The Fogle Cultural Travel Scholarship

Background

A romance that developed on the Georgetown College campus in 1920 is the source of The Fogle Cultural Travel Scholarship. Established in 1997 by Dr. David P. Fogle of Annapolis, Maryland, and Mr. Raymond O. Sommers of Louisville, Ky., the scholarship honors David E. and Alice P. Fogle, Dr. Fogle’s parents, and Martha Fogle Sommers, Dr. Fogle’s sister and Mr. Sommers’ wife.

The romance was between Professor Alice Porter, piano teacher and head of the music department, and Professor David Fogle, Chair of romance languages and teacher of Latin, French and German. They were married in 1920 and moved into a college house on the corner of Jackson and Mulberry streets. A family story has it that David telephoned his intended and asked, “Miss Porter, will you come to Cincinnati with me to get married?” to which the irrepressible Miss Porter replied “Yes, of course, and who is it calling, please?” An unlikely couple, he was much older, scholarly, dignified, and considered formidable by students, while she was a vivacious, unconventional redhead, referred to by the college president as “the worldly Mrs. Fogle.”

David Fogle, an 1895 graduate of Georgetown College, received the A.M. degree from Harvard University in 1909, and an LL.D. from Baylor University in 1920. He also attended the University of Göttingen in Germany and the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1898, David began a teaching career at Georgetown that spanned 45 years. In 1912, he founded Fogle Tours, convinced that a proper classical education required a first-hand knowledge of western civilization, and that a student of a romance language should spend time in the country to which that language belonged. He knew seven languages and became an authority on European culture, leading students and travelers through Europe, and lecturing on art, architecture and literature.

Miss Alice Porter studied in Boston at the New England Conservatory of Music. After her marriage to David, she retired from teaching to raise three children, Martha (b. 1921), David (b. 1929), and Danielle (b. 1930). She was active in many social and cultural organizations in Central Kentucky. In 1936, she led a Kentucky Garden Club tour to Holland for tulip time. Her success created a demand for more travel, and she spent the rest of her life, after Dr. Fogle died, traveling the world. She died at her home in Georgetown at age 87, just days after returning from an around-the-world cruise.

The Fogles’ oldest daughter Martha graduated from Georgetown College in 1941 with a French major and English minor. In 1942, she received a Master’s degree in French literature from the University of Kentucky, and she married Raymond Sommers, whom she had met while both were on a cruise ship to Alaska. They had three children, David Porter, Alison Anne and Anne Porter, all born in Connecticut where Raymond was a manager with General Electric.

Martha Fogle Sommers was active with the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Alliance Française and the First Congregational Church of Old Greenwich. Like her father before her, Martha had her own travel business, Fogle Tours and Travel, Inc. She and her husband Raymond led tour groups all over the world, including China, Russia, Australia, South America, Southeast Asia and Europe. Martha died in 1996.

Purpose

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students, based on academic merit, who as a part of their college experience, are presented with opportunities to travel abroad in western Europe for the purpose of studying one or more of the following: history, literature, anthropology, archeology, music, art, architecture, or foreign languages.

Eligibility

The travel scholarship(s) may be awarded to any upper-class student who meets the following criteria:

  • Is a full-time student planning to graduate from Georgetown College
  • Has achieved a 3.0 grade point average
  • Demonstrates that the travel will enhance the student’s study of: history, literature, anthropology, archeology, music, art, architecture, or a foreign language.

Period and Amount

Scholarship(s) of up to $1,500 will be awarded from the fund’s income of the preceding year, per Georgetown College spending policy. Funds awarded may be used to cover the cost of travel, including airfare, room and board, and conference fees.

Selection

Scholarship recipients will be selected by the the Director of International Programs and the Academic Dean. Eligible students shall apply for scholarship aid of up to $1,500 by submitting a letter of application to the Director of International Programs at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the commencement of travel. This letter shall describe the purpose and timetable of the travel, and how it will enhance the student’s study in one or more of the above-referenced subjects. Application letters shall be reviewed by the Director of International Programs, who may conduct interviews as deemed necessary. The Director of International Programs shall submit recommendations to the Academic Dean for final approval. The Director of International Programs may require Fogle Scholars to make a written journal of their travel describing how it enhanced their study. A follow-up evaluation of the travel shall be conducted by the Director of International Programs.

Any student receiving scholarship aid from this fund shall be known as a Fogle Scholar. A plaque bearing the name of all Fogle Scholars shall be maintained by the College in the Anna Ashcraft Ensor Learning Resource Center. Costs of the plaque shall be paid by the Fogle Endowment. Dr. David P. Fogle and Mr. Raymond O. Sommers are notified annually of the recipients.

 

Contact International Programs: 502-863-8390 or emily_brandon@georgetowncollege.edu