Marc and Diane Steckel Expand Their CU Honors Vision

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2. Marc and Diane Steckel Expand Their CU Honors Vision

Commonwealth University alumnus Marc Steckel '93 and his wife, Diane, are expanding their support for students in the university's Jones Honors College. They've doubled their annual scholarship commitment to students in the Jones Honors College from $6,000 to $12,000 per year and broadened the eligibility to students from all CU campuses. The scholarships will typically help six students each year.

Marc Steckel was moved to expand their commitment to the Honors College students after traveling with students on a 2026 spring break trip to Belize. "Spending time with students from all the campuses made it clear to me that we should make our scholarships available to them all rather than just students in Bloomsburg." said Steckel, who had previously participated in two trips to Poland. "When you travel together, people tend to relax; it's a higher quality interaction with the students."

The trip to Belize was an eye-opening experience for the students, and for Steckel. "Belize is a developing country, with some areas that are prosperous and others that are impoverished, recalled Steckel. "We visited a little town; there was a lady who was the mayor, pastor of the church, the fire chief and the administrator of an after-school program for local children. Her biggest worry was that she was down to a week of food in the pantry. She needed $1,000. By the time we left, she had the $1,000."

Marc Steckel's commitment to Commonwealth University extends far beyond financial contributions. A former student in the university's original Scholars Program and a brother of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Steckel has maintained a deep, active relationship with his alma mater. Marc and Diane started funding honors scholarships in 2010. He recently retired from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he led the effort to end the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, following a distinguished 28-year career with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Today, he runs ReceiverIQ, a consultancy offering expertise on government-administered receiverships, and serves on the Bloomsburg University Foundation Board.
"The students are high-caliber." says Marc of the Honors College. "These are students with choices and bright futures, but many face financial challenges."

CU's Jones Honors College provides the structure for students to push themselves in multiple ways. Academically, Honors College students take 10 credits of honors courses, including a capstone project. Additionally, the Jones Honors College has a requirement of 16 hours of volunteer service work each academic year. Many honors students also serve as mentors and tutors for their peers.

For Steckel, real-world experiences-whether serving communities abroad or mentoring scholars at home-highlight the irreplaceable value of human connection.

"Higher education teaches job skills and technical skills, but the human experience is essential and rewarding." Steckel reflects. "AI and technology are great tools, but humans have the ability to care about each other. I'm impressed by how well Honors College students understand this."

Categories:

• Philanthropy

Tags:

• Honors College