Most people reflect on their education and remember a certain teacher who stands out. For many Albright alumni, Biology Professor Janet Gehres ’54 was that educator who was known for being challenging, holding accountability while pushing academically and who prepared students scholastically like no other. Because of her tutelage, faculty in healthcare graduate programs at prominent institutions began to recognize the special training and skills that Albright students brought with them.
In the late 1990s, more than 100 of the professor’s former pupils established the Janet L. Gehres Endowed Scholarship to honor her for a more than 30-year teaching career and for impacting their lives tremendously. Having left a percentage of her estate to the scholarship when she passed away in 2019, Gehres’ legacy of providing an outstanding Albright education will continue in perpetuity. Since 2004 when financial aid digital recording began at Albright, it is documented that the Janet L. Gehres Endowed Scholarship has been awarded 50 times to 21 students.
“Knowing that others are investing in my future through scholarship gifts gives me the confidence to keep striving to be great every day,” said Gehres fund recipient Eric Martin ’24, a business administration: sports management major from Greenbelt, Maryland. “I once felt as if I should give up and lost all confidence in myself but seeing that people are supporting me shows that I am important, and that I should never lose focus of what I came here to achieve.”
Having taught from the 1960s to 1990s, Gehres demanded high performance in her classes that included anatomy, physiology and histology and equipped many — especially those entering the medical field — with the knowledge and experience they needed to succeed in their next endeavors.
“Janet Gehres was one of the most influential people in my life. Her wise counsel helped me find my direction during my senior year at Albright College, leading me toward my vocation and my life’s passion in professional dentistry,” said Scott Gradwell, DMD ’84, a periodontal and dental implant surgeon.
The Janet L. Gehres Endowed Scholarship is bestowed annually to students with financial need in any discipline. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the scholarship was also awarded to Priscilla Bonnie ’25, Shawn Coley Jr. ’25, Alexyia Taylor ’24, Emmanuel Wade ’24, Brennon Wittekind ’24 and Morgan Hanley ’27.
“College may not be an option for some based on costs. I feel good that I have some help. This is a beautiful thing that Albright donors are doing,” said Bonnie.
