News

Thank you for joining in with hundreds of alumni, faculty and staff members, students, families, and friends to show your Ram Pride.

As the largest cash donation ever made to West Chester University, a $3.5 million gift from Student Services, Incorporated (SSI) will be presented during a Gift Agreement Signing and Check Presentation Celebration on Tuesday, March 22, at 3 p.m. in the University’s Philips Autograph Library, 700 South High Street, West Chester. SSI Chair of the Board of Directors Bernie Carrozza and SSI Executive Director Donna Snyder will publicly sign the gift agreement and present the transformational check to West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino. The presentation of the historic gift coincides with the University’s 150^th anniversary this year; a celebratory toast will follow.

The SSI Board of Directors approved a special resolution to support donating to the largest comprehensive campaign ever launched to fund WCU students’ immediate needs — 150Forward: The Campaign for West Chester University. The gift, which will provide a perpetual source of annual funding through earned interest, will establish the Student Services Incorporated Presidential Endowment. The endowment will enable the University to provide the additional support needed to fuel student-related priorities, student scholarship/financial aid, academic and co-curricular programs, and technology initiatives.

“SSI has a long history of being a passionate supporter of West Chester University students,” says SSI Chair of the Board of Directors Bernie Carrozza. “We are happy to be able to help provide the type of resources and support that will enable bright minds and dreams to flourish. This endowment is quite intentional. It offers the flexibility to seize opportunities or to make strategic investments in initiatives and priorities focused on achieving the University’s mission of student success.”

The historic gift enables the student-focused campaign to move beyond the $50 million mark. Thanks to the unwavering support of donors who welcome the opportunity to help students navigate academic journeys, the campaign has reached 77% of its goal to raise $65 million by June 30, 2024.

“We are overwhelmed with the generosity of this gift,” says West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino. “SSI continues to demonstrate to our students that the organization believes in their abilities and continues to welcome making lasting investments in their educational goals. We are grateful to be able to align with a partner who has provided an intentional investment in the future of this University and in generations of students to come. I can think of no better way to honor West Chester University’s 150 Anniversary and to prepare for the next 150 forward.”

About Student Services, Incorporated

Student Services, Incorporated (SSI) is a not-for-profit organization designed to serve the students of West Chester University. The objective of the corporation is to initiate, regulate, and operate the financial matters of the University’s co-curricular student activities.

As the spring semester begins, West Chester University has secured $46 million in its goal to raise $65 million by June 30, 2024 as part of 150Forward: The Campaign for West Chester University. As the largest comprehensive campaign in the University’s history, the efforts are designed to help an even greater number of WCU students secure specific needs: more scholarships; increased opportunities for academic, civic and professional opportunities; and ready access to technological advancements.

Coinciding with the University’s 150^th anniversary celebrations this year, the campaign has reached more than 70% of its goal thanks to those who are dedicated to helping hard-working students excel academically. Intentional about fueling these students’ academic dreams are Clinton, NJ resident Dawn Swope Apgar and West Chester, PA resident Charles (“Chuck”) E. Swope, Jr., cousins who hail from three generations of families committed to nurturing student success. Their grandfather, Charles S. Swope, served as president of West Chester State Teachers College. Their grandmother, Edna, and their own fathers, Richard M. Swope and Charles S. Swope, formed The Swope Foundation in 1960, which has provided more than one million dollars in scholarship funds to West Chester University students.

The goal of the Dr. and Mrs. Charles Swope Scholarship Foundation has been to ensure that students receive financial assistance so they can attain their higher education goals. Charles and Edna Swope, both graduates of West Chester State Normal School in 1921, donated to the church, supported their families who had fallen on hard times, and gave all the produce from their garden to neighbors and friends in West Chester. The family ethos has always been to work hard and save so that gains could work for family members, friends, and be used to help others.

Dawn, an assistant professor and assistant chairperson for the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, and Chuck, a broker of record and chairman of Swope Lees Commercial Real Estate, LLC in West Chester, see themselves as stewards of this Swope family mission today.

“Our grandparents, then parents, recognized the world is shaped by the great minds of the future,” said Dawn. “They felt it’s important to pay it forward by investing in bright, motivated students.”

To ensure their educational legacy, Dawn and Chuck recently completed the strategic transition of the family Foundation into a memorial endowment.

“We wanted to leverage the institutional capabilities of the West Chester University Foundation,” said Chuck. “We like knowing that there is a plan for the future, and it allows us to focus less on the business aspects and more on the students.”

For the Swopes, those relationships anchor their family’s mission to continue to make a difference where it matters most.

“Our Foundation is now in its fourth generation, and I’ve still stayed in contact with past recipients,” said Dawn. “Our hope is that the scholarships are an example of how students can feel connected — with one another and with our family.”

“The seeds of student success at West Chester University were first sown by the Swope family and continue today,” said West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino. “All of us are truly grateful to this family for committing their lives and resources to making sure hardworking students have access to an exceptional education, as well as to the tools that enhance their abilities. We hope others will be inspired by the Swope family’s example, their generosity, and their belief in the difference that West Chester University students can make in the world.”

First Resource Bank has generously awarded WCU Foundation $2,500 to support the Frederick Douglass Institute’s K-12 outreach programs. WCU Foundation is eligible as an Educational Improvement Organization (EIO) under Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The Frederick Douglass Institute runs educational enrichment programs throughout the academic year in Coatesville and Norristown Area School Districts. Viewed left to right: Deb Cornelius, Chief Development Officer, WCU Foundation; Dr. Christian Awuyah, Director, Frederick Douglass Institute; Lee Herzer, VP for Commercial Lending, First Resource Bank; and Chris Mominey, CEO of WCU Foundation.

In survey data collected last year, approximately 40% of WCU students reported experiencing some type of basic-need insecurity, including not having enough food to eat. During this season of thanks and giving, Essential Utilities is stepping up in a big way to assist WCU students who depend upon the services provided by the University’s Resource Pantry. Chairman, President, and CEO of Essential Utilities Christopher Franklin ’87 visited the on-campus Resource Pantry on November 18 to present WCU President Chris Fiorentino with a generous gift of $75,000 from Essential Utilities to help expand the Resource Pantry’s reception and intake area. Understanding the importance of confidentiality, the generous gift will also fund the purchase of tablets that will enable student customers to initiate self-checkout of food and personal-care items in private.

Since the Resource Pantry opened its doors in 2016, demand has increased ten-fold. During the previous in-person academic year (2018-19), the Pantry served more than 800 students and recorded 5,100 total visits. During that time, it also distributed nearly 20,000 pounds of food; 16,000 personal care products; 2,600 school supplies; and more than 650 articles of clothing.

“Essential Utilities is honored to support the West Chester University Resource Pantry to minimize food and basic-need insecurities,” said Mr. Franklin, who knows firsthand about WCU students’ needs as he currently serves as a member of the University’s Council of Trustees and is a WCU alumnus. “As a company committed to providing safe and reliable access to the earth’s most vital resources, Essential recognizes that basic needs are critical to everyday life. We hope this donation will enable the Resource Pantry to help those who find themselves needing some additional support now as well as those who may one day reach out to seek assistance in the future.”

The Resource Pantry is open to all WCU students and is central to upholding the University’s mission to ensure student success and provide access to a college education, regardless of financial circumstances. Offering a supply of non-perishable food, fresh produce from campus gardens, personal care items, school supplies, and winter and career clothing, the Resource Pantry helps eliminate barriers to degree completion and empowers students to learn independent living skills and achieve long-term stability.

“West Chester University is truly grateful to Essential Utilities for supporting our students in such an impactful way,” said President Fiorentino. “This company’s actions demonstrate what it means to truly meet students where they are currently in their lives. By providing the basic resources that our students need to live as well as to excel, Essential Utilities is investing in their overall success and helping this University make a bold statement that it will work to ensure access to hardworking students no matter what their financial situations may be.”

Essential Utilities is a Diamond Sponsor of WCU’s 150th Anniversary Celebration and a continued partner in helping WCU students advance inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Under its former company name of Aqua America, the utility company previously gifted $50,000 to the University’s College of Business and Public Management.

About Essential Utilities
Essential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential is committed to excellence in proactive infrastructure investment, regulatory expertise, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. The company recognizes the importance water and natural gas play in everyday life and is proud to deliver safe, reliable services that contribute to the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information, visit http://www.essential.co.

Sponsors of West Chester University’s 150th Anniversary
Celebrations throughout West Chester University’s 150th Anniversary year are made possible by the generosity of community partners. Presenting Sponsor: Aramark. Platinum Sponsors: Student Services, Inc. and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Diamond Sponsors: Essential Utilities and WCU Alumni Association. Gold Sponsor: BB&T (Now Truist). Bronze Sponsors: IMS Technology Services and Meridian Bank. Purple Sponsors: Barnaby’s West Chester; Clark Associates, Inc.; First Bank; MacElree Harvey; Northwestern Mutual; PSECU; Radius Systems; SEI Investments Company; TD Bank; Univest Financial; and Visual Sound.

In the words of President Christopher Fiorentino, 150Forward Campaign:  The Campaign for West Chester University is not about bricks and mortar – it is about our students, and the resources they need to help them reach their full potential. On Thursday, October 28^th, the annual President’s Circle Ceremony brought us together to celebrate a few of those individuals, and a community partner, who are helping make this vision possible. This year’s President’s Award recipients are:

Stephanie and Edward N. Collison, Jr. ’93

As President of Hobbs & Company, Inc. based in Boothwyn, Ed Collison, Jr. ’93 has worked on many large contracts, but he counts the completion of three residence halls on WCU’s campus, and projects in Sykes and Anderson Halls, as his proudest. Hobbs & Company, Inc. has also been essential in the relocation of the campus cell tower in preparation for the Sciences & Engineering Center and The Commons; he is a current WCU Foundation Trustee. Stephanie Collison is Principal Product Management Business Analyst on the Customs Development team with Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG), a leading provider of human capital management solutions in the cloud. Ed and Stephanie are past President’s Community Scholarship Gala co-chairs and created the Collison Family Scholarship last year.

Ann and Carl R. Gersbach ’70

For Ann and Carl R. Gersbach ’70, West Chester University is home. The WCU campus is where they first met and is the hometown they returned to after Carl’s seven years as a linebacker in the National Football League. As a Senior Vice President at CBRE, he provides real estate services and consulting to corporations and public sector clients throughout North America. Ann, a talented artist, has served St. Agnes School in West Chester for many years, as it was the school she attended as a young girl. Carl takes pride in giving back and supporting student-athletes through The W. Glenn Killinger Scholarship, the Football Assistance Fund, and the annual QB Classic Golf Tournament; he has served as a WCU Foundation Trustee and as past President of Killinger Foundation.

Barbara J. Lappano ’67, M’73

To say that Barbara J. Lappano ’67, M’73 is held in high esteem at West Chester University is quite an understatement. A physical education major and WCU cheerleader, she cheered for the Golden Rams football team at their first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl. As a member of the faculty from 1970-2004, she taught dance education, technique, and theory courses, coached WCU cheerleading, and also implemented a dance minor for the University in the Theatre Department. In the community, Barbara has choreographed musical theater productions for The Savoy Company, The Montgomery School, The Hill School, and Downingtown Area School District; she teaches ballet, jazz, and musical theater – and consults – through her own business, Dance by Design. In 2007, she established the Barbara J. Lappano Dance Scholarship. A former member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, she received the President’s Medallion for Service in 2019.

Dr. and Mrs. Charles S. Swope Memorial Scholarship Foundation

Since 1960, the Dr. and Mrs. Charles S. Swope Memorial Scholarship Foundation has operated as a private foundation dedicated to supporting high achieving WCU students. Named after Dr. Charles S. Swope, President of West Chester State Teachers College from 1935-1959. In 2021, the funds were gifted to West Chester University to create an endowed scholarship, The Swope Memorial Scholarship. Dr. Swope’s grandchildren – Dr. Dawn Swope Apgar and Charles E. Swope, Jr. (Chuck) have worked tirelessly to carry on the intention and tradition of their family’s foundation. Dawn is Assistant Professor and Director for the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice at Seton Hall University, and Chuck is Broker of Record and Chairman of Swope Lees Commercial Real Estate, LLC in West Chester.

The President’s Circle is comprised of dedicated alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and community partners who assist in advancing student success through their philanthropic leadership. Bound by their commitment to West Chester University, members drive student success now – and provide a strong foundation for the University’s future.

Visit https://www.wcufoundation.org/presidents-circle/ for more information.

Pictured (L-R): Dr. Susan Fiorentino; President Christopher Fiorentino; Edward N. Collison, Jr. ’93; Stephanie Collison; Barbara J. Lappano ’67, M’73; Dr. Dawn Swope Apgar; Charles Swope, Jr.; Ann Gersbach; and Carl R. Gersbach ’70.

Thanks to a generous gift of $120,000 from Student Services, Incorporated (SSI) and PSECU, West Chester University students who carry a small semester balance that prevents them from scheduling classes for the next semester will be awarded monetary micro awards to help them move closer toward degree completion. Bernie Carrozza, chair of the Board of Directors of SSI, and Amanda Altice, community manager at the PSECU Financial Education Center – West Chester, were among those presenting a $120,000 check to West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino on campus on Tuesday, October 26, in the WCU Campus Store.

SSI and PSECU have been helping West Chester University students with unmet financial need since 2018. In previous years, the gift has also helped students with necessities such as meals and books. Coming together to offer the largest Micro Awards in the University’s history, SSI and PSECU seek to make a significant impact on the unmet need of West Chester University students. Micro Awards are managed by the University’s Office of Financial Aid.

“SSI stands ready to ensure that West Chester University students have what they need to cross the finish line and to achieve their academic goals,” said SSI Chair of the Board of Directors Bernie Carrozza. “We admire these students for their perseverance and determination, and we are deeply honored to be able to support their commitment to academic excellence.”

Donna Snyder, executive director of SSI, agreed and provided additional details about the gift. “At President Fiorentino’s request, the PSECU/SSI gift of $120,000 will be utilized to assist WCU students with the greatest need,” she said. “The pandemic has stretched resources and WCU has a growing population of students who are financially challenged. These students include unaccompanied homeless youth and many other students with unmet financial needs. The Financial Aid Office will manage these funds, coordinating with other funding sources to maximize meeting the needs of as many students as possible. Student Services, Inc. is proud to support the effort to position every student for success.”

PSECU is equally supportive. “PSECU has a long history of being a dedicated member of the communities we serve,” said PSECU Senior Director of Membership Development Dave Dentler. “We are continually looking for ways to help promising students earn their college degrees. We hope this will inspire others to do the same.”

Upon receiving the check, West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino said to those in attendance, “West Chester University is intentional in its efforts to do whatever it can to remove barriers that may impede a student’s ability to be successful. We are grateful to be able to align with partners who feel the same. SSI and PSECU meet the needs of our students in very real ways and we continue to be truly grateful for their generosity of resources.”

Pictured (L to R) attending the $12,000 check presentation from Student Services, Incorporated and PSECU are Deputy Director of Financial Aid Tori Nuccio; Vice President for Student Affairs Zebulun Davenport; Executive Director of Student Services, Incorporated Donna Snyder; West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino; Student Services, Incorporated Chair of the Board of Directors Bernie Carrozza; Community Manager at the PSECU Financial Education Center – West Chester Amanda Altice; and West Chester University Foundation Chief Executive Officer Chris Mominey.

About Student Services, Incorporated

Student Services, Incorporated (SSI) is a not-for-profit organization designed to serve the students of West Chester University. The objective of the corporation is to initiate, regulate, and operate the financial matters of the University’s co-curricular student activities.

About PSECU

Opened in 1934, PSECU was founded by 22 ordinary people who pooled $90 and made an extraordinary commitment to each other: To create a financial institution where collective resources benefit all members. Today, PSECU continues that legacy as a leading full-service credit union managing more than $5.5 billion in assets and offering its over 450,000 members convenient anytime, anywhere digital banking options. For more information about PSECU, visit psecu.com.

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) presented a $50,000 gift to West Chester University (WCU) for the Michael Horrocks Football Scholarship Endowment Fund. Vice President of Finance-Treasurer of ALPA Joseph Genovese presented the check to West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino on Saturday, October 16, during halftime of the noon WCU vs. East Stroudsburg University football game.

On September 11, 2001, Michael Horrocks ’85, a former WCU football quarterback, was the copilot of the United Airlines Flight 175 that crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The Michael Horrocks Football Scholarship was established in 2012 in Horrocks’s memory and a bronze statue of him stands in WCU’s Farrell Stadium. The scholarship is awarded annually to a standout West Chester University Golden Rams football player by Head Coach Bill Zwaan and WCU Director of Athletics Terence Beattie. Since its inception, the renewable scholarship has awarded $21,225 to four student-athletes. This year’s scholarship recipient is Gabrial A. Schappell, a senior wide receiver from Reading, PA.

Joseph Genovese says, “The Air Line Pilots Association, International is proud to provide this support to the Michael Horrocks Football Scholarship Endowment Fund. As we commemorate 20 years since 9/11, it is important that we continue to honor our fallen heroes, who were also our beloved colleagues and friends, by ensuring that their contributions to our profession are never forgotten.”

Horrocks was a quarterback for the WCU’s Golden Rams football team from 1981 to 1984. After graduation, he served as an officer in the U.S. Marines as a pilot and later as a flight instructor. After retiring from the military, Horrocks became a pilot for United Airlines. Attendees for the check presentation on October 16 included Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, President of West Chester University; Joseph Genovese, VP Finance-Treasurer, ALPA; Christopher Mominey, WCU Foundation CEO; Terence Beattie, WCU Director of Athletics; Miriam Horrocks-Isenberg ’87; Paul Isenberg ’87; and other members of the Horrocks Family.

Those wishing to contribute to the Michael Horrocks Football Scholarship Endowment Fund can visit https://go.wcufoundation.org/donate with fund name Michael Horrocks Scholarship Endowment or fund number 4500-861.

The Air Line Pilots Association, International promotes and champions all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community. Since 1931, their commitment to safety and the advancement of the profession has made them the guardians and defender of rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association.