IUP honors philanthropy of Latrobe couple

A Latrobe couple who pledged $7 million to Indiana University of Pennsylvania and helped steer its ongoing fund raising campaign has received IUP’s inaugural Award of Excellence in Volunteer Leadership.

Tim and Deb Phillips Cejka, of Latrobe and Houston, Texas, were honored for their generosity and work advancing IUP’s $75 million Imagine Unlimited fund raising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised $62 million and is on track to meet its goals, officials said, due to the dedication of volunteers like the Cejkas.

“The Cejkas are the definition of volunteers — the kind of people who understand that philanthropy is more than dollars. Great philanthropists also are willing to influence hearts and minds,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said.

The Cejkas, both 1973 graduates of IUP, originally pledged $5 million to the Imagine Unlimited campaign. Last year, they pledged an additional $2 million — a figure that completed the match required by the state for the 2020 start of construction of a new math and science facility at IUP.

Deb Phillips Cejka is a Westmoreland County native.

Tim Cejka, a native of Pittsburgh, retired as president of Exxon Mobile Exploration and vice president of Exxon Mobil. He was named an IUP Distinguished Alum in 2006 and was appointed to serve as a member of the IUP Council of Trustees in October.