Scholarship & Music Program Endowments

Veronica Ling Chen (née Koo) was born in Shanghai, China (1940) and raised in Hong Kong. She graduated from Maryknoll and earned Lower Level Certifications from the University of Hong Kong and the University of London. To strengthen her practical and business skills, she completed a program at Maryknoll Commercial School and began her career as a secretary at Pfizer International Corporation.

Veronica later received a full scholarship to Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, where she majored in History and Political Science. After marrying her husband, Shium Andrew Chen, the couple moved to Emporia, Kansas, where she completed both her B.A. in History and Political Science and M.S. in Library Administration.

After dedicating thirteen years to raising their three children, Veronica resumed her professional career as a librarian and went on to serve as Director of Library Services at Butler County Community College. Over a distinguished fifteen-year career, she was an active leader in her field, serving ten times on the Middle States Accreditation Team and being appointed a Pennsylvania Library Commissioner.

A strong advocate for early childhood education, Veronica studied the Montessori method for children and earned certification from St. Nicholas Training Center and Cleveland State University. She is a committed proponent of interpretive reading and has been both a leader and participant in Great Books discussions.

Veronica is dedicated to lifelong learning, having completed an additional thirty-four academic credits beyond her master’s degree across a range of disciplines. She has a deep appreciation for the arts and a lasting belief in the power of words.

View Veronica Ling Chen's Bio as a PDF. 

Shium (Andrew) Chen (1931–2021) was born in China, the fifth of eight children. His father was a hydro-engineer, and his mother was active in the Chinese women’s suffrage movement and later was elected to the Taiwan National Assembly. He came of age during a period of profound upheaval marked by war and political conflict. In 1949, his family fled to Taiwan, where he earned a B.A. in Educational Psychology from National Taiwan Normal University.

With a scholarship, Andrew moved to the United States to attend the University of Oregon, earning his M.Ed. in 1956 while supporting himself through labor and odd jobs. He also helped his younger brothers come to the U.S. for graduate studies. He later earned an M.A. in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Andrew began his academic career at Hofstra University, then taught at Emporia State University, where he met his wife, Veronica. In 1966, he joined Slippery Rock University, where he served for over three decades, including as Professor and Department Chair, before retiring in 1997.

Andrew and Veronica raised their three children in Butler—all Butler High graduates. The Chen’s were long-standing members of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and naturally all were avid Steelers, Pirates and Penguins fans.

A dedicated community leader, Andrew was deeply involved with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), serving at both local and national levels, including as National President. His advocacy focused on issues such as anti-Asian violence, multicultural education, minority inclusion, and mental health. He also served on the Pennsylvania Ethnic Affairs Commission and chaired the Asian American Advisory Council.

Andrew was elected President of the Asian American Psychological Association (1995–1997) and served on the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Violence and Youth. He was recognized as a Fellow of both the Educational Psychology and the Psychology of Ethnic Minorities within the American Psychological Association. In addition, Andrew published a book in 2017 called, “My Journey to Becoming Chinese American: A Memoir of an Asian American Psychologist and His Search for Ethnic Identity.”

View Shium Andrew Chen's Bio as a PDF. 

Harding P. Whitacre joined the Butler Area School District in 1966 following his graduation from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music. He began his career teaching instrumental music at the elementary level before moving to Butler Intermediate High School, where he directed symphonic band, stage band, and string orchestra, and taught guitar and keyboard classes.

In 1973, Mr. Whitacre founded the Golden Crusader Marching Band and went on to host numerous PMEA district and regional festivals. Following the merger of the intermediate and senior high school bands, he served as Associate Director of the Golden Tornado Marching Band, a role he held until his retirement in 2001.

Since retiring, Mr. Whitacre has remained active in the local music community, performing with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, the Jack Bowman Band, the Chiprean Brothers Band, the Gibbons Big Band, and various church ensembles. He was also an original member of the Musicians Concert Band.

View Harding P. Whitacre's Bio as a PDF.