College board approves resolution for scholarship donors

During their meeting Monday, Howard County Junior College Board trustees approved resolutions accepting several grants and donations, including a resolution recognizing the Lee and Dorothy Straley family for their support.

The family's donation creates the Lee and Dorothy Straley Endowed Scholarship which will be a valuable resource for students.

“The Straley's bedrock belief in education and learning is the foundation for this scholarship,” said Dr. Cheryl Sparks, Howard College President. “They lived a motto, ‘Work hard, do what is right, and go forward knowing that you have done the very best you can,' that carried forward to their future generations.” The resolution was accepted by Leanne and David Byrd. Leanne is the daughter of Lee and Dorothy Straley. “I wanted to do something to honor the memory of my parents and their belief in the foundation of learning. They were always striving to education the family to look ahead to what is possible, to educate yourself and learn more about the world and how it works,” said Byrd. “My parents believed that education should be earned and not given and wanted everyone to understand the value and cost of an education both to the student as well as their family.”

The scholarship will have priority consideration for students residing in Tom Green County and attending

the Howard College San Angelo campus. Additional preferences are:

• nontraditional students

• students working ¾ to full time or recently laid off

• student who do not qualify for federal financial aid

The scholarship can be used for short-term continuing education classes such as welding, certified nurse aid, phlebotomy, etc.

“We are so appreciative that Leanne and David chose Howard College to be a vessel in honoring their family,” added Sparks. “The scholarship fund is endowed and is also open to other contributors who would like to make a donation to the scholarship and continue the legacy of education started by Mr. and Mrs. Staley.”

“We want students to know that as they go forward with their education, there are people they don't even know, that believe in them and support them,” added Byrd.

In other business, Howard College Executive Vice President Amy Burchett told the trustees that a timing issue is making the college's fall enrollment seem lower than it actually is.

“The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board sets a census date for every semester term,” Burchett said. “What that is, in the 16-week long fall semester, it's the 12th class date. So on that 12th class date, they take a snapshot of your enrollment, and that is your enrollment according to the state. Period.”

Burchett said scheduling difficulties caused many Howard students to not be enrolled by the 12th class day.

“If you'll notice, on the census date enrollment, it looks we are down by about 17 percent as a district,” she said. “But what happened is, unfortunately, we had some schools that were struggling with some buses. It was primarily at San Angelo, our largest school, they were struggling with bus routes getting things organized at the first of the year, and we were not able to get those students enrolled by that 12th class date.”

Burchett said 791 of Howard's 4,590 students registered for classes after the 12th class day.

“They will be counted in our enrollment, but when you see Coordinating Board reports versus some of the internal reports that we share with you, that's where the difference comes in,” Burchett told trustees. “Years ago, we just decided its better to share with the board the Coordinating Board numbers, because that's what we will be paid on.”

The board approved a resolution of support for the San Angelo campus' partnership with Aeromotor Windmill Company of San Angelo.

“We had a company – Aermotor – they are in the windmill field. We're not talking about the wind turbines, we're talking about windmills, and there is a need for people who know how to work on those things,” said Dr. Sparks. “They came forward to work with our people and they are ready to give us a windmill that will be on our campus, and we will be doing the training.”

Sparks said the San Angelo Chamnber of Commerce has voiced support for the program, and Aermotor will also provide faculty support. The board approved the resolution in support of the program.