Senior José Lopez has wanted to become a teacher since kindergarten. With help from the Robert D. Gimmi Scholarship, he is on his way to achieving that dream.
“Growing up as a first-gen student and in a life where I had to overcome many things to be where I am today, I value the importance of education,” said José , who is majoring in early childhood and special education. He said he is “profoundly grateful” to his benefactor and aspires
to be a teacher “to motivate the future of our nation to overcome any obstacle.”
If this goal sounds lofty, José has proven he is up to the task. In high school, he founded Books of
Hope, a non-profit that provides books to children in hospitals. Motivated by his niece who was hospitalized with brain cancer, he coordinated the collection of 2,000 books. Since that first year, his organization has donated more than 26,000 books.
José chose Shippensburg because “the faculty in the Teacher Education Department are as passionate about education as I am, and the lab school was like none other I had seen.” José is now a student worker at the Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School, tutoring and assisting students in reading, writing, and math. He also has served as a Peer Teacher Leader in the department.
José will graduate in May and begin his career living out his passion for education and service to others.
Received the Herr Study Abroad Scholarship
Stephanie Runyon had never traveled outside the United States before last summer when she took a study abroad class in Europe. A senior in the John L. Grove College of Business, Stephanie said the experience was more than she imagined.
“It was the best trip I’ve ever been on. You really don’t know how different other countries are until you are immersed in that culture,” she said.
Over two and a half weeks, Stephanie and her classmates traveled to England, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, and Germany. “We were looking at business markets and comparing the difference between the United States and Europe,” Stephanie said, adding, “My focus was on gender differences.” Stephanie is majoring in both Accounting and Finance and is minoring in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Her European experience was supported by the Herr Study Abroad Scholarship. “I usually work two jobs over the summer to save money for school. The scholarship allowed me to not worry about how I would make up for the lost income.”
Stephanie works as a price analyst intern at Volvo CE, an international company with its North American headquarters in Shippensburg. There she developed an interest in finance, prompting her to add it as a second major. It also raised her awareness of global business. “Eventually, I would like to work for a global company and have the opportunity to live and work abroad.”
STEPHANIE RUNYON, Class of 2024
Majors: Accounting and Finance
Minor: Women’s and Gender Studies
Received the Kish-Miller Family Study Abroad Scholarship
Junior Ron Reynolds did not go far from his home in Chambersburg to attend college, so his study abroad experience in Germany last semester was life-changing.
“I was in a small town near Hamburg and I loved it,” Ron shared. “Just being in the German culture and in a society that does not speak your native language was an eye-opening experience.”
Ron took four years of German in high school and two at Shippensburg, so he was nearly fluent before his trip in Germany. “I still had to adapt and think on my feet to communicate,” he admitted. Ron received a Kish-Miller Family Study Abroad Scholarship to help finance his five-month experience abroad.
When he graduates in May 2025, Ron plans to teach German, math or both. “I am a math major with a secondary education certification concentration. German is my minor. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher.”
There was no question Ron would attend Shippensburg. “It’s an amazing school with a history and reputation for teacher education,” Ron said. “I have been coming to campus my whole life, seeing shows at the Luhrs Center and touring the campus with my class in middle school.”
Now Ron is giving campus tours as a Student Ambassador. He also tutors students in math and German and is a Peer Anchor for first-year students.
RON REYNOLDS, Class of 2025
Major: Mathematics with secondary certification
Minor: German Studies
