|
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his
influence stops.
Henry B. Adams
|
Dear Alumni Association,
Attending my 50th class reunion last summer
was a wonderful time to reconnect with memories of growing up in Holdenville
and the impact that friendships, the schools, and the community continue to
have on our lives.
As I drove back to Texas the next morning I thought about the
scholarships I received when I graduated in 1955. Although most of them were
small, when I put them together and added a part-time job, it was possible
to begin my education. I also thought of some of our outstanding
teachers who so generously gave of their time and talents to help us prepare
for the future.
In order to honor the past and contribute to the future, I would like
to give four scholarships to the graduating class of 2006: the Geneva Jo
Davis Scholarship in memory of a teacher who showed us the joy of making
music; the Marie Hillis Leadership Scholarship to honor an elementary
principal who made school an exciting and happy place for all children to
learn, the Christine Province Academic Excellence Scholarship in memory of a
teacher who set standards necessary for success in all professions; and the
Robert Slavin Creativity Award to honor an excellent teacher whose
unsurpassed creativity in developing programs such as Teen Town, the Elkette
Drill Team, the Summer Recreation Programs, and other after-school programs
kept us too busy learning and having fun to be bored or get into trouble.
Mr. Slavin was one of the first educators in the country to understand that
all learning does not occur in the classroom and to that end, he generously
gave his summers, evenings, and weekends so that we had a happy and safe
place for entertainment and development.
During our closing banquet at last year's reunion, I looked at all the
classes and was surprised to see how large and active our alumni association
is. It has since occurred to me that if each of us gave a small
donation to the scholarship fund in honor of a teacher, coach or
administrator who influenced us, our combined gifts could help deserving HHS
graduates continue their education.
I can think of no mission more worthy of our alumni association than
serving as a link that honors the past by contributing to the future.
If our gifts are received by May 1st, the current HHS administrators and
teachers will have time to prepare the awards for deserving students who
will graduate this year.
Perhaps the best way to predict the future is to invent it. Together
our efforts (both large and small) can invent educational opportunities for
those students who come after us and need our help. Please send your
contribution to the Holdenville Alumni Association today and enjoy selecting
the principals, coaches, and/or teachers you would like to remember with
your gift.
Sincerely,
Doris J. Simpson (Burkett)
Class of 1955
|
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his
influence stops.
Henry B. Adams |