For immediate release: Jan. 21, 2010

BLOOMSBURG — Nearly 50 scholarships have been awarded to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania students over the past three years, thanks to the John E. Morgan Charitable Trust.

Beginning three years ago with a $100,000 donation, the Morgan Trust expanded its commitment to higher education at BU with a $100,000 gift and a $500,000 endowment in the second year and a $50,000 donation in the third year, according to Jim Hollister, assistant vice president of external relations.

Scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in BU's early childhood education completion program at Lehigh Carbon Community College's Morgan Center in Tamaqua based on financial need. The completion program allows students who receive an LCCC associate's degree in education to complete requirements for a BU bachelor's degree at the Morgan Center campus. The Morgan Trust established LCCC’s Tamaqua campus in 2003.

If funds remain, Morgan Trust scholarships are available to BU students with any major who completed two years of study at LCCC before transferring to BU. Third preference is given to Schuylkill County students.

To date, 47 scholarships have been awarded to 39 students. Hometowns of scholarship recipients include Allentown, Hegins, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Nesquehoning and Tamaqua.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 9,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Education, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.