Courtney Balcombe

Creative Editor

clb6264@psu.edu

Current Penn State Behrend lecturer for economics, Larry Neizmik, alongside his wife, Charlotte A. Neizmik, have donated $250,000 to a scholarship for economics majors with financial need at PSB.

According to Penn State News, Neizmik believes scholarships can serve as an incentive, not only easing the financial burden for today’s college students, but inspiring those students to achieve and, hopefully, encourage others to give as well.

Neizmik spent two years as a student at PSB before transferring to University Park to earn his bachelor’s degree in economics. Later on, when he decided to get his master’s degree, he knew where he wanted to go.

“Behrend has always held a special place in my heart from the time I arrived in 1980 as an undergraduate,” Neizmik said. “Back then, Behrend didn’t have nearly as many buildings as it does now, and enrollment was around 2,500 students. Having come from a small high school in Youngsville, I appreciated the smaller campus and found it very peaceful and comfortable.”

Neizmik continued, “My graduate classes at Behrend were really enjoyable because professors would often ask us questions about our jobs, so we were able to learn from one another. The collaborative nature of the program was not only engaging, but beneficial.”

While the Neizmik’s are not the first alumni to donate to PSB, they continue to add to the ever growing alumni support Behrend receives.

“The Neizmiks are an excellent example of how the support of alumni and friends can contribute to the success of Behrend students,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “Scholarships, especially, provide much needed financial support and also convey to our students that others believe in their potential to create bright futures for themselves.”