ean (Gardner) Camp ’59 grew up in Muncy, Pa. A graduate of Muncy - Muncy Creek High School, Jean had already lined up full-time employment to begin working at a local bank. Her high school guidance counselor, however, saw her potential and penned a letter of recommendation to Lycoming’s president, John Long. Jean hadn’t considered attending college due to the expense, but when she received a letter from Long inviting her to tour and apply — and offering her a National Methodist Scholarship — it was too good to pass up. Tuition assistance allowed Jean to commute from her hometown to classes via carpooling with friends and catching the bus. She enjoyed taking liberal arts and history courses, sharing that Prof. Robert Ewing made history come alive in his classroom. She earned her degree in executive secretarial science. U.S. Army recruiters visited campus during her senior year, and Jean decided to apply for civilian employment and began her career with the government in October 1959. She worked in intelligence-related activities, spent three tours overseas, and focused the last four years of her career as a legislative liaison to the Senate. Jean is grateful for her education and the financial support that made it possible, which helped create the pathway for her successful career. Since retiring in 1988, she can be found tending to her cherished home and its landscape, still walking the grounds with a self-propelled mower. She also spends time solving puzzles, reading, and tracing her genealogy. In 2025, Jean designated Lycoming as a beneficiary in her will, stipulating that the funds will establish The Jean (Gardner) Camp ’59 Scholarship & Music Enrichment Fund. Foremost, the funds will provide scholarships for students, just as Jean benefited from years ago, with preference given to those who graduated from the Muncy Area School District or Lycoming County, and who are majoring in history. “My hope is that this scholarship will support students in their pursuit of a distinguished undergraduate education,” she shared. The fund will impact generations of students by providing the resources necessary to achieve their educational goals. Additional funds from her bequest will be used to enrich the music program by providing permanent support to meet emerging departmental, choral, and instrumental needs. Jean has always had a deep appreciation for music. She participated in her high school band, and although she did not perform in the Lycoming choir, she was always proud of the College’s music department, especially the choirs under the direction of Drs. McIver, Thayer, and now Chiu. “Music is something that can stay with you your entire life,” she said. Jean’s love of Lycoming is evident through her ongoing involvement with College events and by her consistent philanthropic support since graduating. “I encourage others to consider what Lycoming did for them and how they can invest in others through giving back, even after we’re gone.” To learn more about including Lycoming College in your estate planning, contact Robb Dietrich, interim vice president for advancement, at dietrich@ lycoming.edu or 570-321-4401. When Opportunity presents itself I encourage others to consider what Lycoming College did for them… J
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