Beatrice Educational Foundation honors scholars, inducts Hall of Fame members

BEATRICE – Beatrice High School seniors received over $90,000 in scholarships through the Beatrice Education Foundation, during a Sunday afternoon ceremony and reception at BHS.  Scholarships ranged from $250 up to $7,000.

The Francis Fellwock Reed scholarships, each $7,000, went to Reganne Henning and Devin Smith. Five Fred and Virginia Vette Scholarships, at $6,000 each….were presented to Jace Pethoud, Roel Navarette, Cole Miller, Avery Plessell and Bennett Crandall.

One of the founding members of the Beatrice Educational Foundation, Mickey Gleason was honored Sunday as she is retiring from the organization after 34 years, with the BEF Star Award.

President of the Beatrice Educational Foundation, Andrew Carrothers says Gleason, a 1960 graduate of BHS, has long chaired the scholarship committee which administers various criteria for deciding the awards.  "It started with wanting to give a few scholarships. As of just this month, we're quickly approaching two-point-five million dollars in endowed funds for scholarships. Mickey has been an integral part of this and her commitment to this organization and to the school district needs to be noticed."

The Beatrice Educational Foundation has inducted two more members into its Hall of Fame. Rich Hovendick, whose family owns Griffiths-Hovendick Chapels, is a 1975 graduate of BHS, active in many community organizations and educational efforts…also known as the public address voice of Orangemen and Lady Orange athletics since 2005.

"The opposite of our inner peace is chaos and stress...and who can't think of a last two years thinking this is probably the most stressful and chaotic time we've all endured. For kids, one of the good things is that social media gives you a lot of instant gratification....a lot of instant acceptance...but it also gives you a lot of instant criticism, instant rumors, shaming and bullying. Give yourself permission to step back and to enjoy yourselves, and find your inner peace, whatever that might be."

Also inducted into the BEF Hall of Fame was 1964 BHS graduate Dr. Rebecca Cox-White, a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Philosophy at Cal-State University in Chico. She has authored numerous books and articles, with much of her work focusing on Biomedical Ethics. She was unable to be at Sunday’s ceremony, but issued a written statement urging students to learn as much as they can in many areas and to know and understand persons of varied backgrounds and cultures.

Named this year’s foundation Friend of Education was Jane Esau, who recently retired as the Coordinator of Gage County Four-H. Her longtime colleague, retired UNL Extension Educator Paul Hay, said Esau had a passion for her work.

"That's what she did in terms of helping generations of Four-H'ers in our county grow to be more well-rounded individuals. She touched based with school kids not only in Beatrice but elsewhere. This is a award for a person that's had a tremendous amount to do with education in our community."

Those attending Sunday’s event were urged to join the Beatrice Educational Foundation’s “B” Club, raising additional funds for programs and the mission of the foundation.