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DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Barbara '60 and Paul Wyciskala
“Barbara received a wonderful education at Kean. An endowed scholarship is a great way to give back!” - Paul Wyciskala
Barbara Wyciskala hails from Belleville, New Jersey. In 1960, she graduated from (what was then) Newark State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, effectively putting her on the path towards a career in teaching. As graduation approached, little did Barbara know that she was on the precipice of meeting someone who would change the course of her life! It seems her brother-in-law, an accountant, had a colleague whom he regarded highly; so much so, in fact, that he facilitated a “date” between Barbara and Paul Wyciskala, a gentleman from the distant locale of Bismarck, North Dakota.
Their first date, Barbara recalled fondly, was quite memorable – not necessarily because Paul took her to dine at the iconic Manhattan landmark, The Rainbow Room, but because he did not have a car! In a lovely display of chivalry you don’t often see in today’s modern world, Paul took the bus from New York City and picked up Barbara in Belleville, only to repeat the process upon the conclusion of their evening when he brought her home – eventually returning to his apartment in the city at 3:00 am! From that moment on, according to Barbara, it was history! She and Paul were married and made their home in Cranford, New Jersey. Barbara taught 6th grade in Belleville for a brief period of time before her teaching days ended in lieu of becoming a full-time mother to their three children.
When her children had grown a bit older, and all were enrolled in school, Barbara embarked on her second career as a Real Estate agent. Much to her delight, she found herself to have quite the prowess in the field and, over the course of the next 12 years, went on to sell many homes in the Westfield, Scotch Plains, and Cranford areas of New Jersey.
The memories Barbara made while attending Newark State College, and the warmth she continued to feel towards her alma mater following her graduation, remained a source of joy for years to come. Around the same time her graduating class of 1960 was preparing to celebrate its 25th reunion, Barbara decided to affirm her love of Kean by making a gift and was intricate in the establishment of the Class of 1960 Endowed Scholarship. In addition to her class involvement, Barbara was also a member of the Kean University Alumni Association Board. She adored spending time with her fellow Kean alumni and recalled with fondness one event she helped organize, in particular, which took place at the Barnum Museum located in Sarasota, Florida.
As both their careers wound down, Barbara and Paul made the decision to relocate and retired to the southern town of Manchester, New Jersey. Once settled, while Barbara found herself somewhat removed, albeit physically, from her attachment to Kean, her commitment to the University never wavered. Barbara eventually had a fortuitous meeting with someone from Kean who presented her with an opportunity to once again express her dedication through philanthropy. This time, however, her gift would be a direct reflection of her own personal feelings and wishes, and not necessarily those of the entire graduating Class of 1960. Barbara remarked, “I wanted to do something for a while; something in my own name. Of course, my husband supported me in this decision and, after some discussion and thought, Paul and I determined an endowed scholarship seemed the best way.” Ultimately, the pair established the Barbara and Paul Wyciskala Endowed Scholarship for the purpose of providing financial support to full-time Kean University students in either their junior or senior years of study who are pursuing degrees within the College of Business and Public Management, with preference given to those students who are the first generation within their families to attend an institute of higher education.
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