Courtesy of Penn State Behrend
New contributions to two scholarships at Penn State Behrend will provide additional financial support to students while reinforcing the university’s commitment to access, affordability and student success.
Retired faculty member Ron DelPorto made a new gift to activate the Ronald W. and Carole R. DelPorto Scholarship in Memory of Donald Yusz and Christopher DelPorto. The new funding builds on a $130,000 estate gift established by Ron and Carole DelPorto in 2020.
The scholarship honors the DelPortos’ late son, Christopher DelPorto, and their late son-in-law, Donald Yusz, who was married to their daughter, Lori. Carole DelPorto passed away in 2023.
Ron DelPorto taught computer programming at Penn State Behrend for 33 years before retiring in 2017. He also worked at American Sterilizer Company, now known as STERIS Corporation. Since retiring, DelPorto has remained involved with the campus by attending lectures and events, including the Fasenmyer Engineering Design Conference.
The DelPorto scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in computer science or software engineering. The early activation of the estate gift allows the scholarship to begin assisting students now.
A second scholarship has also grown through additional support. Larry and Charlotte Neizmik contributed $100,000 to the Larry D. Neizmik and Charlotte A. Neizmik Scholarship for Economics. Their original gift has been supporting students in the economics program at the Black School of Business since 2021.
Larry Neizmik serves as a part-time lecturer in the Black School of Business and previously worked at Northwest Bank as corporate vice president of education and training for branch operations before retiring in 2012. Charlotte Neizmik retired from Northwest Bank in 2017 after serving as a corporate assistant vice president and call center manager.
Larry Neizmik studied at Behrend before completing a degree in economics at Penn State and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Behrend in 1994.
The expanded scholarships are part of broader efforts to support students and advance the university’s mission through philanthropy. University officials say donations like these help provide opportunities for students while strengthening programs that support academic success.
Penn State Behrend continues to emphasize initiatives focused on access, affordability, academic innovation and student achievement across its programs.