Stiner Makes $195,000 Gift to Support CU-Bloomsburg Women's Basketball Scholarships and Nelson Upgrades
Bloomsburg, PA (03/03/2025) — Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg alumnus and longtime Connecticut resident Tom Stiner '76 has deepened his commitment to student success with a $195,000 gift to establish a new women's basketball scholarship and fund the resurfacing of the Nelson Field House basketball court.
"We couldn't be more grateful to Tom Stiner for his continued support of our students," said Commonwealth University President Bashar Hanna. "His generosity will not only provide life-changing scholarship opportunities for student-athletes but also enhance our athletic facilities for years to come. Tom's dedication to first-generation students and future entrepreneurs reflects the very best of what it means to be a Husky."
This latest contribution combines immediate-use dollars to support the basketball court resurfacing and early-activation of scholarships to make sure his support can begin providing benefits for students as soon as possible in addition to a future gift through his estate. The newly established women's basketball scholarship holds special significance as it honors his niece, a former Huskies basketball player.
"My oldest niece was in the basketball program a few years back," said Stiner, a native of Berwick, Pa. "When I was talking with the university about different ways to support Bloomsburg, the idea of a scholarship for women's basketball came up, and it felt like the perfect opportunity."
In addition to his increased support for scholarships, Stiner's gift will also fund the resurfacing of the Nelson Field House basketball court twice in the coming years, ensuring that Huskies student-athletes have access to a top-tier playing surface.
"We are incredibly grateful for donors like Tom who take the time to work with our foundation team to direct their support to areas they are passionate about while also aligning with the university's athletic needs and strategic priorities," said Dr. Mike McFarland, Bloomsburg's Director of Athletics. "His generosity will have a lasting impact on our student-athletes and the future of Huskies women's basketball."
A seasoned professional in the financial accounting sector, Stiner attributes much of his success to the education and experiences he gained at Bloomsburg. Since earning his Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting in 1976, he has remained a dedicated supporter of the university and its students.
This marks the third scholarship Stiner has established at Bloomsburg. In 2016, he created the Carolyn and Luther Stiner Memorial Scholarship in memory of his parents, providing financial assistance to first-generation accounting students. He later established a second self-named scholarship to support students pursuing careers in entrepreneurship and family business-a reflection of his own career path. His passion for helping first-generation students stems from his own experience as the first in his family to attend college.
"Giving back is important to me because I want to provide opportunities for others that perhaps I didn't have," said Stiner. "If I can ease the path for even one student, that's a meaningful contribution."Stiner's latest gift brings his total support for Bloomsburg students to over $525,000 and contributes to the success of The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us, which has now raised $83,746,953, pushing the university closer to its historic $100 million goal.
To learn more about The Campaign for Bloomsburg and how you can support students, visit giving.bloomu.edu/ItStartsWithUs.
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