philosophyon PHILANTHROPY Christian Sockel 1993 holds Ursinus close to his heart. Now, more than 20 years after graduating, he’s giving back to the place that gave him so much. The former lawyer, who is assistant headmaster for advancement at a private, college preparatory high school in Pottstown, Pa., has signed on as volunteer chair of the Major Gifts Committee at Ursinus. “Ursinus is a very special place,” he says. “As alumni, it’s our responsibility to make sure it remains that way. I owe a lot of my personal and professional success and happiness to Ursinus. I hope others view it the same way.” Sockel is encouraging Ursinus alumni to donate to the new Annual Fund Scholars Program, a term-scholarship of at least Christian Sockel 1993 and his wife, Jennifer. They hope $5,000 a year for students who to encourage others to pledge demonstrate academic merit gifts to the Annual Fund and financial need. Donors are Scholars Program. matched with a student from whom they can get periodic updates, with the chance to meet their student during the year. Sockel, a history major, is one of nine alumni and friends of Ursinus who already have pledged gifts to the new scholarship. He and his wife, Jennifer, have pledged $35,000 over five years – $25,000 for the Sockel ’93 Family Annual Fund Scholarship and $10,000 for the planned Innovation and Discovery Center on campus. “Through both his service as the Chair of the Major Gifts Committee and his generous pledge to the Annual Fund Scholars Program, Christian leads by example for both his family and his fellow Ursinus alumni,” says Jill Marsteller 1978, Senior Vice President for Advancement. “We are so very fortunate to have his experience, enthusiasm and dedication, and I hope many others will join him in supporting Ursinus and our students at a new level.” The Sockels also are sharing the lessons of philanthropy with their children. In addition to setting an example through their own generous gifts, Christian and Jennifer plan to give their daughters each a modest amount of money annually to make charitable donations to organizations that are important to them. The Sockels want to teach Portia, 10, and Annika, 8, about generosity, and have asked their girls to donate the money. It’s not an easy lesson to teach children, so they put it in simple terms: “Some people are blessed,” Christian tells
his daughters. “To whom much is given, much is expected; those who have more, in my view, are obligated to share.” His philosophy on philanthropy, he says, is rooted in his deep Catholic faith. Growing up near Reading, Pa., Sockel attended Catholic school from kindergarten through 12th grade. “We are blessed,” he says, “and giving back is part of that.”
support a cause or organization.”
In addition to soliciting gifts for Ursinus, Sockel is assistant headmaster for advancement fulltime for The Hill School where he has worked since 2008. After practicing law for five and a half years, Sockel realized the legal profession wasn’t the right fit for him. After some reflection, he began a new career path in the advancement field. “Working in advancement is a job filled with promise and happiness,” he says, “asking people to
Sockel likes the challenge, and he is eager to begin making connections with alumni and friends of Ursinus. He knows there will be many who want to join him in supporting the College. “It’s not going to be easy work,” he says. “But I think all alumni can be supportive of the school in some fashion, because Ursinus is a piece of who they are today.” By Erika Compton Butler 1994 For additional information regarding the Ursinus Annual Fund Scholars program, please contact Rosemary R. Pall, Director of Annual Giving, by calling 610-409-3424 or via e-mail at rpall@ursinus.edu
Annual Fund Scholars Program Donors James 1964 and Irmgard Barrett Susan A. DeCourcey 1988 John M. Fessick 1985 Judy R. Hoak Kathleen Y. Knoebel 1973 Jill Leauber Marsteller 1978 Adam Sager 1990 and Stephanie Sager Rev. Dr. Harold Smith 1955 Christian P. 1993 Sockel and Jennifer R. Sockel SPRING/SUMMER 2014 PAGE 13