Muhlenberg College Establishes RJ Fellowship Program
Through a gift from the RJ Foundation, Muhlenberg College has permanently endowed the RJ Fellowship Program. The program includes student scholarships, funding for course development, research, faculty development, and the RJ Fellows Symposium, a speakers' series. The program was originated with funding from the RJ Foundation in November of 2001.Friday, April 23, 2004 10:23 AM
Through a gift from the RJ Foundation, Muhlenberg College has permanently endowed the RJ Fellowship Program. The program includes student scholarships, funding for course development, research, faculty development, and the RJ Fellows Symposium, a speakers' series. The program was originated with funding from the RJ Foundation in November of 2001.
Joseph and Rita Scheller established the RJ Foundation. Mr. Scheller is the former chairman of Silberline Manufacturing Co., Inc. He has been a member of the Muhlenberg College Board of Trustees since 1995 and has been a long-time board member of the College's Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding.
The RJ Fellowship Program provides merit awards to students in each class who are academically adventurous, intellectually curious, creative and motivated to produce positive change in the world. The RJ Fellowship Program complements the College's Dana and Muhlenberg Scholars programs, which have been providing scholarship grants and academic enrichment since 1987 and 1990, respectively.
The Fellows are admitted in cohorts of 15 students each year. Muhlenberg currently has 29 RJ Fellows on campus and expects to enroll its third cohort this year. When fully implemented, it will enroll approximately 60 students.
The program uses a visionary and unconventional approach to provide students with the intellectual tools and a capacity for self-reflection that will enhance their ability to make good decisions in the face of an uncertain future. RJ Scholars and RJ Scholars courses focus both on change and the methodologies that empower individuals to understand and respond constructively to the uncertainties and ambiguities of the future.
"The RJ Fellows Program has been extremely successful already," says Muhlenberg College President Peyton R. Helm. "By endowing the program, the RJ Foundation has insured a wonderful experience for the next generation of Muhlenberg College students. This is another example of a value-added program that is of great benefit to our students and faculty. We are grateful that the Schellers have presented us with such an opportunity."
Former Dean of Faculty Curtis Dretsch; Dr. Marjorie Hass, Provost of the College; former President Arthur Taylor, Dean of Admission Christopher Hooker-Haring and Dr. Hemchand Gossai, director of the RJ Fellows Program, have worked closely with the Schellers to identify outstanding students and to develop the program and the overall experience.
"The Schellers' gift will enhance Muhlenberg's active learning experience, and increase the cooperative research efforts of our students and faculty in unusual, creative and exciting ways," says Hass.
Muhlenberg is in the fifth year of a seven-year, $70 million comprehensive campaign. More than $50 million has already been pledged. To date, two residence halls, Robertson and South Halls, have already opened; Walson Hall, a new home for the department of communication, WMUH Radio and the Muhlenberg College television station has already opened. The Life Sports Center is set to open in the fall. In addition, the comprehensive campaign includes endowed professorships, additional support for financial aid, funds for endowed scholarships and operating support.
