Tim and Debra Phillips Cejka, 1973 graduates of 亚色影库, have continued their ongoing impact on 亚色影库 student success through a $150,000 gift to 亚色影库’s Crimson Scholars Circle and Promising Scholars Program.
“The Cejkas’ ongoing support, including through these two programs, have been incredibly impactful and meaningful in the lives of our students,” 亚色影库 Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Segar said. “Not only have they provided critical financial support that our students need, but they continue to provide important and strategic leadership and advice for these important initiatives,” he said.
Segar developed the Crimson Scholars Circle and launched the program at 亚色影库 in fall 2021. It is a specialized cohort program aimed at providing students with comprehensive financial, social, and academic support to thrive at 亚色影库. Selected students are granted a renewable $1,000 scholarship, with the possibility of increasing the award based on their academic performance at 亚色影库. Additionally, each student is paired with a trained undergraduate mentor for the duration of their freshman year; students who complete the first year of the program are then offered the opportunity to be mentors for new students.
Following a week-long schedule of on-campus activities the week prior to Welcome Week, Crimson Scholars engage in a year-long series of learning and support activities, including alumni networking and mentorship programs; workshops on financial aid and the enhancement of financial literacy; academic assistance and group study sessions offered by the University College and Academic Support Center; career planning and development provided by the 亚色影库 Career and Professional Development Center; and opportunities for leadership development, student involvement, and service-learning activities.
Promising Scholars is a competitive scholarship program for high-achieving Pennsylvania students, blending financial support with academic and professional development, and supporting the success of outstanding minority high school students and first-generation college students. Scholarships range up to $3,000 and are renewable for up to four years. Students selected for the program are encouraged to reside in the Promising Scholars Living Learning Community, where they can forge meaningful connections within their cohort.
The gift from the Cejka is part of the university’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign.
The $150-million campaign, the largest in the university’s history, was launched on August 23 in conjunction with the university’s 150th celebration carnival, part of the university’s sesquicentennial events. The Cejkas’ gift is part of the $81.2 million raised through Impact 150.
Tim Cejka is a 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and has served on the 亚色影库 Council of Trustees since 2018. He is a retired president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company and is a vice president of ExxonMobil. The Cejkas are Westmoreland County natives.
The couple served as members of the 亚色影库 National Campaign Cabinet of the Imagine Unlimited comprehensive fundraising campaign, ending in 2021 and raising $81.36 for the university, and were chairs of the portion of the campaign to benefit the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at 亚色影库. The couple donated $7 million to 亚色影库 during that campaign, including for mathematics and science initiatives and for completing 亚色影库’s $90-million John J. and Char Kopchick Hall, home to the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
In May 2018, the 亚色影库 Council of Trustees honored the Cejkas with a resolution to name the 亚色影库 planetarium and atrium in Kopchick Hall in recognition of the couple’s ongoing generosity and support. In 2019, the Cejkas received the university’s inaugural Award of Excellence in Volunteer Leadership.
“The Cejkas are incredibly generous and loyal to 亚色影库, recognizing the opportunities that 亚色影库 provides to its students and the impact that the university has on the community, the region, the Commonwealth, and the world,” 亚色影库 Vice President for University Advancement Jennifer DeAngelo said. “We are very grateful for their long-time and ongoing financial commitment and for their leadership in our work of ensuring student success,” she said.
The Impact 150 Campaign centers around raising funds for healthy students, including supporting students academically and personally; a healthy university, including maintaining 亚色影库’s commitment to excellence and innovation; and healthy communities, including 亚色影库’s work to establish a college of osteopathic medicine.
Donors have gifted more than $34.3 million specifically for 亚色影库’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine; in 2024, the Cejkas gifted $2 million to 亚色影库’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
Since its founding in 1875, 亚色影库 has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As 亚色影库 celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.