MAC Foundation donates nearly $47,000 to student scholarships

Alumni and friends of Mineral Area college and its predecessor, Flat River Junior College, have helped the MAC foundation increase its endowed scholarships and help several students during the current school year.  

"Our donors' contributions really fortify our students' educational opportunities, and create endowed scholarship funds for future MAC students," said Peggy Ropelle, Foundation board member. "As college education costs — tuition, fees and textbooks — slowly creep higher, students and their families feel the financial pinch. These increases coupled with the higher gasoline and food prices directly impact our students' budgets, so the student scholarships provided by the Foundation are welcomed by MAC students."

Ropelle said for the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters, MAC Foundation has awarded nearly $47,000 in student scholarships and increased its general scholarship funds. The scholarships are a combination of earnings from the endowed scholarship funds and one-time scholarships from donors.

This year, scholarship money was raised and dispersed in a variety of ways, helping dozens of MAC students realize their education.

The 2007 MAC Foundation Gala, held in November, raised $8,264 for student scholarships. The seven corporate sponsors — Aschinger Electric, Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, New Era Bank, Ozarks Federal Savings, Save-A-Lot, Show-Me Rent-to-Own, and Kromm, Rikamaru & Johansen — awarded $2,100 in spring 2008 scholarships to 14 students who were at the gala. The other $6,143 was added to the Foundation's endowed scholarship funds to help future MAC students.

Scholarships are also available to help with book expenses. Fredericktown's Betsy Royer, a freshman majoring in agri-business, received the Gawf Agriculture Book Scholarship. The Heimburger Book Scholarship was awarded to Renda Robertson, an art major from Potosi. Centene Corporation's scholarship was awarded to April Fischer, who is working toward a degree in medical coding.  

The Beulah M.Gray Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund was given to 11 students: floral design major Julie Brim; nursing majors Cory Bergner, Maggie Memhardt, and Lyndsie Smith; education majors Bobby Upchurch, Melissa Myers, Sara Flieg, and Josie Sebastian; business major Zach Smith; computer major Nicholas Hudson; and computer engineering major Nicholas Mahurin.

Five students received scholarships from the Joe. H. Scott, Sr. and Loretta Scott Scholarship Fund: business major Matthew Kohm, education majors Kristen Hart and Jessica Richardet, agriculture major Daniel White, and psychology major Courtney Bauman.

The Larry W. and Edith Skaggs Scholarship Fund provided financial aid for six students: psychology major Deborah Peters, education major Glenna Clark, electrical engineering major Joey Shoemake, nursing major Anita Kertz, and business majors Dustin Feeney and Aaron Pritchett.

The Cici's Pizza/Steak 'n Shake Scholarship recipient Cameron Crawford, of Arcadia Valley, is a physical therapy major and Cici's Pizza employee. The scholarship was a gift to owners Chip and Debbie Peterson from contributions from employees of the two businesses.

The William Jay & Roney Louise (O'Bannon) Parsons Educational Endowed Scholarship Fund assists MAC students in the Madison and Iron counties who pursue degrees in education or teaching. Heather Nichols, Amber Hollingsworth and April Thurman were selected as the recipients.

Jamie Weakley, a psychology/social work major, and nursing major Peggy DeClue-McCray are the recipients of the Desloge Wal-Mart Scholarship.

The Marsh Scholarship helped three students for the spring 2008 semester. Two nursing students — Anita McEntire and Hanna Jenkins—and a criminal justice major, Stephanie Winkeler, have their financial load lightened as a result of this scholarship.

Recipients of the William T. Hunter Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund are pursuing degrees in health care. Maggie Memhardt and Cory Bergner are nursing majors. Dena Casey is working toward her radiology degree and Aline Collin is a pharmacy major.

The Dr. Stanley Glick Memorial Endowed Scholarship was awarded to nursing major Dylan Hogan. The scholarship is to honor the life and career of Dr. Glick who served his community and placed a high value on education and his work in the medicine.

Irondale student Dane Horton, a unified science education major, is the first recipient of the Wesley A. Deneke Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. Many Flat River residents and junior college alumni contribute to this scholarship fund which remembers Dr. Wesley A. Deneke for his contributions to Flat River Junior College and the Flat River community.

Jason Yates, of Winona, is the Danny Staples Memorial Endowed Scholarship recipient. Jason is a sophomore and plans to earn a pharmacy degree.

Charles Johnson, an engineering major who plans to transfer to the University of Missouri-Rolla, earned the Harold Sebastian Memorial Scholarship.

Heather Harris, of House Springs, is the MAC Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund recipient. She plans to become a hospice care nurse.

Ropelle said students— both currently enrolled and those who plan to attend in the fall — need to realize a scholarship application is necessary to be considered for these awards.  Students can contact the MAC Financial Aid Department to secure a scholarship application. For more information about Mineral Area College Foundation, contact Peggy Ropelle at (573) 518-2114 or e-mail PeggyR@MineralArea.edu.

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs