2008 Honor Roll of Donors:
Feature Stories

Paying It Forward

Like many people trying to get their degree, Al Silkroski (CGS '90) worked to support his family and pay for school.

"I went to Pitt for two years, then left to work full time," says Silkroski. "I always wanted to go back, but there were so many responsibilities I had to consider."

As Silkroski continued to work, he developed a solid relationship with his employer, Dick Swanson (KGSB '55). Silkroski told Swanson about his hope to return to school. In a show of support, Swanson loaned Silkroski money toward tuition as an incentive for him to finish his degree in the evenings-and it worked.

"Dick gave me the encouragement I needed so I wouldn't keep making excuses about my degree," says Silkroski.

Now the president of Hilltop Enterprises, Inc., Silkroski attributes a large part of his success to Swanson for helping to kickstart his career. In appreciation, Silkroski recently created the Perry Richard Swanson Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of his former employer. The scholarship will help nontraditional students enrolled in the College of General Studies.

"Giving back was important to me," explains Silkroski. "I feel like I can repay Dick by finally 'paying it forward' to help other people who might be in a similar situation."

Humbled by the honor of having a scholarship dedicated to him, Swanson remarks, "I'm just thrilled that Al has done something like this to help other people keep their dreams within reach."

A World of Opportunities

In celebration of the lives and travels of their loved ones, Elizabeth and Gabriel, the Luke and Zamorano families- who live worlds apart-created the Elizabeth Luke-Gabriel Zamorano Study Abroad Scholarship.

Elizabeth Luke traveled extensively, spending time in Egypt, the Arctic Circle, the Galapagos Islands, and Europe. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences in 1987 and School of Law in 1991. After law school, Elizabeth discovered her passion for education and became a teacher in Dade County, Fla., where she taught social studies to disadvantaged children in a predominantly Hispanic school district.

Gabriel Zamorano left his home in Spain to attend high school in the United States. Elizabeth's brother John and Gabriel met on a ski trip, and they instantly connected because of their shared passion for the Spanish language and culture. Their friendship quickly grew, and the Luke family became Gabriel's second family- filling the void created by leaving his loved ones in Spain.

In 1991, Gabriel graduated from Pitt's College of General Studies. He never failed to emphasize both the importance of family in his life and his deep appreciation of the Lukes for their close friendship.

After Gabriel returned to Barcelona, the Luke family received news that he had been killed in an accident, leaving behind his wife and twin daughters. Resolved to do something for the Zamorano family to demonstrate how much they cared for Gabriel, the Luke family set up a scholarship in his name.

While both families were putting the finishing touches on the scholarship, Elizabeth Luke died. The Luke family then asked the Zamoranos about establishing a scholarship in the names of both lost loved ones, and together they created the Luke-Zamorano Scholarship.

For both families, the scholarship has become a way of keeping the memories of Elizabeth and Gabriel alive. The scholarship enables one student from Pitt's College of Business Administration (CBA) to study abroad at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). In turn, a student from UPF spends his or her semester enrolled at CBA.

Kerri Allen and Estel Colobran are the inaugural recipients of the Luke-Zamorano Study Abroad Scholarship. Allen is a junior majoring in marketing and finance at CBA. This spring semester, she parted from her Pittsburgh roots and took her education to Barcelona, home of UPF.

While studying in Spain, Allen traveled to Portugal, Italy, and the Canary Islands.

"Being a part of this exchange program has been an experience that will stay with me for life. It's an indescribable feeling to be part of a special arrangement that the Lukes and Zamoranos are so passionate about. I have made lifelong friendships because of it," Allen said.

Colobran, a native of Terrassa, Spain, said she would not have had an opportunity to spend a semester in America had it not been for the Luke-Zamorano Study Abroad Scholarship. She has bravely adjusted to the Pittsburgh winter, taking advantage of skiing opportunities (one of which was with the Luke family) and spending time in New York City and the American West.

"The Luke family did so much to make this experience possible. They were warm and welcoming ... Something terrible happened to their family, but they turned the situation around and made it into something beautiful. It's amazing," said Colobran.

For more information about this scholarship or to learn about how you can create a scholarship in memory of a loved one, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 1-800-817-8943 or giveto@ia.pitt.edu.