Couple Funds Scholarship To Honor Gannon Professor
Posted: September 3, 2013Gannon University graduate Steve Hooper and his wife Sandy
contributed $30,000 to honor the memory of beloved math professor
Jim Freeman with an endowed scholarship called the Professor Jim
Freeman "Power" Scholarship. The scholarship will support Gannon
students from western Pennsylvania enrolled as mathematics
majors.
The Hoopers established the endowment in November 2003, but
their latest gift will be matched by Gannon under the provisions of
the Tom Power "Power" Scholarship Challenge.
Born in Erie and a 1973 Academy High alumnus, Steve Hooper
graduated from Gannon in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
mathematics. Hooper's mentor before, during and after his Gannon
tenure was Freeman. Hooper believes that Freeman's guidance and
steadying influence made the difference between success and failure
at this crucial time of his life, and with Freeman's encouragement,
Hooper attained his Master of Science degree in mathematics at
Carnegie Mellon University in 1978 and has continued to enjoy
professional success after graduation.
"Jim Freeman believed in me more than I believed in myself, and
his positive influence led me to accomplish things that I never
thought possible," Hooper said. "Sandy and I established the
scholarship in Jim's honor so that other students can benefit from
the caring spirit that Jim fostered at Gannon. We are especially
grateful to Tom Power whose generous offer to match our most recent
gift has further expanded the Professor Jim Freeman 'Power'
Scholarship."
Freeman taught mathematics at Gannon for 34 years. In 1978, he
became the first faculty member to receive an honorary degree from
Gannon while serving on faculty. His colleagues and students
considered him one of the best math teachers of the time. The
accepted opinion was that "if Jim Freeman could not teach someone
mathematics, then no one could."
For more information on the Professor Jim Freeman "Power"
Scholarship, please contact Mark Gaeta, coordinator of capital
support at Gannon, at (814) 871-7466.