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Alumni Scholarship Program
Jun 22, 2010
Former Cougars and Eagles take note—a new opportunity is now available to show your true colors by supporting endowed scholarships for graduating seniors.
The Abilene Education Foundation has established an alumni scholarship fund to benefit graduates of both schools. Exes are encouraged to donate to the fund by going to www.aaeeff.org. Donations can be made online, and the donor can choose to have his or her name included on the Alumni Scholarship page on the AEF website. Also, donations can be made in honor or memory of someone and that person or family member will be notified.
The funds will be administered by the Abilene Community Foundation and held in an endowment fund with the Community Foundation of Abilene.
AEF Executive Director Jean McMillon is expecting that the first scholarships—one to a senior at each high school—will be made in spring 2010.
“We’re hoping for a thousand dollars each,” McMillon said.
Seniors can pick up an application form at the counselor’s office at each high school. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of participation in extra-curricular activities, potential for success in college, and financial need.
The scholarships can be used at any accredited two or four-year higher education institution. Seniors can apply in April of their senior year, and winners will be announced at each school’s scholarship awards presentation.
The alumni scholarship fund originated in 2008 when George Nichols, a 1958 AHS graduate, made the first donation. Sue Smith, an AEF board member who is directing the alumni endowed scholarship program, started tracking ex-Cougars to follow suit and she found James Hughes, a 1978 Cooper graduate, who along with his class, made the first donation on behalf of Cooper High School. Now, the hope is that other former students from each school will do likewise. The Abilene Education Foundation has made donating easy through its Web site.
“We hope each time you go to the website you donate to it, and that way it will be perpetuated,” Smith said.
From the beginning, Smith has been the main cheerleader for the alumni scholarship fund. She gives presentations at class reunions and other school functions in hopes of spurring interest. She can be contacted through the Abilene Education Foundation, 677-1444, to schedule a presentation.
“We want everyone who is an Abilene High or Cooper alumni to know about it,” Smith said.
Last updated: Jun 24, 2010
