Featured Donor
Fran Hensler (R) and the recipient of the Fran Hensler Rock Catholic Scholarship
Fran Hensler
Commitment to education and faith, these are the values that Fran Hensler wanted to accentuate and reward when he created the Fran Hensler Rock Catholic Scholarship in 2013.
Fran spent his entire career at Slippery Rock University in the Information Technology section. Here, he developed friendships and a fondness for the University that made him want to give back to the institution that had given him so much during his 50 plus years of employment.
Yet, there was more than affection for SRU driving Fran. He was and continues to be very involved with St. Peter’s Parish in Slippery Rock and met many SRU students who chose to worship there while attending college. For these reasons, he decided to establish a scholarship which awards to an undergraduate student who is an active member of the Rock Catholic Club at Slippery Rock University who also demonstrates financial need.
His scholarship is unquestionably changing lives. Corrine Savena, the 2016-17 recipient wrote, “As someone who grew up in a middle class family, college was never a sure thing for me, and it continues to be a year-by-year thing for me in a family where money can be tight at times.” Fran is pictured with Corrine who he met during the Spring 2017 scholarship luncheon.
Commitment to education and faith, these are the values that Fran Hensler wanted to accentuate and reward when he created the Fran Hensler Rock Catholic Scholarship in 2013.
Fran spent his entire career at Slippery Rock University in the Information Technology section. Here, he developed friendships and a fondness for the University that made him want to give back to the institution that had given him so much during his 50 plus years of employment.
Yet, there was more than affection for SRU driving Fran. He was and continues to be very involved with St. Peter’s Parish in Slippery Rock and met many SRU students who chose to worship there while attending college. For these reasons, he decided to establish a scholarship which awards to an undergraduate student who is an active member of the Rock Catholic Club at Slippery Rock University who also demonstrates financial need.
His scholarship is unquestionably changing lives. Corrine Savena, the 2016-17 recipient wrote, “As someone who grew up in a middle class family, college was never a sure thing for me, and it continues to be a year-by-year thing for me in a family where money can be tight at times.” Fran is pictured with Corrine who he met during the Spring 2017 scholarship luncheon.
Featured Scholarships
Charlotte Shapiro
Dr. Charlotte H. Shapiro Endowed Scholarship
Charlotte H. Shapiro was a genuinely dedicated educator who recognized Slippery Rock University’s mission and vision for the future. She was proud to have played a role in its rise to prominence among national liberal arts universities.
Her role in SRU’s rise to prominence began when she was appointed to Slippery Rock University’s (then Slippery Rock College) Council of Trustees by Governor Milton Shapp in 1975. Her admiration and respect for the University prompted her to establish first, a memorial scholarship for her husband Leo Shapiro and then later, the Dr. Charlotte H. Shapiro Endowed Scholarship. Since her passing in 2004, her daughters honor their mother through additional contributions to this scholarship.
Throughout her life, Dr. Shapiro demonstrated a long standing involvement and commitment to education. She began her professional career with an A.B. from the University of Pittsburgh as a family case worker and supervisor for the Department of Public Assistance during the Depression. She later completed her M.A. and Ph.D. which led to positions as school psychologist and later, principal, with the Pittsburgh Public Schools. She was also a demonstration teacher with the University of Pittsburgh.
Charlotte H. Shapiro was a genuinely dedicated educator who recognized Slippery Rock University’s mission and vision for the future. She was proud to have played a role in its rise to prominence among national liberal arts universities.
Her role in SRU’s rise to prominence began when she was appointed to Slippery Rock University’s (then Slippery Rock College) Council of Trustees by Governor Milton Shapp in 1975. Her admiration and respect for the University prompted her to establish first, a memorial scholarship for her husband Leo Shapiro and then later, the Dr. Charlotte H. Shapiro Endowed Scholarship. Since her passing in 2004, her daughters honor their mother through additional contributions to this scholarship.
Throughout her life, Dr. Shapiro demonstrated a long standing involvement and commitment to education. She began her professional career with an A.B. from the University of Pittsburgh as a family case worker and supervisor for the Department of Public Assistance during the Depression. She later completed her M.A. and Ph.D. which led to positions as school psychologist and later, principal, with the Pittsburgh Public Schools. She was also a demonstration teacher with the University of Pittsburgh.
Marjorie Stephenson
The Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship
Marjorie Stephenson was a professor and librarian at Slippery Rock University from 1971-1978. She was a reference librarian with emphasis in the humanities and she was always known to be an advocate for students. She loved to travel and she was also known to be a bit eccentric. While traveling in Russia before the wall came down, she left her hotel one night, slipping past guards, to explore. When apprehended, she feigned dementia, and was returned to the hotel without arrest. She had received a BA from the University of Denver and a MA from the University of Colorado. In her will she left her estate to establish an undergraduate scholarship and her wishes were for priority to be given to female African-American library science majors. The first recipient in 1987 was indeed such a candidate named Tracy Barber.
When the library science program at SRU was discontinued, the scholarship guidelines were modified to give highest consideration to female students of color with majors in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and education. For the last 30 years this scholarship has been awarded in the spring, and for several years up to seven scholarships were awarded annually.
The current Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship Committee is chaired by librarian Allison Brungard. Applications are generally due March 15th of each year.
Marjorie Stephenson was a professor and librarian at Slippery Rock University from 1971-1978. She was a reference librarian with emphasis in the humanities and she was always known to be an advocate for students. She loved to travel and she was also known to be a bit eccentric. While traveling in Russia before the wall came down, she left her hotel one night, slipping past guards, to explore. When apprehended, she feigned dementia, and was returned to the hotel without arrest. She had received a BA from the University of Denver and a MA from the University of Colorado. In her will she left her estate to establish an undergraduate scholarship and her wishes were for priority to be given to female African-American library science majors. The first recipient in 1987 was indeed such a candidate named Tracy Barber.
When the library science program at SRU was discontinued, the scholarship guidelines were modified to give highest consideration to female students of color with majors in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and education. For the last 30 years this scholarship has been awarded in the spring, and for several years up to seven scholarships were awarded annually.
The current Marjorie Stephenson Scholarship Committee is chaired by librarian Allison Brungard. Applications are generally due March 15th of each year.
