By Lian Bunny
Assistant News Editor
Accounting students at St. Bonaventure University will have an opportunity to win an endowed scholarship from two alumni.
Mary (Daiber ‘84) and Frank Puskar, have donated $150,000 to establish the Mary Daiber Puskar ’84 Endowed Scholarship.
Accounting students at St. Bonaventure’s William E. and Ann L. Swam Business Center who win the scholarship will recieve the award beginning in the fall of 2014.
The Office of Financial Aid will match incoming freshman accounting majors to the scholarship criteria. This includes being a full-time freshman student who maintains a 2.5 GPA or higher.
“It is critical that we provide access to higher education to all that aspire and have the drive,” Mary said. “This scholarship will assist deserving students to attain their accounting degree, especially those that may not be able to attend Bona’s due to financial or other hardships. My goal with this scholarship is that it will assist others in obtaining their dreams and in giving them a chance to be the best they can be.”
Until the scholarships are awarded, the $150,000 will become part of St. Bonaventure’s endowment, which included $56.9 million as of May 2013.
Endowments are set up to provide a lasting revenue source for an organization. At St. Bonaventure, the SBU’s Board policy is to allocate five percent of the interest and earnings from the endowment. The endowed $150,000 will create revenue of approximately $7,500 per year.
The Puskars obtained the funds to create this scholarship by selling their business. In 2004, they founded Energo Engineering, Inc. based in Houston, Texas.
Frank was the chief engineer while Mary served as chief accountant. Mary credits her success and ability to carry out her duties within the company to her time at St. Bonaventure.
“The accounting aspect is very important in business – and the skills I learned while earning my accounting degree at Bona’s were critical to the operation,” Mary said. “The company was very successful and we sold it to a major international firm a few years ago. So we wanted to return some of this success back to St. Bonaventure.”
Mary Driscoll, vice president for university advancement, said the scholarship opportunity will encourage more incoming freshmen to consider the school of business.
“The Mary Daiber Puskar ’84 Endowed Scholarship will encourage more incoming freshman accounting majors to our School of Business,” Driscoll said. “This endowed scholarship will further assist deserving students in the accounting area.”
Being a student at St. Bonaventure taught Mary Puskar the importance of higher education. This motivated her to endow a scholarship for accounting students.
“The Franciscan presence, great education and small town atmosphere of St. Bonaventure helped form my approach towards successfully dealing with the day-to-day activities in business and in life in general,” Mary said. “We wanted to allow others to have a similar opportunity.”
