President's Report - Philanthropy

Grants

Bethany Benson Burns, professor of art, was awarded $31,938 by the Huntingdon County COVID-19 Advisory Group to create public artwork in the form of a memorial mural in Huntingdon County. The mural will reflect the community’s experiences through conversations and surveys conducted by students.

Jonathan Burns, instructor of history and art history and instructor of international studies, secured $12,851 in grant funding through the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) and the U.S. Army War College to conduct a field school and veteran archaeology project.

Regina Lamendella, George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professor of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a $551,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) SuRE Research Awards (R16) to fund undergraduate research on Clostridioides difficile infection, a costly and difficult-to-treat condition commonly known as C. diff.

Ryan Mathur ’96, professor of geology, has secured a $406,600 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct mineral exploration in the upper peninsula of Michigan over the next two summers with the University of Michigan and Talon Metals. He has also been awarded a $172,000 NSF grant to study the migration of tin through Bronze Age artifacts.

Federal Funding to Enhance Pedestrian and Bike Access

Juniata will receive $998,000 in federal transportation funding to create a contiguous sidewalk system and increase mobility around campus and in the Borough of Huntingdon. The sidewalks, lighting, and ADA-compliant curb ramps will link neighborhoods with campus destinations, such as Knox Stadium, and provide greater pedestrian access to Huntingdon Area School District facilities.

State Grant to Fund Traffic Safety at Intersection

Juniata was pivotal in securing funding more than $700,000 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) for a project to reconfigure the intersection of Moore Street and Cold Springs Road. CFA was established in 2004 as an independent agency of the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The redesign of the intersection will improve visibility for motorists and pedestrians, reduce speed, and improve the overall flow of traffic.

Major Gifts

Gibbels Challenge Alumni to Match $1 Million Donation

Henry H. Gibbel ’57 and his wife, Joanie, have provided $1 million to Juniata for the renovation of South Hall, which will be renamed in their honor. The couple hopes to inspire fellow alumni and supporters to match their donation and raise an additional $1 million to improve the living and learning environment for Juniata students.

Class of 1974 Supports Statton Learning Commons with 50th Reunion Gift

The Class of 1974 raised $4,889,319.74 for their 50th Class Reunion Legacy Gift, of which a portion is directed to the living room space within Statton Learning Commons. Class of 1974’s Legacy Gift committee co-chairs Dave Andrews and Bruce Moyer and committee members Barbara Beachley Marshall, Bill Zamer, Mike Klag and Mike Jablonski rallied their classmates to support the cause.