CONTACT:
Mike Ferlazzo
570-577-3212
570-238-6266 (c)
mike.ferlazzo@bucknell.edu
LEWISBURG, Pa. (October 21, 2026) – Growing up in Milton, Pa., about 15 minutes from Lewisburg, Kaleb Eger ’29 knew Bucknell was nearby. But he wasn’t sure it was within reach.
As a prospective first-generation college student, Eger navigated much of the college search process by researching universities, comparing programs and learning about financial aid. Bucknell’s academic reputation and proximity to home appealed to him, but he believed it was financially accessible only to families with significant resources.
He ultimately applied, and Bucknell emerged as his first choice – even as he remained unsure whether he could afford to attend.
When his admissions decision arrived, Eger opened it on his laptop with his family beside him. He and his parents were overjoyed to learn that he had been accepted. Then they discovered that he had also received the Gamgort Family Gateway Scholarship.
“It allowed me to attend Bucknell without the financial stress that I had originally associated with going to a school like this,” Eger says.
Room to Explore
At Bucknell, Eger has embraced the opportunity to explore interests that do not fit neatly into a single category.
Now majoring in markets, innovation & design in the Freeman College of Management, Eger is exploring the human and creative sides of business: understanding people, developing ideas, telling stories and helping organizations better serve others.
He is also taking education courses, pursuing an interest shaped in part by his grandmother, who taught first grade for 35 years. Their conversations showed him how deeply she believed in education’s ability to improve people’s lives. His own experiences in public school and at Bucknell have sparked an interest in educational policy and administration.
Rather than feeling pressure to settle immediately on one career, Eger values the freedom to explore different interests.
“Having the ability to explore multiple areas has been one of the best parts of Bucknell,” he says. “It has allowed me to gain knowledge in different fields, understand different career paths and become more well-rounded in how I look at the world.”
Finding Guidance and Connection
Eger has also learned that exploring those possibilities does not have to happen alone. Through Bucknell’s GenFirst! mentorship program, he was paired with Nisan Trotter ’05, philanthropic engagement manager of principal gifts at Bucknell. Eger says he entered college believing he could figure most things out independently. His relationship with Trotter has helped change that perspective.
“Nisan has helped me understand how important mentorship and guidance are,” Eger says. “He’s been someone I can talk to about navigating college as a first-generation student, exploring ideas for my future and connecting with people both within and outside the Bucknell network.”
Their relationship extends beyond academics and careers. Eger remembers one lunch that began with conversations about college and professional goals before turning into a lengthy debate over one of basketball’s enduring questions: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?
For Eger, those moments have shown that mentorship can be more than simply receiving professional advice.
Meeting Bob ’84 P’16 and Sue DeMent Gamgort ’84 P’16 at a Bucknell basketball game and scholarship dinner offered another opportunity to connect personally with people who had helped make his education possible. He describes them as kind and down to earth, with a genuine interest in the students whose education their generosity supports.
Giving Back, Looking Ahead
As Bucknell expands his sense of what is possible, Eger remains connected to Milton. He commutes to campus and volunteers as an assistant soccer coach at Milton Area High School, supporting younger athletes in the program where he once played.
His work as an admissions ambassador offered another way to give back. Having once questioned whether he could attend the university down the road, he helped prospective students and families envision themselves at Bucknell.
Through classes, mentoring relationships and campus involvement, Eger has discovered interests and opportunities he hadn’t envisioned when he applied. Now, he hopes his experience can encourage students from Milton and other nearby communities to think more broadly about their own futures.
“You are not defined by your situation or your environment,” Eger says. “Whether you’re first-generation, come from a family with limited financial resources or simply grew up in a small community, where you come from doesn’t dictate your success. Work hard, find what gives you a reason to keep working toward something and be proud of the community you come from.”
-30-
To download full size image, right click and select Save image as
