鈥淭here are a lot of things that I can鈥檛 do鈥擨鈥檓 physically limited鈥攂ut I can write a check. It makes things happen.鈥
It鈥檚 1958, and Bethlehem is in the midst of the Eisenhower recession and a strike by the steelworkers鈥 union. To avoid excessive unemployment claims, instead of laying off workers, Bethlehem Steel executives implement a 鈥渟hare the work鈥 campaign and ask employees to reduce their hours by one or even two days each week. For Carolyn Felker, whose father was a steelworker who could not afford to save, this made a higher education seem out of reach.
The nearest state school was over an hour away, which meant the additional expense of living away from home. Local private colleges were too expensive, but applying to Moravian meant she could remain a 鈥渢ownie.鈥 But how to afford the $1,200-per-semester tuition in those days?
Family members encouraged her to apply, and she received an early-decision acceptance letter that required a $50, nonrefundable deposit to hold her place. Even that amount was unattainable, so she did not respond. Shortly after, a call from Moravian, an offer of financial aid, and a Comenius Scholarship gave this first-generation college student the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Comenius Scholarship is the namesake of John Amos Comenius, regarded as the father of modern education and a symbol of the principles upon which 麻豆果冻 was founded. 鈥淛ohn Amos Comenius is my patron saint. He made my career possible,鈥 Felker says. 鈥淢y entire four years at Moravian cost $2,000 with aid and my scholarship.鈥
Although Felker was initially an English major, Dr. Margaret Gump, then a professor of modern languages, persuaded her to major in German, saying, 鈥淓nglish teachers are a dime a dozen.鈥 Felker had four years of conversational German in high school, so it seemed a natural transition. The move paid off, winning Felker a teaching position in the Upper Darby School District, where she remained her entire career as a teacher and administrator.
鈥淛ohn Amos Comenius is my patron saint. He made my life possible.鈥
Philanthropy was new to her, but she knew she would always pay forward what Comenius gave to her, if even a little bit. 鈥淚 was a moderate giver since graduation, but I heard [retired Director of Planned Giving] Patty Price speak at homecoming in 2011, and I realized an endowment award would be possible,鈥 Felker remembers.
鈥淚 was also inspired by the movie Hello, Dolly!鈥 says Felker. 鈥淎fter Dolly asks Horace Vandergelder to marry her in the feed store, he stops treating his clerks poorly. All of a sudden, he invests in them dressing better and they take on more responsibility. Dolly asks Horace why the difference in his spending, and he says, 鈥榊ou see, Dolly, I鈥檝e always felt that money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It鈥檚 not worth a thing unless you spread it around, encouraging young things grow.鈥欌
In 2011, Felker decided to encourage growth with the Felker Family Endowed Scholarship in honor of her parents, who she says sacrificed so much for her. In 2012, its first award of $2,000 went to a student-athlete whose mother had died and father became homeless.
鈥淕uided by his coach, he became a real team player and a hard worker. Teamwork is what Moravian is all about,鈥 says Felker. 鈥淗e graduated with significant student loans but paid off almost everything in six years,鈥 Felker recalls. 鈥淲e are still in touch today.鈥
Every semester since that first award, a Moravian student has received support from Felker鈥檚 scholarship. 鈥淚 have a blast spending money for charity and doing different projects,鈥 she adds. 鈥淭here are a lot of things that I can鈥檛 do鈥擨鈥檓 physically limited鈥攂ut I can write a check. It makes things happen.鈥
Carolyn Felker 鈥68 meets with recipients of the Felker Family Endowed Scholarship in April 2022.