Peg and 哈利 van Bergen, residents of The Woodlands at Furman, were recently honored by Greenville Technical College (GTC) as Unsung Heroes for their dedication to education and community service.
The couple established the Harmannus H. van Bergen Endowed Scholarship in March 2019, giving preference to students who are employed at The Woodlands at Furman. 哈利, who arrived in the United States as an immigrant child speaking no English, credits his success to his education and his determination to improve his situation. He hopes to light a spark in the recipient by offering this opportunity for advancement.
Peg and 哈利 met in Greenwood, 南卡罗来纳, where she taught French and he worked as a member of the van Bergen family bell and carillon business. 他们结婚了, 养家糊口, had successful careers in Georgia and 南卡罗来纳, and retired to Greenville, 南卡罗来纳, where continuing education and community involvement keep life interesting.
Peg and 哈利 both believe in working hard, the importance of education, and giving back to the community. "We often see hardworking people who deserve the chance for an education. We see Greenville Tech as the perfect venue offering so many courses with real life practical applications. Everyone needs someone to believe in them even if they don't know each other's name," said 哈利.
今天, Peg and 哈利 continue to encourage potential students to find their paths at Greenville Technical College as well as encouraging others to support scholarships through their charitable giving.
During the GTC Convocation ceremony, Dr. 基斯米勒, president of Greenville Technical College, presented the Unsung Hero Award to Peg and 哈利. In his remarks, Dr. Miller said, "Peg and 哈利 are true community heroes. They have dedicated their lives to education and giving back to others. We are grateful for their support of Greenville Technical College and our students."