Dick Krajczar Education Scholarship

“Education is the one thing that no one can take away from you.”
These are the searing words of a Palestinian man in Amman, Jordan, who sacrificed to pay for a college education for his eight children after he had lost nearly everything, including his land on the West Bank, in the ongoing crisis in the Mid-East.

The words of the Palestinian father, a custodian at the American Community School in Amman, made quite an impression on Dick Krajczar, who at the time was superintendent of the international school there. The father was unequivocal about the value of education to his children’s future.

Perhaps the story struck close to home for Krajczar, who left behind the steel mills of Bethlehem, Pa., to begin his own educational journey many years ago. His mother had quit school after the eighth grade to become a maid. His father only finished the sixth grade before entering the steel mills at the age of 12 and died at the age of 39.

Dick Krajczar escaped to Northwest College in Powell in 1962. He came to Northwest on an athletic scholarship to play football. He had $65 in his pocket and a dream of a college education.

He met his future wife, Sherry Fritz, at NWC and together they went on to realize their dream. Dick ultimately earned a doctorate in education, and the family, including their two children, has all been involved in international education.

For Dick Krajczar, it’s time to say thanks. He established a scholarship endowment at NWC to show his gratitude to Northwest “for taking a chance on a kid with average grades” and to help other students along the road to become educators themselves.