Thirty-five Students Receive Ernest H. and Ruby S. Hicks
Endowed Scholarships for 1998 - 99 Academic Year

CONTACT: DEBBIE NELMS, EXT. 2149

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/19/99
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON -- The late Ruby S. Hicks' love for education and her lifelong goal of helping students to achieve their educational best lives on in perpetuity at Tri-County Technical College by means of the Ernest H. and Ruby Sharp Hicks Scholarships.

This year, thirty-five students are benefiting from the generosity of Mrs. Hicks who, upon her death in 1992, bequeathed the majority of her estate, valued at nearly three quarters of a million dollars, to Tri-County Technical College to establish these scholarships. Mrs. Hicks was owner and operator of the 385-acre Water Oak farm at Five Forks and was the widow of Colonel Ernest H. Hicks, a Pendleton native who was a retired psychologist and educator.

This was the largest single donation the College has received in its 37-year history.

"Mrs. Hicks was interested in removing the financial barriers for many Tri-County students, many of whom otherwise could not have attended college," said Dr. Don C. Garrison, president of Tri-County Tech. "The major portion of her estate was earmarked for scholarships. Mrs. Hicks loved Tri-County and its students, because she believed in the mission of the technical colleges and wanted to see no one denied an education because of lack of finances."

The criteria for the scholarships are the intent to pursue a baccalaureate degree and a B average in high school and/or a 3.0 GPR while enrolled at Tri-County or any other college or university. The following students received scholarships for the 1998 - 99 academic year:

FROM ANDERSON: Theodora Bikas, Danny Brock, Demetrius Gambrell, Jennifer Minish, Allyson O'String, Aubrey Richey, Tammy Smith and Debbie Walls.

FROM PENDLETON: Gwendolyn Fleitstra and Molly Miller

FROM TOWNVILLE: Brandon Thomas and Cynthia Vasilas

FROM CENTRAL: Jamie Allen, Carissa Hood and Benjamin Wilson

FROM CLEMSON: Angela Robinson

FROM EASLEY: Jennifer Powell

FROM LIBERTY: Kela Cantrell, Timothy Elrod, Jennifer Stancil and Aimee Whitlock

FROM PICKENS: Judy Patrick

FROM SIX MILE: Krystal Britton

FROM SENECA: Rosella Fant, Robert Lavallee, Joshua Mack, Christopher Metler and Jeanna Poole

FROM WALHALLA: Crystal Gillespie, Faith Owens and Karen Powell

FROM WESTMINSTER: Crystal McAlister

FROM WEST UNION: Lindsey Martin, Kylie Murphree and Julie Underwood
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