Longtime supporter of the College of Education John Gilmartin has pledged $500,000 to create two new Educational Equity Scholarships – one at the University level and one in the College of Education. The scholarships each will receive matching funds as part of the University’s new Educational Equity Matching Program.

The Educational Equity Matching Program, announced in June by President Eric J. Barron, will match up to $10 million for new scholarships created by Penn State alumni and friends that “enhance our ability to recruit and retain students whose gender, race, ethnic, cultural and/or national background contribute to the diversity of the student body,” according to guidelines for the program.

“The creation of the Educational Equity Matching Program is only one step on our journey to greater equity across our institution and our country, but it represents a promise to our students that we will help them to build a better future," Barron said when he announced the launch of the program in June.

Gilmartin's gift will take advantage of two separate matching gift opportunities as part of the Educational Equity Matching Program.

The John A. Gilmartin Educational Equity Scholarship at Penn State is funded with a $300,000 gift and will receive a 2:1 match from University funds, essentially tripling the impact of Gilmartin's gift and resulting in a $900,000 permanent endowment in the Office of Educational Equity. This 2:1 match is available for scholarships awarded by the Office of Educational Equity or other central offices and programs, which give Penn State the greatest flexibility in meeting student financial need and fostering diversity, equity and inclusion across all colleges and campuses.

“As a higher education leader, Penn State must continue to be a driving force in ending systemic racism and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment on our campuses and beyond," said Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for educational equity. "The support we secure through the Educational Equity Matching Program can help us to accelerate progress toward graduating more students while encouraging our students to be a part of positive change at our institution and in the world.”

The John A. Gilmartin Educational Equity Scholarship in the College of Education is funded with a $200,000 gift that will receive a 1:1 match from University funds, resulting in a $400,000 permanent endowment in the college. The 1:1 match is available for scholarships that support the college, campus or other Penn State unit with which alumni and friends feel the greatest personal affinity.

"The Educational Equity Scholarship created by John Gilmartin in our college is a critical component of our mission to diversify the education workforce," said Kim Lawless, dean of the College of Education. "This scholarship will not only help with recruitment, but retention as well. Students receiving it can focus on their learning rather than the financing of their degree – which for too many students is a heavy stressor."

Gilmartin, a 1965 graduate of Penn State's Smeal College of Business, is a retired CEO of Millipore Corp., a worldwide provider of products and services to life sciences companies. He is a trustee and former board chairman of the Boston Renaissance Charter School, which enrolls more than 1,400 Boston urban students in kindergarten through eighth grade in a safe, nurturing learning environment.

Gilmartin's previous philanthropy to Penn State includes:

·      a $600,000 gift last fall to endow an Open Doors Scholarship and establish the María J. Schmidt Endowed Program Fund, named for the current assistant dean for education and social equity.

·      a $1.2 million commitment to create the John Gilmartin Endowment for Enhancing Educational Opportunities to strengthen existing programs or help to create new initiatives that aim to improve the quality of educational experiences for inner-city children.

·      a Trustee Scholarship and an endowed Renaissance Scholarship, both in the College of Education and both in support of students with demonstrated financial need.

Gilmartin also has been a longtime and generous supporter of the Summer College Opportunity Program in Education, S.C.O.P.E., which brings high school students from underrepresented groups to Penn State to learn about careers in education.

"It is profoundly impactful when a college and a benefactor align in purpose and mission. That is exactly the partnership we have with John Gilmartin," said María Schmidt, assistant dean for education and social equity in the College of Education. "This synergy creates opportunities for real change by breaking down barriers. It will not only support our college's students, but also the students they serve with their degree and the future of our educational system as a whole."

The Educational Equity Matching Program offers alumni and friends the opportunity to partner with the University in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive Penn State. Through June 30, 2022, or until the $10 million pool of matching support is expended, donors can multiply the impact of new scholarships for students whose gender, race, ethnic, cultural, and/or national background contribute to the diversity of the Penn State community. This support will help to fulfill Penn State’s historic land-grant mission — to reach all citizens of the commonwealth through teaching, research, and service — and drive transformation across the institution and the larger world. More information about the Educational Equity Matching Program can be found online.

Gifts made through the program will advance "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.