Renaissance Fund Scholarships

The Renaissance Fund, created in 1969, provides scholarship support to academically talented students with the greatest financial need, regardless of academic major or other criteria. Scholarship recipients receive an annual award of $2,000 for up to four years if they maintain a 3.0 grade point average and demonstrate financial need. During the 2023–2024 academic year, more than 820 undergraduates across the University received more than $1.6m in support from the Renaissance Fund scholarships.

Make a Difference—Support the Renaissance FundGifts of any amount are pooled into the general Renaissance Fund endowment to provide scholarships. A contribution of $2,000 can support a Renaissance Fund Scholar for one year, while $30,000 can endow a named scholarship, providing support in perpetuity. Donors may establish Renaissance Fund Scholarships as University-wide or for a particular campus. Every gift, regardless of amount, aids these talented Renaissance Fund Scholars who will become tomorrow’s leaders in the sciences, business and industry, government, and the humanities.

Roger L. Williams and Karen L. Magnuson Renaissance Fund Scholarship

The 2024 Renaissance Fund honorees are alumni, retired staff members, local volunteer leaders, and philanthropists Roger Williams and Karen Magnuson.

Roger Williams, is a native of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He holds three degrees from Penn State—a B.A. in History, M.A. in Journalism, and D.Ed. in Higher Education. He has served in leadership roles across the higher education and communications industries, including multiple posts at Penn State, ultimately serving as executive director for the Penn State Alumni Association from 2003 until his retirement in 2015. Roger also held an affiliate faculty position in the College of Education’s Higher Education program. He is the author of three books exploring the University’s historic land-grant mission and profiling past University presidents. In the local community, Roger is president of the Centre County Historical Society and serves on the advisory boards of the Penn State All-Sports Museum, WPSU, and the Dean’s Development Council in the College of Education. He is a past board member of the Schlow Library Foundation and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State.

Karen Magnuson is a State College native and holds a B.A. in Visual Arts from Penn State. Her career at the University spanned thirty-seven years, encompassing multiple roles in the Office of University Relations, now Strategic Communications. She retired in 2015 as assistant director of University Marketing. Karen’s primary volunteer work is with Interfaith Human Services, a State College nonprofit organization that supports low-income families in Centre County through programs that foster financial stability. After her retirement in 2015, she joined the board of the organization, and, a year later, went on to serve as president. She was awarded the Interfaith Human Services Volunteer of the Year award in 2022 for her service. She also is an active volunteer for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Grove Mills, where she has been a life-long member.

As members of The Mount Nittany Society, the couple has directed philanthropy toward various areas across the University, including the College of Education, the College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Palmer Museum of Art. In 2015, Williams and Magnuson’s friends and colleagues created the Roger L. Williams and Karen L. Magnuson Program Endowment in Higher Education to honor Williams’ 12 years of service to the Penn State Alumni Association. The couple has generously supported the fund through their own giving. They also have designated support for the Burton S. Horne Memorial Scholarship Fund in the College of Agricultural Sciences, which honors the late grandfather of Magnuson’s children.

Karen and Roger have a blended family of four children, three of whom also are Penn State graduates. The couple’s inspiration for giving back has not only been to honor the past, but to inspire the rising generation with hope for the future.

Make a gift to the Roger L. Williams and Karen L. Magnuson Renaissance Fund Scholarship

Previous Years’ Honorees

2023

Edgar and Barbara Farmer

2022

Nancy and Paul Silvis

2021

Molly and Eric Barron

2020

Penn State Alumni Association

2019

Franklin Family

2018

Tom and Sara Songer

2017

Joel N. Myers

2016

Rod Kirsch

2015

Steve Brown

2014

Dan Hawbaker

2013

Kay Kustanbauter

2012

Ed* and Charlene Friedman

2011

Graham and Sandra Spanier

2010

Lance Shaner

2009

Patricia L. Best

2008

J. Lloyd* and Dorothy* Huck

2007

Jonathan Dranov*

2006

Linda and Blake Gall

2005

Rene Portland*

2004

Robert W. Potter

2003

Herschel W.* and Eileen Wirtshafter Leibowitz

2002

Bill Welch*

2001

Martha Lewis Starling

2000

Ralph J. Papa

1999

D. Patrick Daugherty*

1998

Patricia Farrell*

1997

David Lee*

1996

Suzanne Pohland Paterno

1995

Donald W. Hamer*

1994

Charles W. Rohrbeck*

1993

Galen E. Dreibelbis

1992

Arnold Addison*

1991

Sidney Friedman*

1990

Mimi Barash Coppersmith

1989

Jonelle* and Bryce* Jordan

1988

Milton J. Bergstein*

1987

Eugene Lee*

1986

Marjorie W. Dunaway*

1985

John R. Miller, Jr.*

1984

Joseph V. Paterno*

1983

O.W. Houts*

1982

Barbara R. Palmer*

1981

Roy Wilkinson, Jr.*

1980

Eric A. Walker*

1979

William K. Ulerich*

1978

John H. Light*

1977

Jo Hays*

*Deceased

Board Members

Each year, the Renaissance Fund Board Members select the Fund’s honoree, who is recognized at an annual dinner dedicated to raising money for the fund. In the selection process, the board selects an honoree with a commitment to Centre County region, with civic and University engagement, and history of philanthropy.

Current Board Members

• Sam Bernstine
• Jason Browne
• Mary Anne Cahir
• Mimi Barash Coppersmith
• Rebecca Farmer Force
• Blake Gall
• Gina Ikenberry
• John M. Infield
• Benson M. Lichtig
• Nancy Silvis
• Christian Soura
• Elizabeth Susman
• Lauren Packer Webster
• Kennedy White

Honorary Board Members

• Anne Riley
• Helen Dickerson Wise