Creating connections through philanthropy
Like many students, Julia Gamble started at Penn State with a declared major, but not 100% certain on what her next steps were. She was majoring in biology and considering the option to go to medical school. During her third year, she received the Suzanne Reich Science Award, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement by an undergraduate student in the Penn State Eberly College of Science. This is how Gamble formed a friendship with Reich, a biology alumna who created the scholarship, and it all started with a thank-you note.
Reich graduated from Penn State in 1979 and is now retired from being the director of the Physician Assistant Program at Wake Forest University. She said that the inspiration behind creating the award in 2013 was how much Penn State meant to her and how it represented an opportunity for growth and expansion.
“It gave me this wonderful opportunity to do whatever I wanted to do,” she said. “I would go back 50 times and still do something different every time. There were so many things I didn’t do, but it opened my eyes to a world that I wasn’t familiar with.”
During her Penn State experience, Reich said that she didn’t get any scholarships, and she had to work part-time jobs during college. So, when it came time to set up her own scholarship, she wanted to reward those students who were working to help put themselves through college.
In 2014, Reich’s scholarship was awarded to its first recipient, Julia Gamble. Gamble wrote Reich a thank-you note for her generosity, and the two arranged to meet. They formed a strong connection, and it was because of their conversation that Gamble decided to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
“I was really pleased with Julia,” Reich said. “This was the kind of student I wanted to benefit. I was happy with Penn State’s process of vetting based on the characteristics and work ethic that I wanted to find in a student.”
Gamble and Reich have stayed in touch through the years, from Gamble’s Penn State graduation to when she applied to the Physician Assistant Program at Wake Forest, interviewed, and was accepted.
“My mom said that there are people in your life who act as angels,” Gamble said. “I believe that Sue is one of those angels. She has shaped a portion of my life, and I will be forever grateful.”
Since Reich’s scholarship was established, it has been awarded to 10 students. She said that what she enjoys most about getting to know award recipients — like Julia — are their stories, which showcase how they got to where they are today.