Kathleen Stuart (right), with her mother, Gertrude Light Hubbard, has helped to ensure future generations will benefit from an education at Virginia Western.
Thus, the Gertrude Light Hubbard Endowed Scholarship was established. The idea caught on, and friends and relatives donated funds at Mrs. Hubbard’s 100th birthday celebration and then as memorials at the time of her death. But Stuart didn’t stop with her mother’s scholarship. “My father’s life experiences were very much like my mother’s,” explains Stuart. “He grew up on a farm in Bedford County with five siblings and little opportunity for much education.” And like Mrs. Hubbard, Stu- Melvin’s life was spent with doctors, art’s father, Raymond, always wanted in hospitals and at home. to better himself – to the point where As for Stuart, her educational ophe studied course books on refrigera- portunities have been much different, tion and air conditioning every day thanks to the help of scholarships. after his “shift-work” job. But perhaps That’s why she believes “you should it was the pressure of his work and/or pay it forward!” the stress from dealing with his son A graduate of Jefferson High (and Stuart’s brother) Melvin’s sei- School, Stuart was never considered zure disorder that presented obstacles, for the “college track” (although her diminishing his effort to utilize the grades indicated otherwise); yet she coursework in his managed to soar work life. through college, eventually earning Melvin was diagnosed with the her doctorate in Voseizure disorder at cational Education 16. A civil air pafrom Washington trol cadet, he was State University in enamored with flyPullman, WA. Not ing — so much so long after, a job offer that he worked at as the Home Ecothe Clover Creamnomics Supervisor ery Company to in the St. Paul Public finance flying lesSchools sent Stuart sons. At just 16 he back to Minnesota, Kathleen Stuart succeeded in solowhere she had preing! But after havviously earned her ing a seizure at school one day, he MS in Public Health and Nutrition was sent home in an ambulance and at the University of Minnesota. Stuart asked not to return. The remainder of stayed in that job for 18 years until she Virginia Western Educational Foundation Alumni & Friends News • Volume 1 • Issue 2
retired in 1992, after having served as Assistant Director of Vocational Education for six years. “I doubt that I would have been able to complete the level of education I have attained without the help of scholarships,” says Stuart. “My life has been fuller and richer because of my educational opportunities, which in turn provided the opportunity for meaningful work and for a salary and pension that allow me to maintain an independent lifestyle.” Stuart believes she has a responsibility to help others who need to have someone to believe in them and to provide financial help to achieve their goals, like her parents and brother. “I am proud of them,” says Stuart. “Each of them was dealt some tough issues and even though their formal ‘schooling’ was less than they would have liked, they tried to continue their education through reading newspapers, books, magazines and whatever they could get their hands on. It gives me a good feeling to think their names will be remembered for many years through their gift to students at VWCC.” Spring/Summer 2008 • 13