A Legacy Over 100 Years in the Making

The Tressler family has a formidable legacy at Susquehanna University.

Allen C. Tressler graduated in 1929 with a degree in general science, though he was not the first in his family to attend SU. Allen's father, Ray, graduated from Susquehanna in 1904 with a business degree in bookkeeping. Following graduation, Ray eventually became the president of Farmer's State Bank, what is now Mid Penn Bank, in Dalmatia, Pennsylvania. After his own graduation, Allen went on to lead a successful career as a chemist.

Allen and Ray had the unique experience of returning to Susquehanna in 1979, where they celebrated their 50th and 75th class reunions, respectively.

The Tressler family's legacy at Susquehanna was solidified by Allen's bequest, which was realized in 1989. Three years prior, Allen and his wife, Jennie, established the Tressler Accounting Fund in honor of Allen's father. Allen's bequest later endowed the fund, ensuring that it would support the university in perpetuity. Today, the fund provides scholarship support for students majoring in accounting, with preference given to students from lower Northumberland County or upper Dauphin County.

The fund also provides vital resources for faculty and the accounting program's curricular development. This includes the purchase of financial databases used by both accounting faculty and students. Other integral support is given to professional development and travel for faculty members, ensuring that professors are able to attend academic conferences, which provide information on the latest research and pedagogical advances to help faculty better prepare students for their accounting internships and careers.

For over a century, the Tressler family has had strong ties to Susquehanna University. It is clear that their legacy will continue to impact Susquehanna's faculty and students for generations to come.