IUP Graduate from Johnstown Gifts $1 Million to Establish Scholarship

A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, originally from the Johnstown area, has gifted IUP $1 million to establish a scholarship for IUP education students.

Charles Baltzer is a 1953 business graduate now living in North Carolina. His gift establishes the Charles and Margaret Baltzer Memorial Scholarship, which honors his late wife, who is also a 1953 graduate of IUP, and provides tuition support to full-time undergraduate students pursuing an education degree or certificate, with preference for students that are active-duty military personnel, veterans, or the children of active-duty military personnel or veterans.

In addition to his $1 million gift, he has provided more than $65,000 to IUP to provide direct scholarship support to students, including students qualifying for the Sutton Scholarship.

"We are truly honored that Mr. Baltzer has chosen to honor IUP education students in this way," IUP Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Services Edel Reilly said. "IUP has a well-deserved reputation for preparing strong educators, and Mr. Baltzer's generosity will support our work to recruit and prepare future educators and will lift the financial burden from those who are preparing to become teachers," she said.

Baltzer came to IUP after serving overseas during World War II. He was active in campus organizations associated with the business program, including serving as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He also was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.

Following his graduation, he worked at Force Oil in Bradford and then in the accounting department of Celanese Corporation,

"I wanted this scholarship to provide support and an incentive to potential educators to enter and remain in the teaching profession," Baltzer said. "It is my hope that this scholarship will help as many students as possible and make a difference in their lives and futures. My education at IUP played a major role in the successes I have experienced, and I want to offer that same opportunity to students," he said.