About Us
Foundation Trustees
Past Trustees
Past Presidents/Directors
About the Foundation
Mission Statement
The Princeton Education Foundation (PEF) is a not-for-profit foundation created to support excellence in our children's education in the Princeton City School district. The PEF funds scholarships, programs and purchases over & above what the school district provides, in order to maintain the "Princeton Advantage". In addition, the PEF supports restoring, maintaining, and building Princeton Pride.
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Since it's inception in 2011, the PEF has achieved many great things. This has been accomplished in part, by the hard work of it's Trustees and under direction of it's Presidents / Directors. Thank you, hardly seems fitting for your service, but know that it has not gone unnoticed!
Michael Wilson ~ Director from 2011-2014
Pat Seuberling ~ Director from 2014-2015
Ed Cunningham ~ President from 2015-2016
Jon M. Simons ~ President from 2016-2020
Tom D Benjamin - President from 2020-2021
Jon M. Simons ~ President from 2021-2022
"Better a little which is well done, than a great deal imperfectly. ~ Plato
We are so thankful for the work that has been done by our former Trustees, Presidents & Directors. Those that follow hope to continue the great work you started. (* - denotes founding members)
Dr. Gary Pack, Superintendent*
Mike Wilson, Director*
Monty Lobb*
Donald Darby*
Vicki Hoppe*
Gary Croley*
Eric Ball*
Karen Williams*
Tracey Farley-Artis*
Kareem Moncree-Moffett
Pat Seuberling, Director
Ed Cunningham, President
Paul Culter
Kathy McNear
Bill Parrish
Rodney Harris
Catherine VonBargen
Julie Webster
Darryl Mitchell
William Sprankles
Karen Williams-Harshaw
Octavia Gray
Erin Cleveland
Annie Perrin
Matt Weber
Bob Maine
Cindy Halbauer Taylor
Anna Johnson
Dr. Shantel Thomas
Beth Apking McDaniel
Shayok Dutta
Ed Theroux, Acting Superintendent
Dr. Thomas Tucker, Superintendent
Sarah Oliver - President
Laverne Mitchell - Vice President
Alexis Bayrak - Secretary
Sharla Ponder - Treasurer
Carmen Daniels
Eric Ruffin
Kristie Davis
Tiana Bailey
Anna Johnson
Our History
In 2011 a retired teacher who taught one year at Princeton High School bequeathed $250,000 to the Princeton City School District. The money was designated to create a Foundation to benefit the children in Princeton City Schools. The gentleman stated in his will that he gave the money because Princeton gave him his start in his career.
In October 2011 Princeton Administrator Mike Wilson was appointed as the Director of the Princeton Education Foundation. The Foundation Group, located in Nashville, Tennessee, was contracted to write the by-laws and file the paperwork for the formation of the Princeton Education Foundation as a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status.
Mr. Wilson began to recruit Trustees for the newly formed foundation. The first meeting of the Princeton Education Foundation took place in January 2012. There were nine original Trustees and Vicki Hoppe was elected as the Foundation’s secretary. The office for the Foundation was located in Princeton High School on Chester Road.
The first order of business for the Foundation was to sponsor the Viking 50 dinner on behalf of the Princeton Scholarship Committee. The dinner took place in February of 2012. The Viking 50 got its name in the 1980s when Princeton played Moeller in football each year. For fifty dollars a patron would get a ticket to the football game and a dinner prior to the game. The proceeds from the dinner were given to the Princeton Scholarship Fund. The dinner moved to February when the Princeton vs. Moeller football series was terminated. The Viking 50 had slowly dwindled in attendance over the years. In 2011 there were 40 people in attendance in the Princeton High School Cafeteria. The first time the event was sponsored by the Foundation in 2012, the event grew to an attendance of 160 and was held in the Princeton high School Cafeteria. A survey of Princeton supporters revealed that they wanted to move the dinner to an off-campus location and include more auction items.
In 2013 the Viking 50 was given a new name, “The Princeton Pride Gala.” The event was held in February with 322 people in attendance. Karen Forgus, Princeton Alumnus and Vice-president of the Cincinnati Reds, was the emcee. In 2014 the Gala moved to the Sharonville Convention Center and attendance grew to 678 people. Princeton Alumnus and Fox News Anchor Tracey Johnson was the emcee. The Princeton Pride Gala continues to be the premier event and primary fundraiser for the Princeton Education Foundation.
In August 2014 Mike Wilson returned to his role as a building administrator and a committee of Trustees was formed to hire a new Director. The committee chose Princeton Alumnus and former Wyoming Foundation Director Pat Seuberling. Ms. Seuberling took over as Foundation Director in August 2014 and served in that capacity for one year. The Foundation office was relocated to the Princeton Administration Center on Cottingham Drive in August 2014. In August 2015 Princeton Alumnus Ed Cunningham was elected as President of the Princeton Education Foundation and is the first volunteer to lead the Foundation.
Since 2015, Princeton Education Foundation has continued its fundraising mission and supporting Princeton Pride through the annual Gala, the Distinguished Alumni Banquet, providing food at football Homecoming tailgate party, and awarding scholarships and school grants.
Elgin Card, Princeton Superintendent
Jodi Kessler, School Board Liaison
Jon Simons, School Board Liaison