UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State alumnus Edgar Fehnel and his wife, Dorothy Fehnel, have pledged $100,000 to endow a Leadership Development Scholarship in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The scholarship will support outstanding undergraduates who are interested in exploring various leadership styles within social, cultural, political, and organizational contexts.
First consideration for the Edgar and Dorothy Fehnel Leadership Development Scholarship will be given to majors in agricultural and extension education, taking the leadership development and communication option, and who have participated in the Future Farmers of America and/or 4-H programs. Second consideration will be given to students minoring in leadership development.
Edgar Fehnel, a native of Nazareth, graduated from Penn State in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in dairy and animal science, and received his master’s degree from Cornell University in 1959.
He is a retired vice president for Elanco Products, a division of Eli Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis. His responsibilities included international management and market development. Earlier, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot.
Penn State named him a Distinguished Alumnus, the highest honor that the University bestows on its graduates, in 1974.
The Fehnels’ previous philanthropy to Penn State includes scholarships in agroecology, and dairy and animal science. The couple resides in Indianapolis and Bradenton.