T. Alan Payne Penn State Engineering Scholarship

Click “Sign Up to make a contribution via secure Penn State website.” Margie Payne and T. Alan Payne of Atlanta, GA were the first in their respective families to attend university. After graduating from Morehouse College in 1964 with a degree in Mathematics, T. Alan Payne worked in Atlanta, California and Washington DC in a number of highly technical roles (including at NASA) before moving to Sta

te College to work at Penn State in 1977.

35 years later, and 50 years after his graduation, the fact remains that young women and people of color are severely under-represented in university technical disciplines, especially Engineering. Why is this? Aside from the fact that even today 40% of students in the Penn State system are the first generation in their family to attend college, the biggest problem is financial. Many students work multiple jobs while carrying a full course load, and the average educational debt at graduation is $31,000. These financial realities are ending the dreams of too many students and families, and under-represented groups tend to suffer the most. The T. Alan Payne Engineering Scholarship, established in 2012, is an endowment that will generate scholarship funds every year in perpetuity, awarding funds each year to exceptionally performing students in need at Penn State. These are students who need assistance just to have a shot at the opportunities that so many other students take for granted. The students selected for the scholarship are typically high caliber academic achievers, with a median Grade Point Average of 3.2 out of 4.0, and they are grateful to the donors who have made their educations possible. Alan Payne has dedicated a large portion of his life to supporting under-represented students at Penn State and his legacy will live on through his Engineering Scholarship. In addition to your donation, as a designated Trustee Scholarship, the T. Alan Payne Engineering Scholarship receives matching funds every single year from Penn State...thanks again to your generosity!