Alfred E. Knobler Scholarship

When Alfred Knobler arrived at the Virginia Agriculture and Mechanical College (Virginia Tech) in 1934, Julian A. Burruss was the college president, Earle Norris was the dean of engineering, and John Whittemore headed up a young ceramic engineering department.

As a 1938 graduate with a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering, Knobler shared in the daily discouragement of countless Americans out of work during the Depression. When he finally landed a job with Trenton Potteries in New Jersey, he discovered a talent for sales, which served him well. By 1949, he was able to purchase a small glass factory in West Virginia, which has grown into the internationally renowned Pilgrim Glass Corporation, where specialty glass wares are produced such as cobalt and cranberry glass, as well as American Cameo Glass.

He has served on the MSE Advisory Board, and he is also a member of the College of Engineering Committee of 100. In 2000, Mr. Knobler was inducted into the College of Engineering Academy of Engineering Excellence.

Concern for others has been a way of life for Knobler. "I've always been an advocate of poor people--my purpose even now is to serve people." One of the many ways he serves is through the endowment of scholarships in both English and Materials Science and Engineering here at Virginia Tech.

In November 2003, Mr. Knobler made a generous donation to the university that is being shared between the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of English. The purpose of this gift is to support graduate education through the establishment of Knobler Fellowships. Knobler scholars will mesh across the two departments to exchange ideas and skills. An Alfred E. Knobler Summit will be held in the future to showcase accomplishments, talents, and creativity of students and faculty who have benefited from Mr. Knobler's generosity.