Jack and Patricia Benhart
This endowed fund was established by Dr. John E. Benhart and Mrs. Patricia Benhart in memory of their son, Robert Francis “Bobby” Benhart, who died in October 1973 after being injured in a bicycle accident.
Dr. Benhart served as a faculty member of the Geography/Earth Science Department from 1968–2005 and 33 years as Department Chair during that time. In addition, Dr. Benhart served in interim positions as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of Admissions, and Chair of the Modern Language Department. Dr. Benhart was active in community affairs developing and working on the local Rails to Trails, the Shippensburg University bus system, and serving as Chair of the Franklin County and Southampton Township Planning Commissions. For his work, he was awarded the Common Ground Community Award.
Working with Dr. Anthony Ceddia, he established the Shippensburg University Land Use Center in 2004. Today it is called the Center for Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS). Dr. Benhart also received the Exceptional Community Service Award from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and served on Governor Tom Ridge’s Land Use Task Force. In addition, he received teaching, research, and leadership awards from the Association of American Geographers, the National Council for Geographic Education, and the Pennsylvania Geographical Society where he was awarded the Distinguished Geographer Award.
Mrs. Patricia Benhart served in a variety of jobs including the Federal Reserve in Pittsburgh, the University of Tennessee Alumni Association, and as a teaching aide at the Rowland Laboratory School on Shippensburg University’s campus. She loved working with students and was dedicated to assisting then in daily school activities.
Scholarships associated with Jack and Patricia Benhart