Friends Forever

Jeff Cornelius ’78 loves his alma mater. He graduated with degrees in political science and geography. While at FSU, he made several lasting friendships, four of which he and his wife, Chris, have chosen to honor through their generous endowment of scholarship funds.  

“The whole idea came about primarily because we just lost all four of these friends way too early in life,” said Jeff. “All of them lived good and important lives, and their education was very helpful in establishing successful careers.” 

Dr. David Heavner ’79 and Michael Mackereth ’78 were Jeff’s classmates dating all the way back to junior high school in Cumberland, Md. They attended Fort Hill High School together and eventually lived together in FSU’s Frederick Hall. “We were lifelong friends.”

Mackereth was an FSU College of Business graduate, and his scholarship will benefit FSU students who graduated from Fort Hill. Additionally, the Heavner ’79 Scholarship will also benefit FSU students who graduated from Fort Hill, which was Heavner’s alma matter as well. Heavner was a biology graduate. 

Glenn Scott ’78 was Jeff’s roommate at FSU for two years. “He was an icon at Frostburg,” Jeff said. “He was on the football team, is in the Bobcat Hall of Fame and was known and loved by everyone on campus. He was just a tremendous individual with a huge heart.” 

Scott was a graduate of the Department of Political Science. His scholarship will benefit FSU students who graduated from Scott’s high school, Reginald F. Lewis High School (formerly Northern Senior High School) or from another high school in Baltimore City Schools

Jeff fondly recalls his friendship with Lawrence Disharoon '78. "Larry and I met through some mutual friends at Frostburg. He and his best friend, John Jenkins, and our group from Fort Hill were a large group at FSU during those years. So, Larry and John became adopted 'Townies', which was the beginning of a forever friendship."

The Lawrence E. Disharoon ’78 Scholarship will benefit FSU students who graduated from Disharoon’s high school, Stephen Decatur in Ocean City, Md, or from another high school in Worscester County. Disharoon was an FSU Department of Political Science graduate.

Disharoon was the most recent of the four friends to pass away, and it was around that same time that Jeff retired. “I was just struggling to do something to honor them,” he recalled. “I wanted to do something that would allow their names to live on through these scholarships.” 

“Frostburg was, in our time and minds, the perfect place and environment and atmosphere to develop these friendships.” Making those connections was extremely important to Jeff and his friends. “We all did what we needed to do to get through our studies, but it was the time we spent in Frederick Hall playing cards, eating together in the dining hall, competing in sports and going into town that helped cement these lifelong friendships.” To put it simply, this is the message that Jeff hopes the scholarship recipients will keep in mind during their time at FSU. <

His work on the establishment of these generous scholarships began in 2022, when he and another friend, Charlie Arbogast ‘78, approached FSU to discuss their plans to pursue the endowed gifts. “Charlie is also a Fort Hill Class of ’74 graduate and an FSU ’78 business graduate. Charlie knows all the ins and outs to endow these scholarships and raise the necessary funds to keep them going each year,” said Jeff. Arbogast’s career was in fundraising and development in Colorado, where he resides. 

“We’re committed to not forgetting them. And the network of connections committed to not forgetting them runs much deeper than just me and Charlie,” said Jeff. FSU’s endowed scholarships start at $10,000, so Jeff and Arbogast, along with many other friends, will continue to work to raise these funds.

Jeff and Chris currently reside in Arnold, Md.

To be considered for any of the above scholarship endowments, recipients must be enrolled full-time at FSU. First-time recipients will be freshmen. Students are notified each fall that the application window is open, and Foundation staff will assist them throughout the process. The Corneliuses’ scholarships will be awarded for the first time to students for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Dr. David Heavner

Michael Mackereth

Glenn Scott

Lawrence E. Disharoon

To make a gift in support of any of these scholarships, call the FSU Foundation at 301-687-4068 or visit the FSU Foundation online.