The Borzell family presented Wilkes University with a check for $10,000 and awarded an additional $5,100 in scholarships to three Wyoming Area High School graduates.
The gifts are proceeds from the 2025 John Anthony “Beno” Borzell Golf Tournament. The event, now in its fourteenth year, has raised more than $290,000 to date for scholarships and facilities that benefit students at Wilkes University and Wyoming Area High School. The event is held in memory of John Anthony “Beno” Borzell, who graduated in 2007 from Wyoming Area and in 2011 with a degree in environmental science from Wilkes.
The $10,000 contribution to Wilkes supports an endowed scholarship in John Anthony “Beno” Borzell’s memory. The gift goes to students studying earth and environmental science at the University. Benjamin Campbell ’26 of Maple Glen, Pennsylvania, received the scholarship for 2025-26. Campbell was a member of theWilkes Adventure Education program (WAE) on campus, and involved with various faculty-mentored summer research projects during his time at Wilkes.
An environmental chemistry lab in the Cohen Science Center is named in memory of Borzell. In 2019, the University dedicated a science and engineering classroom on the second floor of Stark Learning Center in Beno’s honor.
In addition to the endowed scholarship, the Borzell family plans to enhance their support with the award of an additional $1,700 annual scholarship to a Wilkes student starting with the 26-27 academic year.
The family also presented scholarships to three Wyoming Area High School graduates who are scholar athletes planning to pursue studies in the sciences. Each student received $1,700 to commemorate the number 17 worn by Beno as a football and baseball player.
In all, 83 scholarships have been presented to Wyoming Area High School scholar athletes for gifts totaling over $135,000 since 2012. Contributions to Wilkes since the tournament’s inception exceed $155,000.
The Borzell family was presented with the Chairperson’s Award at Wilkes University’s 2026 Founders Gala in honor of their philanthropic efforts and positive impact on Wilkes University and the community.
The 2026 golf tournament will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club in Mountaintop. For details, please email borzellj1717@comcast.net or text/call Jack Borzell 570-885-3652.