SAN ANGELO, Texas — A donation made to Howard College will create a scholarship to help students attend the college.
The college's board of trustees approved a resolution recognizing the Lee and Dorothy Straley family for their donation during it regular meeting Monday, Sept. 26.
The family’s donation creates the Lee and Dorothy Straley Endowed Scholarship, which will be a valuable resource for students, a release from Howard College said.
“The Straley’s bedrock belief in education and learning is the foundation for this scholarship,” Dr. Cheryl Sparks, Howard College President, said. “They lived a motto, ‘Work hard, do what is right, and go forward knowing that you have done the very best you can,’ that carried forward to their future generations.”
The resolution was accepted by LeAnne and David Byrd. LeAnne Byrd is the daughter of Lee and Dorothy Straley.
“I wanted to do something to honor the memory of my parents and their belief in the foundation of learning. They were always striving to education the family to look ahead to what is possible, to educate yourself and learn more about the world and how it works,” she said. “My parents believed that education should be earned and not given and wanted everyone to understand the value and cost of an education both to the student as well as their family.”
The scholarship will have priority consideration for students living in Tom Green County and attending Howard's San Angelo campus.
Additional preferences are:
- Nontraditional students
- Students working 3/4 to full-time, or recently laid off
- Students who do not qualify for federal financial aid
The scholarship can be used for short-term continuing education classes such as welding, certified nurse aid, phlebotomy, etc.
“We are so appreciative that LeAnne and David chose Howard College to be a vessel in honoring their family,” Sparks added. “The scholarship fund is endowed and is also open to other contributors who would like to make a donation to the scholarship and continue the legacy of education started by Mr. and Mrs. Staley.”
“We want students to know that as they go forward with their education, there are people they don’t even know, that believe in them and support them,” Byrd said.
Anyone interested in making donations to the scholarship can contact Brenda Madore, Howard College Chief of Staff and Institutional Advancement Officer, via email at bmadore@howardcollege.edu or by phone at 432-264-5051.
For more information about Howard College visit howardcollege.edu or contact Kaitlyn Brosh at kbrosh@howardcollege.edu.
