(Posted May 15, 2017)

Pictured above from left, are: Lauren Bowen, provost; Elizabeth Beachley, wife of David Beachley; James A. Troha, Juniata president; David Beachley '77, Juniata Trustee and CEO of Beachley Furniture; Bill Thomas, professor of IT and recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching; Mary Ellen Beachley; Jerry Kruse, professor of math, assistant provost, and recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service; and Barbara Beachley Marshall '74, a retired educator.
Photo by Amber Boring '18
Pictured above from left, are: Lauren Bowen, provost; Elizabeth Beachley, wife of David Beachley; James A. Troha, Juniata president; David Beachley '77, Juniata Trustee and CEO of Beachley Furniture; Bill Thomas, professor of IT and recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching; Mary Ellen Beachley; Jerry Kruse, professor of math, assistant provost, and recipient of the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service; and Barbara Beachley Marshall '74, a retired educator.
Photo by Amber Boring '18

            HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Beachley Family, led by Mary Ellen Beachley, widow of longtime Juniata College trustee Donovan Beachley Jr., and David Beachley, chief executive officer of the Beachley Furniture Company, of Hagerstown, Md., donated $250,000 to the college to support faculty research, scholarship or professional development.

The gift will create an endowment to support to “one or more faculty member’s scholarly activities,” which can include teaching, research, public service, professional development or other purposes that would enhance the educational environment at the college.

            The Beachleys timed the donation to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the family’s original endowment, which provides funds and support for the college’s two top faculty awards:  the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service. In 1967, Donovan Beachley Sr., a 1921 Juniata graduate and third-generation presidentBeachley Furniture Company, and his son, Donovan Beachley Jr., a 1947 Juniata graduate, gave $25,000 to fund the awards. Since then, the family has periodically made gifts to increase that endowment as well.

            “We wanted (our gift) to be something lasting. It was a great way to recognize faculty,” said Mary Ellen Beachley of the original endowment, as she announced the new gift at Juniata’s Spring Convocation ceremony May 2. “We were extremely gratified with the positive response (the award) brought and how the award changed the lives (of those who received it). Fifty years later, it’s about time to do it again.”

            The first Juniata faculty member to receive the award for distinguished teaching was the late Kenneth Crosby, professor emeritus of history, in 1968.

"We were extremely gratified with the positive response (the award) brought and how the award changed the lives (of those who received it). Fifty years later, it's about time to do it again."

Mary Ellen Beachley

“Some who won the awards today were not yet born at the time of the original gift,” said Lauren Bowen as she introduced Mary Ellen Beachley at the convocation. “Mary Ellen has added to the family’s tradition of supporting Juniata faculty and providing the means to help our faculty continue their professional development on their way to one day earning a Beachley honor.”

            Current Juniata faculty will be eligible for the Beachley Family Faculty Endowment through a competitive process designated by the college’s provost, Lauren Bowen. Each professor will be required to provide a final report detailing their use of the funding.

            “It’s amazing to see that our contribution for the teaching awards is still honoring Juniata faculty -- which shows you the power of an endowment,” says David Beachley, “We thought an endowment that professors can use to further their education and aspire to that next level would be a good stepping stone for future candidates for the Beachley Distinguished Professor awards.”

            The Beachley family has a long history with Juniata College. In addition to being alumni of the college, Donovan Beachley Jr. served on the college’s board of trustees from  1982 to 2003 and David Beachley, a 1977 graduate, currently serves on the board of trustees.

            Beachley Furniture Co was founded in 1887 as a furniture manufacturer for the home furnishing market. After the recession of 2008, the company reinvented itself as a manufacturer of custom seating, serving the needs of restaurants, colleges, attorneys offices and corporate boardrooms. The company also creates custom furniture for yachts.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.