Allegheny County Dr. Charles J. Martoni Endowed Scholarship Will Help Students in Need

Scholarship Will Carry On Legacy of Beloved CCAC Campus President and County Council Member

Pittsburgh

The Community College of Allegheny County is pleased to announce the Allegheny County Dr. Charles J. Martoni Endowed Scholarship, a new endowed scholarship supported by a $10 million allocation from Allegheny County and offered through the CCAC Educational Foundation. The scholarship will further CCAC's mission of providing affordable access to high-quality career and transfer education.

The Allegheny County Dr. Charles J. Martoni Endowed Scholarship is available to students beginning in the fall 2022 semester. Applicants must be Allegheny County residents living in the county and experiencing financial need. 

"The naming of this scholarship for Dr. Martoni is truly fitting. Chuck dedicated his career to helping students and encouraging young people to continue learning and growing," said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. "As an inaugural member of County Council, and throughout his years of service on that body, he was a strong advocate of investing in education and his support of CCAC was unquestioned. I think he would be honored by this gesture and thrilled that the scholarship will provide financial help to students who are pursuing an education that will help them achieve their goals and dreams."

Dr. Martoni, who died in May 2019, served in several leadership roles for many years at CCAC. He was also an inaugural member of Allegheny County Council, representing some of the county's eastern suburbs and parts of the Mon Valley for nearly 20 years. Martoni first enrolled in classes at CCAC's Boyce Campus in 1966. He went on to become an integral part of the college community that he served. During his tenure, he served as director of Financial Aid and Counseling, dean of students, adjunct professor and, from 2008-2019, as president of Boyce Campus. Throughout his life, he remained dedicated to CCAC, his colleagues, students and the wider community. He was recognized as an outstanding teacher of the year and was honored by the CCAC Educational Foundation as a legendary faculty/staff/administrator. 

CCAC President Quintin Bullock said, "This endowed scholarship will help the college to carry on Dr. Martoni's commitment to education and to ensuring that all students are able to succeed and achieve their goals. We are extremely grateful to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and to Allegheny County Council for providing this generous endowment that will enable the college to further our mission while honoring Dr. Martoni's legacy for generations of students." 

Those who knew Dr. Martoni best agree that his greatest gift was his ability to relate to others and to make everyone around him feel truly valued. Although he had five degrees, he was very approachable, and he had a way of encouraging students and helping them to overcome challenges and get back on the right track. 

"Thank you to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Council and CCAC President Quintin Bullock for their generosity in initiating the Allegheny County Dr. Charles J. Martoni Endowed Scholarship," said Phyllis Friend, Dr. Martoni's sister. "Charles truly believed everyone deserved the opportunity to better themselves in this life. Our family is honored that the scholarship in Charles' name will provide that opportunity to students for many years to come."

The scholarship will be distributed via a partnership between the CCAC Educational Foundation and CCAC's offices of Enrollment and Financial Aid. For more information, contact scholarships@ccac.edu.