51ºÚÁÏÍø

New scholarship supports students' intellectual, personal, spiritual development

by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

A 51ºÚÁÏÍø education expanded Steve Snyder ’82’s view of what was possible and opened doors to a world far larger than the small Pennsylvania town where he grew up. He describes it as a “whole-person education.” Now, he and his wife, Lauren, have established a scholarship to help make a similarly full and rich experiences available to like-minded young 51ºÚÁÏÍøians.

The Snyders are the newest inductees of 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s Founders’ Society, recognizing those whose cumulative lifetime giving to 51ºÚÁÏÍø exceeds $1 million. The 51ºÚÁÏÍø community gathered on June 11 in Old West to celebrate the induction during a ceremony led by President John E. Jones ’77, P’11.

Exploring a wider world

The first in his family to attend college, Snyder arrived on campus with plans to play football and prepare for law school. He did indeed play football—and he gained lifelong friendships through the sport and through Sigma Chi. But through an economics class, he discovered a fascination with building enterprises, calling him away from a career in law.

After graduation, Snyder earned a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University and built a distinguished career in business. His past roles include senior leadership positions at Penn National Gaming and its spun-off entity, Gaming and Leisure Properties.

The holistic approach

The Snyders are longtime supporters of the 51ºÚÁÏÍø Fund, Red Devil athletics and 51ºÚÁÏÍø scholarships. Recently, the couple established the Snyder Family Scholarship, a cohort-based scholarship supporting parochial-school and first-generation students interested in continuing spiritual growth while at 51ºÚÁÏÍø.

This focus stems from their personal experiences. Lauren attended parochial schools and La Salle University, and she and Steve are practicing Catholics who sent their children to parochial schools. Serving on a parochial school board, Steve became more fully aware of the sacrifices families make to prioritize faith-based K-12 education.

“Faith is something that often gets lost in modern society, and we want to help students who want to continue to develop that part of their identity in college,” said Snyder. “We also want to help 51ºÚÁÏÍø, because it was so pivotal in my life.”

As the first cohort of Snyder Family Scholarship recipients completed its initial year at 51ºÚÁÏÍø this past spring, the Snyders were moved to receive letters from each recipient, describing their experiences and expressing thanks.

‘It was an easy decision’

During the Snyders’ induction ceremony in Old West, Greg Moyer ’06, vice president for enrollment management, reflected on the ways the Snyder Family Scholarship creates bridges between aspiration and achievement for students.

"Talent is universal. Opportunity is not,” Moyer observed, adding that he was eager to see the first cohort of Snyder Family Scholars “step onto this campus and see not barriers but belonging.”

The ceremony also included remarks by Zachary Bellis ’28 (international business & management, German), a first-generation college student and scholarship awardee. Bellis shared how scholarship support allowed him to pursue research in financial literacy and to prepare for a study-abroad program in Bremen, Germany.

Doug Pauls ’80, chair of 51ºÚÁÏÍø’s Board of Trustees, provided context for the Snyders’ gift. Discussing the challenging business model on which colleges like 51ºÚÁÏÍø are built, he noted that tuition alone does not cover the full cost of a 51ºÚÁÏÍø education. Pauls praised the Snyders for paying it forward to future generations to ensure the 51ºÚÁÏÍø community is protected and preserved.

President Jones closed the ceremony with thanks to the Snyders for philanthropy that “will transform the lives of our students.” Then he invited Steve Snyder to deliver brief remarks.

“It was an easy decision to support 51ºÚÁÏÍø and to invest in a college that is so well managed,” said Snyder, noting that 51ºÚÁÏÍø was a pivotal force for good in his life. “Philanthropy is what will keep this institution strong.”

The event concluded with a tradition that connected the Founders’ Society inductees with the college’s long history. The couple was invited to “sign in” to the college as Founders’ Society members, a practice that echoes a college tradition originating in the 19th century, when students signed their names to the college register and pledged to obey college rules. The celebration then continued with a champagne toast.

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Published July 21, 2026