The Etownian >> Features
Ebersoles offer scholarship to enterprising individuals
Thursday February 04 2010
Charles Ebersole stands with Elizabeth Albitz
This is a concept that Charles and Cynthia Ebersole recognized a long time ago, when they both were studying at Elizabethtown College. Beginning last year, the couple was finally able to develop their belief in a young person’s ambitions into an opportunity for students in the form of a new merit-based $4,000 scholarship.
Since graduating (Cynthia in 1985, an occupational therapy major, and Charles in 1986, a business major), the couple has been continually contributing to the College, financially and otherwise. Mr. Ebersole is now the president of Eastern Diversified Services, Inc., but he still finds time to work for the College as a guest professor in the business department. This is where the inspiration for the Entrepreneur Scholarship began.
Despite his experience with business, Mr. Ebersole saw that one didn’t need to know anything about the subject to be an entrepreneur. “We need to be creative in all our environments, not just in business,” he said. The point of the scholarship is to recognize those people who take initiative in whatever disciplines they may be studying, and who come up with different approaches to thinking “outside the box.” An education major, for example, might come up with a curriculum or program that is remarkably original. The Ebersoles want to encourage those who would take risks in the name of progress.
“Thinking out of the box, that’s not easy,”Mrs. Ebersole explained. “We wanted to offer another chance to these kinds of students.”
Though the Entrepreneur Scholarship is a campus-wide opportunity, an experimental class was specifically designed for business entrepreneurship. Two students who have taken the class, seniors Elizabeth Albitz and Peter Levengood, have been awarded what Marty Thomas-Brumme of the development office called “pilot” scholarships, since they were only open to students in that class. “We wanted to test it out within the class first and see what it would be like,” Thomas-Brumme explained. Albitz, who is currently receiving the scholarship, is also being mentored personally by Mr. Ebersole.
Now the criteria for the scholarship have become a bit more specific. Applicants are judged on three things: an application, an interview and a private presentation. Mr. Ebersole himself is one of the judges. Despite the specific focus of the application, which contains several questions involving risk, there is no minimum academic standing required. “The most important things we’re looking for are creativity and passion,” he said.
Therefore, all those creative minds who know nothing about business shouldn’t let the title scare them off—the Entrepreneur Scholarship is blatantly true to its name. Thomas-Brumme, who is also one of the judges, explained, “We’re looking for the most motivated, the most passionate student. This is stronger than great grades. We want you to come up with an idea. We don’t have any preconceived notions about what we’re expecting; anything is possible.”
The Ebersoles recognize that the risks involved with being an entrepreneur are necessary to our society. As students, we are the future.
If you are interested in trying to obtain this scholarship, the application can be found online, and there is an informational brochure outside of the Dean of Students’ office.
The Etownian >> Features