The $6.6 million gift that Marion and George F. Keller ’44 quietly donated to Lehigh in 2017 speaks volumes about the salt-of-the-earth people they were. George, who earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering, loved walking his dog, camping, tinkering with cars and helping his neighbors. Marion was comfortable in a tent, on a sailboat, or at an elegant party and had a passion for wildlife. George and Marion’s marriage was a close bond that lasted 34 years before George’s passing in 1992. Marion passed in 2017. Their gift established the Marion and George Keller ’44 Endowed Scholarship Fund and will have a profound impact on generations of Lehigh students.
“My uncle felt strongly about giving back and loved his college. What he had learned helped shape him and put him on a solid path to the future,” said Peter Krell, George and Marion’s nephew. “Not having children of his own, he wanted to make a gift to Lehigh because his education really helped him in his career and life.”
The Kellers generosity will help ensure that the most talented students will have access to a Lehigh education. Their scholarship fund will help the university fulfill its commitment to provide financial aid to cover 100 percent of any student’s demonstrated financial need.
“Lehigh University selects students who have the talent to succeed, and they should not have to go elsewhere because they can’t afford our education. Scholarships and financial aid are the enablers,” said President John D. Simon ’19P. “We are in deep appreciation to George and Marion Keller for their gift that will provide students with an academic experience that will likely transform their lives.”
The Keller scholarship fund will aid in Lehigh’s newest partnerships with the American Talent Initiative and the Posse Foundation to help bring more talented lower-income and first-generation students to campus. These students will be further supported by Lehigh’s Center for Access and Success program. The program, which complements efforts around financial aid and scholarship, provides services that ensure students thrive and are able to achieve their full potential once they come to campus.
Read the full story at the Lehigh University News Center.
