Terra State offers full academic scholarship for students
The new Roy W. Klay Scholars Program will support two tuition and general fees scholarships for two students at Terra State Community College. This is the College’s first full academic scholarship.
In conjunction with Terra State’s 50th Anniversary, this award was established by Mr. Klay Huddleston, grandson of founding President Emeritus Roy W. Klay, and his family. “I love the mission of the College and we’re honored as a family to continue to support Terra State,” Huddleston said. He is currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Libbey Inc.
Huddleston is happy to help launch this scholarship program. “Education has always been very important to my family. I have teachers in my family and both of my sisters have an education degree,” he said. “My grandfather taught me the benefits of hard work and putting your all into something that will benefit the community and make the world a better place. I feel like creating a scholarship like this is a step in that direction.”
Two awards will be made annually with a goal to award one scholarship to a nontraditional, adult student to cover part-time tuition and general fees. “I’m really passionate about giving people an opportunity to restart their career path” Huddleston said. “I hope this scholarship allows them to develop new skills and, eventually, make a good living.” The other scholarship will be awarded to a traditional, straight out of high school student.
Eligible recipients must have financial need and be involved in extracurricular or community involvement, such as community service, employment or others. Students must be enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours per semester). The scholarship is renewable for a total of four years. To maintain eligibility, students must demonstrate the same criteria as for initial consideration. It is anticipated students will graduate within four years.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to offer a scholarship like this to two students,” Terra State President Ron Schumacher said. “This carries on the legacy of the College’s founding president, Roy W. Klay, by giving students the opportunity to earn a degree they may otherwise would not have been able to achieve. That’s what our community college is about.”
Students who are interested in applying for this scholarship must complete the Terra College Foundation scholarship application process. A committee will select the winners of the awards, as they do for other scholarships. More information and the application can be found at terra.edu/scholarships.
Any donor may contribute to this fund. Checks should be made payable to the Terra College Foundation and reference the Roy W. Klay Scholars Program.
Huddleston left advice for future students. “You have to think about the jobs that are going away and the jobs that are growing, like cybersecurity, and go to school for a degree or certificate that will get you into a growing field. That’s what I love about Terra—it feels like education for the 21st century.”