his father wanted him to learn. Manual labor isn’t the life you want. College is the way to go.
Lawton’s parents didn’t attend college but they wanted a better life for their son. Lawton was a first generation college student and, to this day, he has a passion for those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. For this reason he recently created the Lawton Family Scholarship for full-time first generation college students.
Lawton himself says that he was never an amazing student at school but education opened doors for him that otherwise would not have been possible. For his first job interview, the employer asked, “Do you have a college degree?” Lawton said, “Yes.” and got the job on the spot.
Lawton loved his time at SRU. He was a student manager for the track and cross country team and bonded with the athletes. He has fond memories of Coach Bill Lennox and had the opportunity to work with a handful of All American athletes. During his time on campus he was “always busy” and “never bored.”
The Lawton Family Scholarship had its first recipient in 2018-19. The recipient, Noah Klingensmith, wrote, “The money from my scholarships has helped my pay for essential items for college, such as textbooks and other school materials. I am extremely thankful to have received this generous and thoughtful gift."
This isn’t the life you want: Keith Lawton’s father made him work during the summer from the time he was sixteen. It was hard and difficult work. This summer work instilled in Lawton the exact message that his father wanted him to learn. Manual labor isn’t the life you want. College is the way to go.
Lawton’s parents didn’t attend college but they wanted a better life for their son. Lawton was a first generation college student and, to this day, he has a passion for those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. For this reason he recently created the Lawton Family Scholarship for full-time first generation college students.
Lawton himself says that he was never an amazing student at school but education opened doors for him that otherwise would not have been possible. For his first job interview, the employer asked, “Do you have a college degree?” Lawton said, “Yes.” and got the job on the spot.
Lawton loved his time at SRU. He was a student manager for the track and cross country team and bonded with the athletes. He has fond memories of Coach Bill Lennox and had the opportunity to work with a handful of All American athletes. During his time on campus he was “always busy” and “never bored.”
The Lawton Family Scholarship had its first recipient in 2018-19. The recipient, Noah Klingensmith, wrote, “The money from my scholarships has helped my pay for essential items for college, such as textbooks and other school materials. I am extremely thankful to have received this generous and thoughtful gift."
Elmer Cottrell
Elmer B. Cottrell Memorial Scholarship
Anatomy, physiology, statistics… these are the names of classes that strike fear in the hearts of students. These were some of the classes that Dr. Elmer B. Cottrell taught when he worked for Slippery Rock University. Yet, he also taught gymnastics and lifesaving. In fact, Dr. Cottrell was a diverse and talented man who wore many hats while a faculty member on campus. He served as assistant football coach, assistant basketball coach and head gymnastics, tennis, golf, and swimming coach.
Dr. Cottrell drew up plans for the East-West Gym swimming pool which was the first swimming pool on campus and then started the competitive swimming program. In 1970, posthumously, he was elected into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame.
This tireless man worked at SRU for 25 years from 1923 to 1948 and then retired to work for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Director of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He served in that position until his death 11 years later in 1957.
Dr. Cottrell was also founder of PSAHPERD, The Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, which is having its 97th convention this year. Each year PSAHPERD gives out 16 Awards including Teacher of the Year Awards and Athletic Director of the Year. The highest award that this organization gives is the Elmer B. Cottrell Award to recognize exceptional service and leadership to PSAHPERD and the profession.
In 2004, his children, Eleanor Cottrell Hartzell ’39 and Dr. Edwin Cottrell ’43, decided to pay homage to this amazing man by establishing a scholarship in his name. The scholarship is a tribute to their father’s life-long commitment to the advancement of health and physical education.
Anatomy, physiology, statistics… these are the names of classes that strike fear in the hearts of students. These were some of the classes that Dr. Elmer B. Cottrell taught when he worked for Slippery Rock University. Yet, he also taught gymnastics and lifesaving. In fact, Dr. Cottrell was a diverse and talented man who wore many hats while a faculty member on campus. He served as assistant football coach, assistant basketball coach and head gymnastics, tennis, golf, and swimming coach.
Dr. Cottrell drew up plans for the East-West Gym swimming pool which was the first swimming pool on campus and then started the competitive swimming program. In 1970, posthumously, he was elected into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame.
This tireless man worked at SRU for 25 years from 1923 to 1948 and then retired to work for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Director of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He served in that position until his death 11 years later in 1957.
Dr. Cottrell was also founder of PSAHPERD, The Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, which is having its 97th convention this year. Each year PSAHPERD gives out 16 Awards including Teacher of the Year Awards and Athletic Director of the Year. The highest award that this organization gives is the Elmer B. Cottrell Award to recognize exceptional service and leadership to PSAHPERD and the profession.
In 2004, his children, Eleanor Cottrell Hartzell ’39 and Dr. Edwin Cottrell ’43, decided to pay homage to this amazing man by establishing a scholarship in his name. The scholarship is a tribute to their father’s life-long commitment to the advancement of health and physical education.