Penn State-Fayette: New name honors Eberly family

UNIONTOWN -- Penn State, Fayette Campus, was re-named Friday to honor the institution's most supportive benefactors.

Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, was christened in recognition of the philanthropic and leadership contributions provided by the Eberly family of Uniontown.

"I can think of no more fitting an honor to bestow upon the Eberly family than to link their name to the campus that they have supported so generously and with so much vision over the past four decades," said Cynthia Baldwin, chairwoman of Penn State's board of trustees. "The success of that campus -- and more importantly, the students whom it has educated -- is due largely to the Eberlys' community-minded spirit."

Penn State alumnus Robert Eberly and his father, Orville, were instrumental in founding the campus almost 40 years ago. Since then, the Eberly family and the Eberly Foundation have given more than $40 million to various Penn State programs, including approximately $22.3 million directly to the Fayette campus.

"I began my extended education with Penn State in the old Ella Peach School building while counties surrounding Fayette had church-sponsored colleges," Robert Eberly said. "Penn State ushers us into the 21st century. The Eberly family is pleased to have had a part in helping the people of Fayette County."

Eberly graduated from Penn State in 1939 and soon joined his father in the family's natural gas business, and later followed him into banking. In the early 1960s, as the demand for higher education reached unprecedented levels in Pennsylvania, Robert and Orville Eberly joined Penn State trustee and Fayette County resident J. Lewis Williams in convincing the university to establish an undergraduate campus in the southwest region of the state.

This is only the second time in Penn State's history that the trustees have named a campus for benefactors. Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, honors the Behrend family, whose contributions helped establish the college in 1948.

"The array of programs that the Eberlys have established or brought to new levels of excellence is simply incredible," Penn State President Graham Spanier said. "They have also set an example through their loyalty and leadership that has inspired countless other Penn State alumni and friends to participate as volunteers in shaping the future of the university."

In 2002, the Eberly Foundation committed $6.9 million to help fund the construction of a new campus community center housing a 2,000-seat arena. In the late 1990s, the Eberlys made two other significant contributions to the campus -- $5.5 million dollars to support a new four-year business program and $4.3 million to make the Eberly Building the most technological educational setting in the region. The Eberlys have also contributed $4.5 million for undergraduate scholarships.

"The Eberly family's contributions affect students from the time they come here until they leave," Penn State-Fayette CEO Gregory Gray said. "Their contributions have allowed numerous students to take advantage of the educational opportunities we offer here."

Today, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, consists of about 100 acres and 10 buildings. The campus enrolls 1,100 students for a variety of academic majors and degree programs.