Taking Responsibility for the Future

During IUP’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy on April 13, 2018, IUP officials announced that the university had embarked on a comprehensive fundraising campaign, called Imagine Unlimited. That same evening, students, alumni, and donors in attendance learned that thanks to the generosity of alumni, the campaign’s goal had been increased from $40 million to $75 million, empowering the university to prepare students to be exceptional leaders of the future and ensuring a better world for everyone.

Among those who made that increase possible were Bill and Judy Scheeren, who made a $1.4 million estate commitment in support of initiatives in the College of Education and Communications.

The Scheerens both are education professionals. Before his retirement, Bill chaired Hempfield Area School District’s library department. Judy is a member of the technology faculty at Westmoreland County Community College.

Bill, who graduated from IUP in 1968, said his IUP education prepared him well not just for his career but also for making smart decisions throughout his life. He and Judy believe it is crucial that those who feel they were served well by education should show their support.

The Scheerens’ gift focuses on IUP’s Literacy Center, which provides assessment and instruction for children and adolescents who need assistance with reading and writing. The center will be named in the Scheerens’ honor. Their gift also supports scholarships and the campus’s Labyrinth Center, established to assist IUP students with autism to thrive in the campus environment.

“It is easy to sit back and think or say that someone else will take care of the issues, but that is just fuzzy thinking,” Bill said. “We hope that our support will allow the most talented students at IUP to continue with their educations and achieve their aspirations and goals at IUP.”

You can make a difference with a gift to IUP, just like the Scheerens did. Please contact Indiana University of Pennsylvania at 724-357-5661 or university-advancement@iup.edu to get started.