The year 2022 served as a celebration of Manor College’s past, and 2023 became a year positioning Manor College for our future.

Our blessings began in January, when the institution received a life-changing $1.27 million federal grant to help refugee, immigrant and first-generation students. The grant offsets costs associated with advising, tuition, housing and other essential needs for our students. 

To date, the grant is among the largest received by Manor in our institutional history. We thank Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) who served as our appropriation champion during the escalation of the war in Ukraine. Helping refugees find a better life through Manor’s values-based education is at the heart of the grant. It also strengthens our role as a national leader in helping students to elevate their socioeconomic mobility.

In October, we received a second major blessing when we received a Strengthening Institutions Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant is transformative. Manor College will receive $1,473,874 in federal funding over five years, covering 75 percent of the $1.9 million overall project costs.

Our Title III project’s purpose is academically uplifting students who carry more significant financial challenges, improving retention rates.  Title III facilitates the development of our new Career Center for our students and alumni.  It provides professional development for our faculty and staff.  It also fosters our implementation of early-academic-alert software and a summer bridge program for first-year students to ensure a smooth transition to college. 

Title III is an extremely competitive grant. The team that wrote our application, led by our Executive Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, John Krebs, received a perfect score from each of the scoring raters at the Dept. of Ed.  The result is a remarkable infusion of funding that helps our students to achieve their goals. As early as it is, Title III’s effects are already being seen on Manor’s campus, as several new student-serving staff have been hired.

With our 75th anniversary now behind us, I suspect when Manor College celebrates its 150th anniversary, those at the college will look back at 2023 as among the years in Manor’s history when a new plateau was reached, positioning our students and the institution for the next climb.

As we walk across campus today, everything surrounding us reminds us of our mission, and the effects of our daily work for our students and alumni.

Take Sylvania Juste, a Pre-Nursing major at Manor College who hopes to become a nurse-midwife. English is her third language, and she arrived at Manor College never having taken chemistry. While she had initial challenges, Sylvania found a mentor in Dean Julie Senecoff. With Dr. Senecoff’s guidance and supportive words, Sylvania earned a place on our Dean’s List. 

And consider alumnus Tamia Gladney ‘21, who graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology. She credits Manor College’s community with giving her the strength and drive to graduate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our entire community was so supportive that Tamia returned this year to pursue a second degree in Dental Hygiene! Imagine her future career possibilities!

Tamia, Sylvania and the hundreds of students who attend classes at Manor daily show the power of Manor’s mission. Manor’s ability to impact and transform lives cannot be overstated. What we do, every day, changes outcomes for families and communities. 

I hope this letter inspires you to join our Blue Jay community and help us take the next steps on our institutional journey. Our students are here for more than an education. They are here to take advantage of the values we share, values that enhance society and greater goodness. 

Every gift you bless us with is a chance to make an impact not just on campus, but in the world around us. Our students leave Manor College with their hearts and minds ready to make our world a better place. 

God bless you for supporting our students and thank you for strengthening our Basilian mission here at Manor College.

Jonathan Peri, PhD, JD
President, Manor College