BGSU alumni and longtime supporters create lasting legacy through $1.1M planned gift

Charlie ‘64 and Carol Harper ‘64 hope to expand educational opportunities and inspire students to explore broad academic experiences

Every summer for the past four decades, Charlie ‘64 and Carol ‘64 Harper have received a note of thanks from a Bowling Green State University student who received their book scholarship.

They look forward to it every year – a powerful reminder of the impact of giving back.

“It’s very heartening,” Charlie said. “It’s not a lot of money, but it has a significant impact.”

Longtime supporters of the University, the Harpers recently expanded their generosity by announcing a $1.1 million planned gift to support students through five endowed scholarships and the naming of a biology lab in Moseley Hall. 

The scholarships span colleges and disciplines, reflecting the Harpers’ belief that students should learn a broad range of subjects beyond those specifically related to their degree.

They both realized the benefit of that approach throughout their careers, which took them across the United States and around the globe.

“It’s astounding the cultural experiences we had,” Charlie said. “I thought back to BG when I was taking courses like sociology, thinking, ‘Why am I taking this; it has nothing to do with biology?’

“I discovered it has everything to do with being a citizen of the Earth. I look back and realize BG was the petri dish that helped Carol and me become well-rounded people who could operate productively in the big, wide, wonderful world.”

Through the planned gift, the Harpers established scholarships in biology, math, music, art and nursing, areas to which they both have personal connections.

Charlie graduated from BGSU in 1964 with a degree in education before fully shifting his focus to biology during his master’s and doctoral degree programs. He built his career in environmental science at Bechtel Group, Inc., retiring as a program manager after a 31-year career that spanned two states and four countries.

Carol graduated from BGSU with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in mathematics. She retired as the head of the biology department at Houston City College.

As a student at Bowling Green, she recalled receiving a scholarship her freshman year and the difference it made for her.

“A little bit of money helps a lot,” Carol said, noting that the scholarships she and Charlie established have renewable options for four years. “We can’t pay for the entire degree, but we can help students in their journeys.”

Along with the five endowed scholarships, the Harpers also named a biology lab in Moseley Hall in honor of their friend, Mary Ellen Mazey, the 11th president of BGSU. They connected with Mazey after returning to Bowling Green following their retirement.

“We instantly hit it off,” Charlie said. “She’s such a wonderful person. We started receiving invitations to university events and getting reengaged with what was happening on campus. Mary Ellen made us feel a part of the University again, even though much of it had changed. 

“It’s just a special feeling when you reach a point in life when you can pay forward what you’ve accumulated to the future students at the University. I can’t think of a better deal than that.”