Shirley M. Lolus '70

It was September 1967, my youngest child just started kindergarten, and I wanted to get involved in an activity. A friend gave me a Messiah College catalog thinking that maybe I'd like to take some classes.

I first met with Paul Snyder, the admissions director, who went way beyond his duties to make me feel comfortable by simply talking to me about Messiah, showing me around the campus, and helping me make out my college schedule. At the time, I did not know that 16 credit hours made me a full-time student! Within a week, I was the oldest full-time student at Messiah College. I graduated in 3-1/2 years with a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science and then went immediately to Shippensburg College for a masters in education. During my student teaching, I was offered an elementary teaching position and remained with the same school district throughout my career until I moved to Florida.

Fortunately, Messiah College was one mile from my home since I was kept very busy with class assignments plus household duties. My husband and two children were very supportive, and we managed with no regrets as motivation was the key. Prior to high school graduation, I was offered a federal job at Mechanicsburg SPCC, which meant immediate paychecks! As a teen, I thought more of the present than of the future. If I had gone to college then, it would have been to become a teacher. Years later, Messiah helped to make that a reality!

For years, I have supported Messiah through charitable gift annuities. This really has been a win-win scenario. I get a guaranteed monthly income for life, a charitable tax deduction, and the benefit of knowing that I am supporting future students, highly qualified instructors and the mission of Messiah. In addition, I have included the University in my stewardship plans by naming it as a beneficiary of my estate. Now my college is a university with many more students and course offerings -- while keeping its Christian values. I am proud to be an alumna!