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MHS 40 Year Club Scholarships
For those new members of the MHS 40 Year Club
and also for those members who have always wondered just how our scholarship
committee functions, where the monies come from, and where and how the funds are
awarded, now is your time of learning.
Scholarship History
When the MHS 40 Year Club was
started in 1956, the purpose was to have a time and place for those graduates (40
years or more since graduating) to get together every two years. As time
passed it was determined that there was an additional need to help
deserving new MHS graduates who wished to go on to a college of their
choice. Several 40 Year Club members wished to give or leave money for
this purpose.
In 1982, the Scholarship
Committee was first formed with Elita Flick, Pauline Morrow, Dick Barham, Dick
Carver and Lee McMillan as founding members. Louise Waters and Omar
Washburn soon became very active with the Scholarship Committee, and Louise soon
became chairperson and continued with that responsibility until recently when
she thought it time to turn over those duties. We are grateful for the
commitment Louise made to the MHS Scholarship Fund. Louise has agreed to
remain on the board. The new head of the Scholarship Committee is Judge
Gayle Ford (soon to be retired from the bench).
The purpose and responsibility
of the Scholarship Committee is to guard the funds which have been received and
administer the outgoing scholarship awards to the selected recipients. In
conjunction with the counselor at Mena High School, who chairs their
scholarship committee, the 40 Year Club awards two (2) scholarships per
year based on the students most in need.
The MHS 40 Year Club Scholarship
Committee has received many wonderful contributions over the years. The
very first came from Billie Reed Stayer, who contributed $1000.00 in memory of
her parents, William P. and Margaret Reed; Morris Griffith left a
substantial contribution in his will. The funds have continued to
grow with time. Only the interest is used for funding
scholarships--therefore preserving the principal to guarantee future help
for young needy graduates.
The very first recipient of a
MHS 40 Year Club Scholarship is quite a success story. Jennifer Mannon
used her scholarship monies to get both her BA and Masters in teaching.
She now teaches at the college level. Many MHS students have been assisted
through this fund in the past, and many more will receive our help in the future.
Should you wish to discuss
making a contribution to our scholarship fund, Judge Gayle Ford would enjoy
visiting with you. Every time our endowed funds increase, the amount
of scholarship monies available for awards also increases.
Mena has been blessed with folks
who enjoy coming home to see old friends and relatives. The MHS 40 Year
Club offers an opportunity to former graduates to come together every two
years. Many of our members wish to give something to the future
graduates that will always be remembered. Think about the past; was there
funding when you wanted to go to college? If you can help today, there are
certainly students worthy of your consideration who will someday be MHS 40 Year
Club members.
Thanks for reading your history.
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