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Honoring a memory: Viola couple gives scholarships in name of son
Nov 07, 2009 (Moscow-Pullman Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Joann Jones wanted a way to help her son's memory live on.
She and her husband Dick's 13-year-old son, Ethan, died in a drowning accident in 1986. As a way to honor him and help others, the Viola couple established a scholarship award in his name starting in 1990, the year Ethan would have graduated high school.
Since that time they have awarded a $1,100 scholarship to 24 high school seniors from either Moscow or Potlatch for a total of $24,600.
Using education as a way to honor their son was an easy choice for the Joneses, who both received degrees from The Ohio State University. Joann was a professor for many years thereafter.
"We always figured that (Ethan) would go to college, and we both did as well," Joann said. "We were always appreciative of what our families gave us with the opportunity to go to school and we wanted to do the same thing."
The scholarship differs from others in that it is based on factors outside of exceptional grades.
"It is based more on their contributions to the community and the school," she said. "It seemed like the kids that have good grades got the awards that were given out by the larger companies, and there were a lot of people out there that maybe didn't have those type of grades, but still had valuable things to contribute."
The program isn't exclusive to four-year universities. It also can be awarded to students with an interest in technical education or a two-year school. Mostly it's designed to give someone a head start who might not have otherwise been allowed to pursue school.
When first awarded, the $1,100 was enough to roughly cover the first year's tuition at the University of Idaho. Though that's not the case anymore, it's still a substantial contribution.
"It's very satisfying to know that you can help kids, especially the ones who would not have been able to go to school and do something they really want to," she said.
Joann said the fund is reaching its final years and estimated that they would no longer be awarding the scholarship in four to five years. However, they will award a scholarship to both a Potlatch and a Moscow student from now on.
While the scholarship still exists, the Joneses encourage as many students as possible to apply.
"We really do want to get the word out," Joann said. "In the past we've only had five or six people apply sometimes, and we'd like to see more.
"Students need to talk to their counselors about what kind scholarships are available right now so they'll have time to try for them."
Mark Williams can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 301, or by e-mail at mwilliams@dnews.com.
To see more of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper,
go to http://www.dnews.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Moscow-Pullman Daily News,
Moscow, Idaho Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For
reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or
847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group
Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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