The meaning and power of the phrase “pay it forward” was on full display during an Arkansas Tech University elementary education class in Tomlinson Hall room 110 on Friday morning.
A group of Arkansas Tech alumnae from the late 1950s surprised current Tech student Keri L. Todd of Ozark with a $2,050 scholarship to aid in her pursuit of a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.
“I am so surprised,” said Todd. “I want to express a heartfelt thank you. I have two boys, and they are my greatest motivation to be an elementary education major. This scholarship means the world.”
The story of the scholarship dates back more than a half-century to a lifelong sisterhood that was developed by a group of women in Caraway Residence Hall. Their friendships were rekindled in 2009 when they gathered for Homecoming at Arkansas Tech, and they have returned to Homecoming for a reunion every year since.
That group of Arkansas Tech Class of 1959 alumnae calls itself the Third Floor Caraway Girls. Lou Nell McCraw Davis, a retired music teacher, spoke on their behalf during Friday’s surprise scholarship presentation.
“I want to offer you two pieces of advice,” said Davis in speaking to the class. “Take your own personality into the classroom, and always remember the challenges that your students face…both those that you know of and those that you do not.”
Past recipients of the Third Floor Caraway Girls Scholarship have included math education student Heather Gordon Neumeier of Russellville, pre-medical biology student Linda Du of Baoding, China, and vocal music education major Michelle Einert of Ozone.
