UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Michael McCauley arrived at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, he appeared as any other determined student pursuing his degree. Yet Michael was privately navigating a lifelong health journey following treatment for a brain tumor first diagnosed in 2004.
To achieve his goal of graduating in four years, Michael found support through a partnership with Student Disability Resources (SDR) in the Office of Educational Equity — a collaboration that not only aided his academic success but also inspired a profound legacy of giving back.
Today, that legacy is being realized through the very office that supported him. Through a series of meaningful contributions from his family and friends, McCauley’s resilience is providing new opportunities and resources for a new generation of Penn State students.
Initially, McCauley’s disability impacted his stamina, and the fatigue was significant. It also impacted him cognitively, and he required accommodations, including note-taking support and extended testing time. According to his parents, Marcie and John McCauley, "SDR helped advocate for him, and he deeply appreciated this."
Michael demonstrated his own compassion for others through the Boredom Busters Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization providing bags filled with toys and games to children facing extended hospital stays — an effort that was inspired by his own childhood hospital experience and lovingly created together with his mom. To date, the foundation has donated more than 40,000 packages to hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses and individual families. Despite his own health challenges, Michael’s focus always remained on the well-being of others — a mission his family continues to champion today.
After graduating from Penn State, Michael began his career at the accounting firm of Grant Thornton. Originally from Chantilly, Virginia, he embraced life fully — Marcie said he loved snowboarding, scuba-diving, reggae music, basketball, traveling the world, writing essays about his life, and intense discussions with friends about life and spirituality.
“He had a special quality that allowed him to continue to pursue his lifelong passion for service to others and to follow his entrepreneurial spirit,” she added. "He was a special person, a combination of ambition and generosity that propelled his career and his exceptionalism as a human being."
In 2018, Michael was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). His parents said he fought a long, hard battle before his death on April 12, 2020, at the age of 27.
Now, gifts made in his honor by his parents are supporting students and creating welcoming spaces within Student Disability Services, reflecting a legacy of generosity, resilience, and service to others.
Among these gifts are the Michael A. McCauley Memorial Game Room, which gives SDR students a safe, calming space where they can step away from the hectic nature of campus life and regroup. The importance of managing the demands of college life with a disability was something Michael was keenly aware of, Marcie said.
In addition, a hand-painted mural by artist Rory Murphy was created in the game room in Michael’s honor, using resources from gifts received by SDR. The Mario-Brothers-themed artwork features imagery celebrating his life, including a depiction of him snowboarding —one of his favorite activities — as well as the logo of his nonprofit organization, Boredom Busters, and a favorite quote.
“The mural serves as a vibrant, lasting tribute to Michael’s spirit and passions,” said Leah Zimmerman, SDR executive director, “and we are grateful to celebrate him with this meaningful work of art.”
To further honor his legacy, Marcie and John established the Michael McCauley Legacy Scholarship, inspired by Michael's belief that “the purpose of life is to help others through it.” The scholarship also recognizes the vital role of SDR and the staff who supported Michael throughout his Penn State journey.
“We endowed this scholarship in memory of Michael and in recognition of the great work of the SDR team to help other students experiencing similar challenges,” Marcie shared. “I especially want to recognize Susan Anderson. She helped Michael achieve his goal of graduating in four years like his siblings. Her amazing resources for him went above and beyond."
SeriaShia Chatters, interim vice provost for Educational Equity, said, “Educational Equity is extremely grateful to the McCauley family for their generosity in establishing both the Michael A. McCauley Memorial Game Room and the Michael McCauley Legacy Scholarship. Both provide a meaningful and important impact in supporting the success of our students with disabilities.”
Through the scholarship, gifts to Student Disability Services, and the continued work of Boredom Busters, Chatters added, Michael’s legacy continues to support and inspire students and individuals at Penn State and beyond.
Support for Student Disability Services advances the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.