The opportunity to serve as a cheerleader at Arkansas Tech was part of a four-year adventure that provided Paulette Locke Johnson with a lifetime of friendships and memories.
“She always spoke so highly of her experience at Arkansas Tech,” said Mike Johnson, who was Paulette’s husband. “She had many, many friends that she kept in contact with throughout all the years she was alive. Arkansas Tech was a huge and important part of her life. She talked about it frequently, and it was obvious that (Tech) had a major impact on her.”
Now, her memory will live on at Arkansas Tech University in the form of the Paulette Locke Johnson Endowed Scholarship through the ATU Foundation.
Scholarship applicants must be in good academic standing at Arkansas Tech, be enrolled as a full-time student, perform 10 hours of community service per semester and demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to a member of the ATU coed cheerleading squad.
A graduate of Fort Smith Northside High School, Paulette was vice president of her senior class at Arkansas Tech. She was also a member of the Marquise Club, the Association of Women Students and Alpha Lambda Zeta, a social service organization that later evolved to become Zeta Tau Alpha.
Paulette graduated from Arkansas Tech with a degree in sociology in 1973. She found success in the oil and gas business and was manager of land and legal for Sedna Energy Inc. in Fort Smith. She also graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
“She was a wonderful person,” said Mike. “She had a deep faith in her lord, Jesus, and she lived that faith. She never met a stranger. She had a wonderful personality. She could go into a room full of people and light it up. She had the most beautiful blue eyes and smile. People loved her, and she loved people. She had a lot of life about her.”
Paulette died on Feb. 11, 2009. She was 57. Henceforth, her fellow Arkansas Tech cheerleaders will be eligible for scholarship assistance in her memory.
“Cheerleading was super important to her, but it was in the context of her whole Arkansas Tech experience,” said Mike. “She loved being a cheerleader and cheering for the Wonder Boys. She loved her entire time there, and it was such a standout experience in her life that I wanted to memorialize her with this endowed scholarship.”
Individuals who wish to contribute to or apply for scholarships through the ATU Foundation may call (479) 968-0400 or send e-mail to foundation@atu.edu.
