Three new endowments totaling $4.5 million were announced Tuesday, May 19, to support Butler Area School District students, programs and the community.

Mei and Herald Chen, 1988 graduates of Butler High School, have created the endowments to support a new four-year college scholarship for Butler Area students, opportunities for high schoolers to take classes at Butler County Community College and the district’s music department.

The news of the new endowments was shared at the Senior High School Awards Night.

“A contribution of this magnitude will create opportunities for generations of students through two scholarships and an endowment to support our music program,” said Brian White, superintendent of Butler Area School District. “We are truly honored by this generosity and excited for the incredible impact it will have for years to come.”

The Chens praised the district in a news release announcing the endowments.

“Butler High School is an extraordinary institution — one that serves thousands of students from all walks of life and offers a remarkably diverse range of academic programs, clubs, arts and athletics,” said Herald Chen. “My siblings, Thomas and Andrea, and I were fortunate to be supported by outstanding Butler teachers, mentors and lifelong friends.

“The generosity of prior Butler philanthropists, including for example the Vogeley Scholarship, helped create educational opportunities that shaped our futures.”

The Theodore K. Vogeley Memorial Scholarship is a four-year scholarship covering tuition, fixed fees, room and board and books for Butler Area students.

“Now, we are honored to do the same for future generations,” Herald Chen said.

The S. Andrew Chen Scholarship was funded with $2.5 million to help support the cost of a four-year college education.

It is named for Herald Chen’s father. Shium Andrew Chen was born in China in 1931 before his family fled to Taiwan in 1949. He moved to the United States to pursue his master’s degree at the University of Oregon.

He worked at Hofstra University and Emporia State University before coming to Slippery Rock University in 1966. He taught as a professor of psychology and served as department chairman before retiring in 1997.

Shium Andrew Chen was also involved in a number of organizations, including as national president of the Organization of Chinese Americans, the Pennsylvania Ethnic Affairs Commission, a number of psychology organizations and chaired the Asian American Advisory Council.

The Veronica L. Chen Scholarship, funded with $1.5 million, to provide opportunities for Butler Area School District students to study at BC3 while they are still in high school.

It is named for Herald Chen’s mother, Veronica Ling Chen, who was born in China in 1940 and raised in Hong Kong. She attended Marymount College where she majored in history and political science.

After marrying Shium Andrew Chen, completing her master’s in library administration and dedicated 13 years to raising their three children, she resumed her career as a librarian and eventually served as director of library services at Butler County Community College.

Over a 15-year career, she served 10 times on the Middle States Accreditation Team and was appointed a Pennsylvania Library Commissioner. She also studied the Montessori method for children and earned certification from St. Nicholas Training Center and Cleveland State University.

The Harding Whitacre Music Endowment, announced Tuesday, May 19, honors Harding “Corky” Whitacre's lifelong dedication to education and music through his thirty-five years of teaching in Butler schools. Submitted Photo

The Harding Whitacre Music Endowment, funded with $500,000, is intended to help fund annual music department needs.

The music endowment honors Harding “Corky” Whitacre’s lifelong dedication to education and music through his thirty-five years of teaching in Butler schools.

“I’m speechless,” Whitacre said in the release. “To have somebody think of me like this. It’s a teacher’s dream. I’m so honored.”

Whitacre joined the district in 1966 as an elementary music teacher before moving to Butler Intermediate High School, where he directed symphonic band, stage band and string orchestra.

In 1973, he founded the Golden Crusader Marching Band, which eventually merged with the senior high school band to form the Golden Tornado Marching Band. He served as associate director of the Golden Tornado until his retirement in 2001.

Whitacre remains active in the local music community, performing with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, the Jack Bowman Band, the Chiprean Brothers Band, the Gibbons Big Band and various church ensembles.