Former IUP Footballer Gives to Support Future Players

George “Butch” Aggen ’76, M’78 was an outstanding football player at Freeport High School and, as graduation approached, was widely recruited at the collegiate level. When deciding which jersey to wear, he chose the school that would both let him play, and best prepare him for a career in law enforcement. Butch chose IUP and enrolled in the criminology/pre-law program.

At IUP, Butch distinguished himself on the gridiron, setting a career tackles record which still stands today. He is modest about this achievement, stating, “It isn’t reflective of anything individually, from my perspective. We had a great defense, and we did a lot of stunts which gave me the opportunity to have a lot of tackles.”

The four years Butch spent under Coach Bill Neal taught him about teamwork, leadership, and dealing with adversity, but it was the Neal’s project off the field that had a greater impact. Coach Neal and his wife Cass recruited Butch to work with them at Camp Orenda, a summer camp for students with limitations.

“I was scared to death to work with kids in those kinds of circumstances,” shares Butch. “It was the greatest experience, looking back.” While working at Camp Orenda, Butch learned “we all have different limitations and challenges, and in the end we’re all people regardless of what those might be.” Now, when he faced with challenges, Butch looks back at his three years working at Camp Orenda to gain perspective.

Butch didn’t pursue a career in law enforcement, but instead enrolled in IUP’s Master of Student Affairs in Higher Education program. After graduation, he worked in a college environment but later entered the telecommunications industry. In 2011, Butch returned to education, opening the Goddard School of Cedar Lake with his wife, Maria.

Butch and Maria are thankful for their fortunate life and want to use their prosperity to make a positive impact on others. When planning their estate, they decided to include support for IUP.

“Any success I’ve had over the years—either personally or professionally—every time it points back to a lot of things I’ve learned or experienced in my years at IUP,” says Butch.

He credits Coach Neal, Coach Jim Mill, and Dr. Leonard DeFabo in part with his successes. In gratitude to these influential mentors, the Aggen’s estate gift will support the Bill and Cass Neal Scholarship for Football, which provides scholarships to full-time student members of the IUP football team. Butch hopes future students will have life-changing experiences just as he did—both on and off the field.

Contact Indiana University of Pennsylvania at 724-357-5661 and university-advancement@iup.edu to learn more about how your estate plan can support what you love most at IUP.