While sifting through his late mother’s home, Dean Tanella ’78 made an unexpected discovery: a collection of letters from the late Blair Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Jack Bogle ’47. The letters, written throughout Dean’s time in college, business school and the start of his career, offer a direct look at the mentorship Jack provided to the students he supported.

As the first recipient of the Bogle Brothers Scholarship, Dean is one of hundreds of Blair students whose education was made possible by Jack’s philanthropy. “My mom kept all of those letters because they were powerful influences on her son’s life,” Dean shared. “They are a living testament to Jack’s influence.”

Jack Bogle established the scholarship in 1975 to honor his brothers, David C. Bogle ’47 and William Y. “Bud” Bogle III ’45. His mission was to give students the same opportunity afforded to the three brothers to attend Blair. The scholarship has been given to students “of special promise to obtain necessary funding for their Blair education,” after demonstrating financial need, academic ability, character and determination. 

The Bogle family’s involvement went well beyond financial support. Jack and his wife, Eve, spent years reading letters from scholars about their daily lives on the hilltop and hosted an annual luncheon to meet them in person. Following Jack’s death in 2019, his brother, Bud, took over the tradition to ensure the connection between the Bogle family and the scholars remained intact. Now, former Bogle Scholars like Dean have carried on the tradition, staying in touch with scholarship recipients and witnessing their development throughout their academic careers.

At this year’s luncheon, Dean was joined by fellow alumni, including Blair Board of Trustee Emmanuel Bello ’04, Kristen (Bogart) Salmon ’01 and Corey Downey ’20, to meet with the current Bogle Scholars.

“If Jack was here today, we would marvel at Blair the same way I am, proud and humble,” Dean reflected. “He knew he had an influence on standard-setting, and to see it actually happening, bringing dreams to reality, is remarkable.”

The event remains a cornerstone for the Blair community, emphasizing the continuity of Jack’s mission. For the alumni in attendance, the gathering is a reminder of the impact of the scholarship on their own lives.

“Connecting with the students is always the highlight of the day for me,” said Emmanuel Bello. “There is a powerful sense of community in that room—a shared understanding that Jack’s gift was the catalyst that brought us all to Blair, which naturally inspires a deep desire to pay that generosity forward.”