King’s Scholarship Brunch Connects Approximately 200 Donors and Student Beneficiaries for Annual Philanthropy Celebration

Richard Pinola with John Gillespie, a King’s College medical studies student who was awarded the Rich ’67 and Krista Pinola Scholarship.

King’s College held its 9th annual Scholarship Brunch on March 25, 2025 to honor the institution’s donors and showcase their impact through the 96 annual and endowed scholarship programs represented at this year’s event, the largest number to date.

Nearly 200 donors and students attended the brunch. The keynote speech was delivered by the event’s founder, Richard Pinola ’67, who funds a needs-based scholarship for Wyoming Valley students at King’s College with his wife, Krista. 

After Krista first established a nursing scholarship at her alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, the Pinolas later attended an event where they met students who succeeded because of that scholarship. Inspired by that experience, Richard founded the Scholarship Brunch so his fellow alumni and friends of the institution can witness the same level of impact at King’s College.

“All of the people in here—some are alumni, some are from the community—they all give back and they're proud of these students,” said Richard Pinola at the brunch. “It’s a very important message to these bright young people who are just beginning their journey in life: we all need help. Start the habit of giving back and it becomes part of what you do to support and keep this incredible community growing.”

 “The support these scholarships provide goes beyond financial by giving the opportunity to pursue dreams, careers, and futures worthwhile,” said featured student speaker Victoria Zultevicz ’25, recipient of the Bernard and Margaret Shockloss Memorial Scholarship. A biochemistry and molecular biology major who is also a track and field athlete, Zultevicz plans to attend George Washington University to earn a master’s degree in forensic chemistry. 

“For many of us, a college education may seem impossible without a little bit of help,” she continued. “By earning these scholarships, we can focus on our studies as well as extracurriculars that make the college experience that much more valuable.”

The brunch is organized through the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement, which facilitates more than 280 endowed scholarships and 50 annual scholarships.