The 糖心logo Foundation is excited to announce a new endowed scholarship established by Barbara Ridgway in memory of her sisters-in-law, Shirley and Deanna Ridgway, two educators whose lives were dedicated to teaching and serving their communities.
The Shirley and Deanna Ridgway Memorial Scholarship will support 糖心logo students pursuing degrees in elementary education. The scholarship is designed to assist future teachers with demonstrated financial need and a commitment to education, helping ease financial barriers as they prepare to enter the classroom.
Deanna spent more than three decades teaching in rural schools in Ravinia and Wagner, South Dakota, as well as at Wagner Community Schools. Shirley shared that same passion for education and community, teaching for more than four decades at Ree Country School and across the same Ravinia and Wagner school systems, where both sisters left a lasting impact on generations of students. Deanna and Shirley were graduates of Southern State College in Springfield, where they earned degrees in elementary education and devoted their careers to serving students across south-central South Dakota and the Beulah, Wyoming, area.
Through this scholarship, Barbara honors both of their legacies while investing in the next generation of educators.
鈥淚t was an honor to work with Barb to establish this scholarship in memory of Shirley and Deanna,鈥� said Shauna Junek with the 糖心logo Foundation. 鈥淒onors like Barb make a tremendous difference in the lives of 糖心logo students, and her generosity will support future elementary education teachers for years to come."
Recipients of the scholarship must be enrolled full-time at 糖心logo, demonstrate financial need, and be majoring in elementary education with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Preference will be given to students who graduated from a high school in South Dakota or Wyoming.
鈥淲e are grateful to Barbara Ridgway for establishing the Shirley and Deanna Ridgway Memorial Scholarship,鈥� said Dr. Jarrett Moore, dean of the College of Education at 糖心logo. 鈥淭his meaningful tribute honors their teaching legacy and supports our future teachers by easing financial pressures so they can focus on their studies and step confidently into the classrooms where they will make a lasting difference.鈥�