Jeff Fegan '76 & Carol (Sunderland) '76

Looking at the picture of Jeff and myself from our May 1976 graduation from Frostburg, it never would have occurred to me at that time that we would one day establish the Carol Anne and Jeffrey Paul Fegan Presidential Scholarship. Here is the story of how a 22-year-old Psychology major in 1976 decided in 2011 to assist other FSU students.
I think parts of my story will resonate with anyone who applies for this scholarship. First, all of you are good students since that is the merit- based aspect of the scholarship. Beyond that, though, is the requirement of “need.” All of you will have had some type of challenge in your life. This is where our lives may not duplicate each other, but where our lives may intersect or overlap in some respect.
I came to Frostburg as the youngest of two daughters from a single parent household. My dad had died from a heart attack when I was a freshman in high school. I started my freshman year at FSU (then known as Frostburg State College) in the fall of 1972 knowing that my mom had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the end of my senior year of high school. Halfway through my freshman year at Frostburg, my mom died.
I was not sure whether or not I would have to quit school because I did not know how I would pay for my college expenses. I came from a middle class family where the importance of education was stressed, but finances were limited. If not for scholarships and government assistance, I would not have been able to continue my education and graduate.
As I fondly remember the lifelong friends I have made at Frostburg and the professors who may be gone but are warmly remembered by me, I wanted to express my gratitude with a tangible gift to future students. I hope this scholarship helps you to achieve your dream of a college education. I once read, “ Don’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. Always be willing to throw something back.” I hope this scholarship allows me to “throw something back” and for you to take it and run with it! – Carol

At 18 years old, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but I knew I wanted to go to college. After looking at a number of options, I enrolled in Frostburg State college in 1972. It
was a tumultuous time in our country with the Vietnam war, political unrest and protests in the streets dominating the news. Little did I know then that my decision to attend FSU would be so foundational for my personal and professional development.
Attending FSU provided me the opportunity to explore and develop my interests and gave me the time and experiences to build a foundation and a set of skills that have stayed with me my entire life. Early in my Freshmen year, I was drawn to the field of Geography as it provided a Window to the World and gave me a perspective and understanding of World politics, culture, economics and how Civilizations, Countries and Cities developed. I wanted to play a role in guiding and influencing that development. With the help of smart, caring professors, small class sizes, supportive classmates (many of which I remain friends with today), FSU was foundational in my understanding of the importance of education and allowed me the opportunity to develop and shape my view of the world which ultimately led me to a career in Aviation and the opportunity to serve as CEO of one of World’s Largest Airports- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Early in my Freshmen year, I also met my wife Carol in English class and we married in 1975 after our Junior year. Together we have built a fantastic life and family together and FSU continues to play an important foundational role in our lives.
In 2011, Carol and I made the decision to give back to FSU and the Western Maryland area which we consider our second home. We created a Presidential Scholarship Fund to financially assist students looking to build their foundation for their future. We have been very fortunate in our lives and it all began at FSU. Hopefully, our scholarship will make a difference to the recipients so that they can one day look back at their time at FSU with fondness and be motivated to become supporters of future FSU students. – Jeff