Why We Give Back: PMC Legacy Thrives Through Scholarships and Support
Widener’s vast alumni network is vital in supporting current and future members of the pride. In addition to their mentorship and sharing their real-world experience, alumni and alumni groups are also supporting current student needs through scholarships.
Most recently, two Pennsylvania Military College alumni groups have celebrated milestones and scholarship awards – The PMC Legacy Committee and the class of 1964.
Supporting the next generation of service members
“We PMC alumni need to show our support in time and treasure to acknowledge Widener’s continued support of our PMC legacy,” said Bob Miller ’69, a founding member of the PMC Legacy Committee. “Our committee came up with a plan to create a PMC legacy scholarship program to support the Widener ROTC Company A recruitment. We felt this was the thread that would connect back to PMC and, along with the museum, help keep our legacy alive through Company A cadets.”
In 2024, the PMC Legacy Committee awarded the inaugural PMC Legacy ROTC Scholarship to Luis Lucas ’28. The committee worked with the university to create an endowment that will support a yearly scholarship to be awarded to a member of the Dauntless Battalion Alpha Company of which Widener ROTC cadets are members.
Lucas, a biology major and ROTC cadet, came to Widener from Valley Forge Military Academy.
“I would like to express my gratitude for the PMC Legacy ROTC Scholarship. Your contribution is helping me to develop leadership skills and my education to becoming a future doctor,” Lucas said in a thank you message to the committee. “My parents are veterans, and my goal is to serve my country and honor my parents.”
A dedication 60 years in the making
The class of 1964 celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024 with the dedication of an endowed scholarship to support student success in the School of Nursing.
Over the years, members of the class of 1964 considered many options when thinking about how to make their mark on the Widener University of today. When the group saw the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the medical community, the idea was born.
“Facilities and medical personnel were being stretched thin, overburdened and burned out. We learned really fast that our resources were not limitless. What could we do to help those who had trained to help others? We had our answer within our own house. We had to help our award-winning School of Nursing,” said Bob Duffy ’64, a PMC class of ’64 officer.
Duffy extended his thanks to all of his classmates who participated and donated to the gift.
“We ultimately succeeded and met all of our objectives just in time to give a check to the dean of the School of Nursing at our 60th reunion.”
Preserving PMC
The lives of PMC alumni have taken many of them around the world as members of the United States military, but for many the road always leads back to Widener.
Both the PMC Legacy Committee and the class of 1964 created these scholarships with the intent of keeping the PMC legacy going strong while providing resources for current and future generations of Widener students to thrive.
“It took me time over many years to accept the closure of PMC. I finally realized that time moves on and the experiences and bonding we PMC cadets shared will be with us to our last days. Our Long Gray Line will not be broken,” said Miller. “I feel strongly that I am part of the university and need to support its growth. Supporting Company A and counting on Company A alumni and future cadets to keep our legacy alive.”
Both Miller and Duffy are deeply involved in the university and encourage other members of the PMC alumni community to do the same.
“My advice to other classes: don’t wait 60 years like we did. You can do better. I hope you do,” said Duffy.
Of his continued involvement with Widener, Duffy shared, “It’s because of the many people and activities that I have enjoyed as a member of PMC ’64 and its successors. It appears that I have always been tethered somehow to this school in Chester, regardless of what people call it.”
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Special thanks to all members of the PMC Legacy Committee and the Class of ’64 Committee:
PMC Legacy Committee:
Chuck Cantley ’69, Dave Esto ’70, Gerry Ferguson ’70, Craig Glassner ‘72, Dan Gascoyne ‘69, Bob Hawley ‘62, Norm Helmold ‘69, Jim Hogg ‘69, Jim Love ‘68, Bob Miller ‘69, Stu Perlmutter ‘70, Ron Romanowicz ‘68, Joe Vaccaro ‘74, Rick Urban ‘69
Class of '64 Committee:
Dr. Gill Alderfer '64, Bob Duffy '64, Gregg Strom ‘64
