Our First Award

We awarded our first Tebo Family Scholarship last Wednesday.  I’m going to Adrian this afternoon to make a second presentation to the same winners.  Yes, I said winners.  Today’s presentation is just a formality.  Here’s what David and I said Wednesday evening in Addison.

My wife, Ruth, and I decided we wanted to set up a scholarship fund for the Addison Community Schools about a year ago.  We agreed to call it The Tebo Family Scholarship.

We lived in the district for forty-three years.  I had served as the elementary school principal for fifteen, and our three children, David, Elizabeth and Michael each spent their entire school career and graduated from here.

Our family wants to support people in a manner that suits them best.

We received a dozen applications for this year’s scholarship.   David, Elizabeth, Michael and I did an on-line interview with each of our three finalists:  Emily who plans to become an Occupational Therapist, Karlee who wishes to become a symphonic band instructor and Ava who wants to become a farrier.  During the interviews, David was in Mexico, Elizabeth and Michael were both in California, I was in Florida, and the girls were in Addison.  We wanted to know their story.

After discussing the interviews, we decided we need more Occupational Therapists, Symphonic Band Instructors, and Farriers, so we’re awarding a $1,000 scholarship to each one.

Congratulations to Emily, Karlee and Ava.

When we made the arrangements to establish the scholarship, we knew the IRS guidelines wouldn’t permit the people raising the money to make the final selection.  We could participate in the process, but the final decision regarding distribution would be left to others.

Emily, Karlee, and Ava impressed us during their interviews.  We liked each one for very different reasons.  Each of the original twelve applicants have the credentials to attend the school of their choice.  The interview helped us to get to know our three finalists a bit better. We want all three to achieve their goal, so we sought permission to help them all.  Our request was granted but this is a one-time only deal.

The funds we’ve raised have been placed in an endowed scholarship fund. The money is invested in a diversified portfolio, so scholarship funds will be available forever.  It’s a gift that will keep on giving long after all of us are gone.  That’s the beauty of it.

If you’d like to contribute, send your donation to the Tebo Faily Scholarship Fund c/o The Lenawee Community Foundation 440 W. Maumee Street   Adrian, MI 49221.  And to those of you who already have, thank you for helping us invest in Emily, Karlee, and Ava.