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STUDENTS CAN COUNT ON SUPPORT
FROM MATH MAJOR ALUMNI
Honoring the financial and intellectual support they received as Lycoming College students is
important to Harriet (Hooven) ’69 and Mel Fleming ’68, who met as college students and married in 1968.
That is why they have named Lycoming College as beneficiary of portions of their IRAs.
Both majored in mathematics — a solid foundation that propelled them into successful careers. Mel
pursued a 27-year career with the FBI that took him all over the country, while Harriet, who entered the
workforce after raising their three children, quickly rose in the ranks at a local bank to become a branch
manager.
As recipients of financial support while at Lycoming, they know first-hand the
financial travails of students who come from modest means.
“My wrestling coach, Budd Whitehill, helped me navigate the financial aid
system to offset much of my costs, leaving only about a third of the bill to be
paid with loans,” Mel said. “For that I am very grateful.” Harriet was in a similar
financial situation with student loans. “As we began to plan for our lives together
after college, we had few belongings and significant debts,” she said.
Reflecting on their time at Lycoming, the Flemings know it was an ideal school
for them.
“My advisor, Professor Frances Skeath, opened my eyes to what a liberal arts
education really meant,” said Harriet. “At her suggestion I took several classes
outside of my major, including a music appreciation class, which I loved. I
recall driving my roommates crazy by listening to assigned pieces over
and over again in our room.”
Mel agrees Lycoming was special. “Our professors knew our
names and the smaller classes enabled us to get engaged,”
he said. He recalled one of his first experiences with
English professor, Jerry Madden, who helped him to
grow academically.
“We feel very blessed for our good fortune and want
to share that with others,” said Mel. “We maintain a
close relationship with friends, fraternity brothers and
their spouses, and we make a point to visit Lycoming,
especially for Alumni and Homecoming events.”
The couple also contributes to the college
through the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity
scholarship, the Budd Whitehill Endowment
and the Lycoming Fund. “It’s very
rewarding to help others have the same
opportunities we’ve had.”
To learn how you too,
can pay it forward,
contact Karen Sheaffer ’74
at 570-321-4311 or
sheaffer@lycoming.edu.Ask for your copy of the
new “Tower Society Guide
to Charitable Planning”.