Penn State Press Release
[This press release appeared in Issue 98 (Spring, 2007) of the PENNSYLVANIA HOMESCHOOLERS® newsletter.]
February 2, 2007 -- Penn State Press Release:
SCHOLARSHIP TO BENEFIT HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS ENDOWED AT PENN STATE
University Park, Pa. - Penn State alumni George and Ann E. Kemp, of White Oak, have pledged $50,000 to create an undergraduate scholarship to benefit students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The George R. and Ann E. Kemp Scholarship will support academically promising undergraduates, with first preference given to students College-wide who were home-schooled. If none are eligible, preference will be given to students in the School of Forest Resources.
According to the donors, they were inspired to create this scholarship through interactions with families who have chosen to school their children in the home as well as their own personal experience.
“Families who home-school are often at a financial disadvantage,” George Kemp said, “for they sacrifice one parent’s income in order to accomplish their desired educational goals for their children.”
Robert D. Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, said, “We are excited about the Kemps foresight in creating this scholarship. This is the first scholarship at Penn State focused on this particular group, and we are hopeful that it will help us increase the enrollment of home-schooled students in our College.”
The Kemps met while students at the University. Ann began her studies at Penn State Altoona, completed her degree in elementary education in 1953, and taught in the primary grades for 20 years. George started at Penn State Mont Alto and received a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He later earned a civil engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and opened The Kemp Group, which has provided land planning, civil engineering and landscape design services for more than four decades. The Kemps also founded and operated a Christian bookstore, The Fishers of Men, for 28 years.
The Kemps are long-time Penn State volunteers and have a wide range of interests, including the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Greater Allegheny and Mont Alto campuses. George is president of the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society and a member of the Greater Allegheny campus’ advisory board. The couple also serve on committees and as volunteer ambassadors at University events.
The couple took advantage of recent tax legislation in making their gift. “Ann and I initially considered supporting Penn State through our estate,” said George Kemp, “but the new Pension Protection Act allowed us to make our gift now and help students during our lifetimes.” The Pension Protection Act of 2006 allows donors to make tax-free withdrawals from a traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) directly to a qualified charity.
Read the PA Homeschoolers newsletter article that discusses this press release
Click here to read more articles from the PA HOMESCHOOLERS newsletter archive.