Honoring the leaders who
opened doors for others.

The Dr. Pam Grossman Scholarship

Dr. Pam Grossman is Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, the number one graduate school of education in the U.S. As a leading expert in teacher preparation, teacher quality, and professional development, Dean Grossman prepares the next generation of educators to revolutionize education through quality relationships. As a former high school English teacher, Dr. Grossman is at the forefront of rethinking how teachers are educated while studying the connections between support, classroom practices, retention, and student learning. The recipient of this scholarship will demonstrate a commitment to education and community-based work.

The Patrick J. Eiding Scholarship

Patrick J. Eiding is the former President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO. Prior to first being elected President in January 2002, Eiding served for over 25 years as Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 14, covering Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, where he has been a member since 1963. Eiding built his career in the interest of working families and continues to demonstrate his commitment to Pennsylvania families with a “Philly tough” mentality. This scholarship is awarded to a Philadelphia native and/or an applicant demonstrating a commitment to unity and a strong work ethic.

The Bruce Bedford Scholarship

Bruce Bedford was born in Bridgeport CT in 1940. He received his B.S. at Yale University in 1962 and an MBA from Harvard in 1964. After working as an executive at Mead Paper Company, he founded his own fixed-income mutual fund, Flagship Resources, which he sold to Nuveen in 1997. He went on to serve on the board and then as chancellor at Antioch University.

He spent his remaining years as an investor and mentor to numerous entrepreneurs, including Dr. James B. Johnston of SAGE Scholars. He helped start and advise companies across education, health technology, finance, and marine technologies. He served on the SAGE Scholars Board of Directors from 1997 until his death, instrumental in navigating the organization through its early years. At the time of his passing, he was finishing his thesis for a master’s degree in International Diplomacy at Norwich University.

The Father Thomas Schaefer Scholarship

Father Thomas Schaefer was born in 1951 in Pittsburgh PA. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in 1974, master’s degrees from the School of International Training in Vermont and Duquesne University, and a Ph.D. in Formative Spirituality from Duquesne in 1997. He entered the priesthood in 1982 and served as pastor at several Catholic churches in the Pittsburgh area.

Fluent in 7 languages including several African dialects, he served in the Peace Corps from 1974–79 and was Director of the National English Teaching Program in the Central African Republic from 1979–81. He served as Director of International Affairs and then Dean of Admissions at Duquesne University from 1988–2002, and as Associate VP of Academic Affairs at La Roche University from 2002 to 2021, leading the effort to open a La Roche campus in Rome, Italy in 2017. He joined the SAGE Scholars Advisory Council in 2001, serving until his passing.

The Michael Midlam Scholarship

Mike Midlam, a native Californian, passed away from Covid-19 at age 65. A prolific entrepreneur, he served as president of Asset Marketing Systems (AMS), helping make it the largest independent equity index annuity firm in the country.

Always the innovator, Mike used his network of financial planners to include college funding and the SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards Program as part of their financial advice — particularly for grandparents. A passionate believer in the value of higher education, he hosted numerous SAGE Scholars Advisory Council meetings in San Diego and offered creative college funding solutions to our members.