Donors create new scholarship
Carla Gwaltney Owens Sentinel Writer

Superintendent Scott Penland with Mary Street, Tommie Waldroup and Bobby Burch

Former Hayesville Elementary School Principal Bobby Burch and his two sisters, Mary Street and Tommie Waldroup, joined Clay County School Superintendent D. Scott Penland recently to announce the formation of a new scholarship through a $30,000 one time gift by Burch and his sisters. Ms. Waldroup is also a former member of the Hayesville Elementary School staff where she served as a teacher.

The Burch siblings said the money donated to the Clay County Schools will be placed in a mutual fund and the interest will be used to give one Hayesville High School graduate financial assistance each year. The specifics of the scholarship are yet to be determined and the first scholarship will be awarded beginning with next year's graduating class.

Superintendent Penland thanked Mr. Burch, Ms. Street and Waldroup for their kind gift and said it is yet another way members of the community and alumni of the local school are giving back. Burch said one reason he and his sisters decided to make the gift public was to encourage others in the community to do the same. Burch and his sisters agreed that although their individual gifts might not be large, that together they will be able to do something for the future of Clay County by providing help to a student who needs financial assistance to go to college.

Burch said he believes that there are other individuals in Clay County who have the financial ability to give back and he and his sisters encourage them to do so.

"We hope that this will cause others to see they can do the same," they commented. "I think there are a lot of people who can afford to do this, too."

Penland said that every scholarship the school gives makes a huge difference to some student. And as college tuition increases each year, Penland said that every bit of help a student receives makes a difference.The Burch siblings said that they know there are many students in Clay County that may not be able to afford a college education and it is their hope that the money they have given will help one of those students.Penland said that several years ago Clay County Schools set up the Clay County Educational Foundation to make giving to the school easier. Penland said anyone who is interested in setting up a scholarship for Clay County students can do so with very little trouble and encourages anyone who would be interested in donating to form a scholarship fund to contact him. "It makes a real difference to our students who need little help going to college," Penland commented.

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