A new scholarship has been established at MMI Preparatory School with the first recipient selected this year.
The Roy and Dorothy Feussner Endowed Scholarship was established in 2014 by Dr. John R. Feussner ’64, Mrs. Patricia A. Morse, Mr. Gregory G. Feussner and Mr. Ronald A. Feussner ’70 in honor of their parents. The Feussners are the proprietors of Feussner Ford in Freeland.
Dr. John Feussner ’64 said, “Our parents understood the value of education and knew MMI would provide a superior education that offered every advantage as we pursued our chosen careers. The Roy and Dorothy Feussner Endowed Scholarship simultaneously honors our parents and provides financial support to another promising student who seeks the advantage of an MMI caliber education.”
This year’s scholarship was awarded to Haylee Kirschner, a senior at MMI. She is the daughter of Dieter and Kimberly Kirschner of Pocono Lake. The Kirschners are the owners of 940 Snowboards/Alpina Ski Shop in White Haven.
MMI Head of School Thomas G. Hood said the business-to-business link is an important aspect of the scholarship. “From operating small family-owned businesses, the Feussners and the Kirschners both understand the importance of hard work, which we emphasize at MMI. The MMI family is known for being supportive of one another, which is just what the Feussners have done in establishing this scholarship.”
Haylee Kirschner was honored at a luncheon with her parents, members of the Feussner family and MMI administration. She expressed her gratitude to the Feussners, saying, “This scholarship means a lot to me, especially coming from another family that owns a business. I want to thank the Feussners for their generosity.”
Kimberly Kirschner said, “In this economy, with being self-employed, it’s been a trying few years. Receiving this scholarship has allowed Haylee to stay at MMI, where she has truly thrived and excelled. The school has challenged her to show exactly what she can do. We’re so thankful for the Feussner scholarship and our fellow business owners who understand the joys and challenges of operating a small business.”
The Kirschners have operated 940 Snowboards/Alpina Ski Shop since 1997; it was established in 1968.
Roy Feussner lived and worked on the family farm with his 14 brothers and sisters, and also worked on his father’s coal trucks delivering coal from a breaker to peoples’ homes. Upon returning from World War II, Feussner and two of his brothers, George and Jacob Jr., joined the family business doing mechanical work and selling used cars. Roy Feussner began as a Hudson dealer in 1949 before becoming a Ford dealer in 1954. Feussner Ford still operates today in Freeland with Feussner at the helm.
He has been a member of the Freeland Chamber of Commerce, the Freeland Industrial Development Corporation Board, the Irem Temple Shriners of Dallas, the local VFW and American Legion and is a past master of the Arbutus Masonic Lodge # 611.
Dorothy Feussner is the former Dorothy Gaydos, one of 13 children born to John and Anna Jacko Gaydos in Eckley. Since her father, John, was born in Slovakia, she is a first-generation American. She attended Foster Township High School and was a stellar student and cheerleader. Mr. and Mrs. Feussner married after high school and she managed the household and raised their four children. She was very active at MMI in the Women’s Auxiliary, is a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church and has volunteered in numerous church societies and other community activities.
The Feussners have four children. Dr. John Feussner ’64 is a physician in Charleston, S.C., and Patricia Morse is a retired high school educator in Kutztown. Gregory Feussner and Ronald Feussner ’70 are in the family business at Feussner Ford. The Feussners also have six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Leave a Reply