A Lasting Legacy: The Belle Johnson Scholars Foundation

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

In December 1997, Doug Johnson ’60 gave his mother an wonderfully meaningful gift. As the family gathered to celebrate Christmas, Doug read a letter to Belle Johnson which said, in part, “In honor and because of your efforts which enabled Glenn ( Johnson Brady ’65) and me to attend St. Martin’s, I have created the Belle Johnson Scholars Foundation.”

2017-18 recipients

Photo courtesy of Wally Porter '76

Now in its 20th year, the foundation has provided scholarship awards to 86 students in grades eight through twelve in honor of Belle, who was a Middle School science teacher from 1955 to 1985. After retiring, she served as a substitute teacher when needed and was an active member of the Board of Visitors.

“As I’ve watched our Belle Johnson Scholars progress from Middle School to Upper School, I’ve seen them mature tremendously. They’ve become more confident, more comfortable in their own skin, and they’ve branched out to pursue new interests.”

— PETER ADAIR ’98, Interim Head of Upper School

A LASTING LEGACY

$949,700 total amount of Belle Johnson Scholarship dollars awarded to St. Martin’s students since the 1998-99 school year.

$85,000 most recent scholarship gift to students in the 2018-19 school year

$20,000 first scholarship gift to St. Martin’s students in the 1998-99 school year.

86 students awarded Belle Johnson Scholarships since its inception

30 Belle Johnson’s years of service to StM

20 years of impacting the lives of StM students

14 students were awarded a Belle Johnson Scholarship in the 2018-19 school year