Benders Endow Business Logistics Scholarship

April 6, 2000
University Park, Pa. -- William C. Bender graduated from Penn State in 1958 and went on to spend nearly 40 years in management in the trucking industry. Now he and his wife, Olga Bender, have decided to share some of their success with the University so that other students might benefit. The Benders have committed $500,000 to endow scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students in business logistics.

The Bender scholarships will be awarded to students who show academic promise and demonstrate financial need.

"This is a tremendous gift for our department," said John E. Tyworth, chair of the Department of Business Logistics. "It will support talented students who are attracted to our field because it plays such a critical role in the world of e-commerce, but who need financial assistance to complete their studies. We are deeply grateful to the Benders for their long-standing support of our program and their generous gift."

"Bill" Bender, a native of Saint Clair, retired in 1994 as president of Customized Transportation Corp., a logistics subsidiary of CSX Corp. He started his career in trucking in Pennsylvania in 1958 and held various management and executive positions, including 11 years as president of Irwin-based Helms Express.

He also serves as volunteer chair of the Florida region for Penn State’s Grand Destiny campaign, an effort to raise $1 billion in private support over the seven-year period ending June 30, 2003.

Olga Bender is also from Saint Clair. She worked while her husband was a Penn State student and has been a full partner in the couple’s philanthropy to the University.

The Benders, who reside in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., created the scholarship fund as part of their estate plans.

The Benders previously committed $100,000 for an undergraduate scholarship for students in the business logistics department. A son, William Bender, is a 1989 graduate of the University’s College of the Liberal Arts.

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Contacts:

Anne Danahy (814) 863-4512 (office)

Mike Bezilla (814) 238-5842 (home)