The Lead.
The Galyk family of Marion has been a part of Marion Technical College since its start. Now they are starting a scholarship fund to honor Jane Galyk, who served generations of students over nearly 30 years. She passed away in June after a battle with ovarian cancer.
“We regularly ran into Marion Tech graduates Mom had helped,” said Erin Galyk, one of Jane’s sons. “We’d hear their success stories. They would thank her.”
“Jane helped thousands of students,” said Mike Stuckey, director of the Marion Technical College Foundation and one of Jane’s long-term colleagues. “She was dedicated to her work. I considered Jane a great coworker and friend.”
Jane’s Roots
Jane (Rayner) Galyk grew up in Marion. After graduating from Marion Catholic in 1979, she left to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees but returned to work at Marion Technical College in 1986.
There, a shy young computer lab assistant set up Jane’s computer in her office. Eventually, Michael Galyk Jr. mustered the courage to ask her on a date to a Christmas party.
“Driving home from the party, I just knew she was the one,” Mike remembers.
They were engaged in January 1987 and married a few years later, after Mike graduated from Marion Tech and started his career. He later became an instructor at Marion Tech.
Marion Tech: A Family Tradition
Mike wasn’t the first Marion Tech alumni in his family. His father, Michael Galyk Sr., was a member of one of the college’s first graduating classes in the early 1970s.
“I remember going to Dad’s graduation as a kid,” Michael Junior remembers.
Jane and Mike have two sons: Michael III and Erin.
“We literally grew up coming here,” Erin said. “If they didn’t have a babysitter on a weekend or over the summer, we’d fish on the pond while Mom worked. We participated in summer camps here. It’s had a huge impact on our lives.”
Jane’s sister graduated from Marion Tech’s nursing program and only retired this year. Both Erin and Michael III graduated from MTC as well.
The new Jane Rayner Galyk Scholarship will help nontraditional students who are 25 years old or older and in their second year. The goal is to help working parents make it to graduation.
“There’s a lot of scholarships for students who are coming straight out of high school. When you are an adult student, there’s not always that help available. Balancing working, school, and family is not easy,” Michael Junior said. ‘Marion Tech has been a big part of our lives. We thought it was important to create this in her memory.”
Legacy of Giving
The Galyk family has supported Marion Tech in many ways over the decades, including supporting the building for the Health Technologies Center on the Marion Campus.
“Giving back has always been important to my parents, Erin said. “The college is a critical asset to the community. When you compare MTC’s tuition to the cost of a four-year college, you can’t beat it. This is a great way to give back. We hope we can help students graduate without debt.”
“Marion Tech cares about the success of its students. You are not just a number,” Michael III said.
Wide Impact
That impact is not limited to just Marion and the surrounding counties.
“We have applicants from 54 counties. Our reach is growing,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, Marion Tech’s president. “Our average student age is 27. These new scholarships make a huge difference to help students get over the finish line and start or advance their careers.”
Andy Harper hired Jane in 1986 and worked alongside her for decades. Now retired, he sits on the board of the Marion Tech Foundation.
“Jane’s life and legacy showed how much she believed in students and wanted them to succeed,” Harper said. “As Mike, Michael and Erin spoke with us about Jane, her years at the College and the new scholarship in her honor, I was reminded of the years we shared here. She met and married Mike, Michael, then Erin was born and grew up on campus. An advantage of a small local college is the relationships developed and the extended family we become.”
Donations Welcome to Support This Scholarship Fund
Anyone wishing to support this fund can give to the Foundation at mtc.edu and designate the Jane Rayner Galyk Scholarship Fund.
