Dave Nothstine’s wife, Mae Jean, was “one of 12 women” on campus when he was a student, recalls Dave, ME’55. A member of the St. Pat’s Board, Dave says calculus was the most intimidating class he took. Dave worked in the aviation industry from 1955 to 1995, retiring from McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) as vice president of international support services.

Dave and Mae Jean Nothstine. (Photo by B.A. Rupert)

During his career, he held many positions and titles, including chief program engineer, director of engineering and deputy general manager, all for the F-15 program. He was even responsible for support maintenance and depot operations for the Royal Saudi Air Force fleet of F-15 aircraft.

The Nothstines, members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh, now live on a golf course in Fort Myers, Fla. They recently made a $100,000 pledge to fund S&T’s new Silver and Gold Scholarship, an initiative for students with compelling financial challenges that threaten their ability to stay in school. In the coming years, S&T students may lose access to more than $1 million in aid from the federal government.

Donors like the Nothstines are working to help offset that loss. Through the initiative, Silver and Gold students will receive an additional low-interest loan equal to the amount of their scholarship award.