Alumni and Friends
Planned Giving
Family Masters Lifetime of Learning
The Leitch family's relationship with St. Cloud State University started in 1965 when Vernon was hired to teach math education. At the time, Mary Ann Leitch was a stay-at-home mom raising the couple's four children. She completed her degree in elementary education from the university in 1968.
The family spent a few years in Colorado while Vernon pursued a doctorate, then returned to St. Cloud State, where he worked as a professor. Mary Ann earned her master's in special education from the university and taught in the local school district until she and Vernon retired from teaching in 1995.
The couple's four children followed in their footsteps, all earning master's degrees of their own. Daughter Liz Leitch-Sell '79 and her husband, Chuck Sell Jr. '80, are graduates of St. Cloud State. Daughter Laurie Leitch earned two master's degrees from St. Cloud State and her husband, Bill Gorcica, is an art professor at the school.
"Our four children weathered the chaos (even living in a tent) brought on by two parents in school for years," Mary Ann says.
As a reflection of their commitment to the university, the couple has endowed the Mary Ann and Vernon Leitch Scholarship for Math Education or Special Education. Laurie and Liz have also made plans in their estate to support the scholarship.
"I was 32 years old before graduating, so we understand the extra burden carried by a nontraditional student," Mary Ann says.
The Leitch family sees the scholarship as a way to give back.
"St Cloud State is a great school and we are proud to have attended and taught there for the better part of our lives," Mary Ann says.
Start a Family Tradition of Giving
If you would like to explore ways to support future Huskies, as the Leitch family is doing, please contact Josh M. Lease '96 at jmlease@stcloudstate.edu or 320-308-4970.
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