Orlosky Family Endowed Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIP BACKGROUND

In October 1999, Dr. Donald Orlosky '51 endowed the Orlosky Family Scholarship in memory of his late brother, James Orlosky '55, and as a tribute to his family. The scholarship honors the life accomplishments of Dr. Orlosky as a scholar, educator, author, athlete, husband and father. The endowment will provide scholarship funding to qualified students exemplifying academic ability, outstanding character and excellent citizenship. The Orlosky brothers graduated from Mishawaka High School and then attended Franklin College from 1947 to 1955 where their college careers were nearly identical. Both were members of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity; both were varsity athletes in basketball, track and tennis, where collectively they earned 20 varsity letters. They were active in campus affairs, holding positions as class presidents, fraternity presidents and basketball team captains. Both planned to coach and teach mathematics and earned their degrees and certifications to do both. Don entered Franklin College in 1947 and graduated in 1951. Jim entered in 1951 and graduated in 1955. Don graduated during the time of the Korean War, and he entered the service where he became an aerial observer for the Army artillery. He flew nearly 70 missions over North Korea and returned to civilian life in 1953. Jim began teaching and coaching in Columbus, Indiana, when he graduated and eventually completed graduate work at the University of Illinois and Butler University, where he earned a master's degree. While Jim was pursuing his interests, Don taught in Mishawaka for five years and then completed two degrees at Indiana University. Don joined the faculty of DePauw University in 1959 and remained there for 10 years where he became chairman of the Education Department. Don then moved to Tampa, Florida, where he was a faculty member at the University of South Florida and became chairman of the Department of Educational Leadership. During their careers, which were spent mostly in Florida, they had the opportunity to spend time with each other and build an even stronger relationship that had always been close during their early years. Jim retired in 1994, and Don retired in 1995, and they had more opportunities to get together on the golf course, where every match seemed to come down to the final putt. They were still competing and close to each other on the scoreboard. During the spring of 2000, they attended a Mishawaka High School reunion that was hosted in Lakeland, Florida, and Jim seemed a little disoriented. When he returned from the reunion, he learned that he had an inoperable brain tumor. In the few months remaining, he said that Franklin College had been an important part of his life, and since both brothers had received scholarships, he would prefer any money normally spent on flowers or other donations be sent to Franklin College to return the favor and help deserving students. After his death in July 2000, his wife, Susan, informed his brother of Jim's request. Don met with Franklin College staff members, and a plan was established to create the Orlosky Family Endowed Scholarship. That scholarship has now been established, and it is the wish of the Orlosky brothers that students who exemplify the characteristics and qualities demonstrated by Don and Jim in their college careers will be the recipients of this scholarship.

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

The Orlosky Family Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a sophomore member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity for use during his junior year. Candidates must be in "good standing" with the fraternity and be both a campus ambassador and good citizen within the community. A pool of candidates is to be prepared by the current fraternity president and faculty advisor and forwarded to the Director of Financial Aid for final selection. First preference shall be given to a fraternity member from Mishawaka High School of Indiana.