Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Lebanon County veteran creates fund to aid Penn State military students
Vietnam War veteran Howard Kramer and his wife, Susan, created an endowment to benefit active-duty and veteran students learning online through Penn State World Campus. PHOTO/PROVIDED
Lebanon County veteran creates fund to aid Penn State military students
A fund to help Penn State military students who face financial setbacks has been created by a donation from a Lebanon County businessman and Vietnam War veteran.
Howard Kramer and his wife, Susan, of Schaefferstown, committed $75,000 to create an endowment to benefit active-duty and veteran students learning online through Penn State World Campus. The Kramer Family Penn State World Campus Emergency Assistance Fund for Military Students will benefit Penn State World Campus military students.
“It is my honor to give back to today’s military students and help ensure that they can have successful careers,” Kramer said in a statement. “I know that getting a college degree is an important first step to make that goal a reality.
“After I left the Army in 1969, I used my GI Bill benefits to go back to school and get my associate and bachelor’s degrees. I have been blessed with a successful career in finance and I now co-own a business with my son. This would not have been possible without my degree,” added Kramer.
A rifleman, radio telephone operator, and sniper for the Army in Vietnam in 1968-69, Kramer was an honor graduate of sniper school. He received multiple awards, including four Bronze Star Medals for heroism, two Army Commendation Medals for Heroism, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Kramer was part of the first withdrawal of troops in 1969, and upon returning married Susan.
Kramer worked in finance before going into business with his son, Ross, in 2001 and co-founding Kramer Listrak Inc., a Lititz-based digital marketing automation platform. The business has more than 350 employees and offices in Lititz and King of Prussia.
Kramer studied at Penn State Berks and graduated with his bachelor’s in business administration from Millersville University. According to a release, Kramer supports military learners so financial setbacks will not prevent them from graduating and starting careers following their military service.
