Clifton Education Foundation Scholarships
These scholarships are meant to recognize efforts you have made in high school to pursue academic achievement. Financial need is considered, but not absolutely necessary for these awards which can vary in amount and number. The Foundation hopes to encourage you to continue these pursuits in college and beyond.
Generous donations throughout the greater Clifton community have made these scholarships possible.
Billye and Joe Johnson Scholarship
This scholarship is only available to students who plan to attend Mary Hardin-Baylor University. The winner must have an excellent academic record and an enthusiastic involvement in community activities. The award can vary from $1000 to $3000 for one year.
This award is possible because of a generous gift from Billye and Joe Johnson in hopes of helping the youth of Clifton to achieve higher education goals.
Liardon Family Scholarship
This is a $1000 scholarship which is awarded annually to a student who excels in a science field and plans to attend a 4-year college in a science-related field.
Richard Liardon served CISD as a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent from 1960 to 1993. From 1993 to 2007, he served as a field service representative with the Texas Association of School Boards. His bachelor’s degree is from Texas State University and he later received a master’s degree in Education. Continuing his commitment to public education, he and his family established this scholarship to honor students of Clifton ISD and to encourage their post-secondary pursuits.
Wiseman T. Holder, M.D., Memorial Scholarship
The W.T. Holder Memorial Scholarship is $1000 annually. It is awarded based on academic achievement with accomplishments in extracurricular activities as well.
Wiseman T. Holder was valedictorian of the 1941 Class of Clifton High School. He played on the football team and was a leader outside the classroom as well. He received his M.D. degree from Baylor University and then practiced medicine in Clifton for 45 years. Generous gifts from his family and friends have established an endowment which makes this scholarship possible.
David & Dorothy Conrad Family Scholarship
Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students planning to attend a 2-year or 4-year college. The students must have been active members of FFA or 4H during their high school years and must be planning a major in the field of agriculture.
In completing the Narrative portion of the application, the student may address some or all of the following questions: (1) Why do you want to go into the field of Agriculture? (2) What Agriculture field would you like to pursue for a career? (3) What are several challenges that face Agriculture in today’s world? and (4) How will you “make a difference” in tomorrow’s Agriculture?
David and the late Dorothy Conrad have owned and operated a family business, Clifton Feed & Service, since 1968. David is a World War II veteran, serving in Allied-occupied Germany after the war. He and Dorothy were very active in the Clifton VFW, and David says that putting out flags and serving in the Honor Guard are his favorite activities. Farming and ranching were also important activities in their lives for many years.
A generous gift from David & the late Dorothy Conrad have established an endowment that makes this scholarship possible.
Betty Pearson and Leona McCown Memorial Scholarships
There are two separate $1000 scholarships which are available to those planning to attend a 2-year or 4-year college. Awards are based on financial need, academic scholarship, and demonstration of a strong determination to further one’s educational objectives.
Betty Pearson taught business classes at CISD from 1955 to 1987, as well as sponsoring the cheerleaders and pep squad at CHS. She received her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and her master’s degree from Baylor University.
Leona McCown taught English and History at CISD from 1946 to 1969, as well as being the UIL sponsor. The 1969 Old Mill was dedicated to her! She received her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and a master’s degree from Baylor University.
A generous gift from the Gerald and Judith Wilson Fund, along with additional funds from the Clifton Education Foundation, have made these scholarships possible.
Douglas M. Rogers Memorial Scholarship
This $500 scholarship is available to students who are planning to attend 4-year or 2-year colleges or technical schools.
Douglas Rogers served as Director of Operations at CISD in 1999 and 2000. He attended Hardin Simmons University on a full football scholarship. He worked in the oil industry for 40 years before coming to Clifton. After leaving his position at CISD he established and ran his own home inspection business for 17 years. He believed that hard work combined with a solid education is the key to success.
A generous gift from Douglas’s wife, Cherie, has established this scholarship to provide the same help to other graduates moving forward. “Pass it on.”
Ruth Townley Berry Memorial Scholarship
The Ruth Townley Berry Memorial Scholarship is $1,000 annually. It is awarded to a student based on plans to attend a 4-year or 2-year college or university. Preferential treatment will be given to applicants planning on a career in K-12 education, or who have family members who have had careers in education.
Ruth Townley Berry began her teaching career in rural schools in Bosque County after she graduated from Clifton Junior College with an associate’s degree. These rural schools included Meridian Creek, which was located on the former Parks Ranch, Cooper and Norse. As she was teaching in these rural schools, she completed her college coursework at North Texas State Teachers College (now University of North Texas), earned a bachelor’s degree in education, and went on to teach in several school districts. She spent a total of 40 years as a teacher and ended her career at Clifton Elementary School, where she taught for a total of nineteen of those 40 years.
A generous gift from Berry’s daughter, Peggy Berry, made this scholarship possible.
PETOL-Posey Giving Fund Scholarships
The PETOL-Posey Giving Fund was established to continue the benevolent legacy of Chester and Sue Posey. The Posey family has owned PETOL Gearench since 1978. Their generosity and goodwill for this community was exceptional. Of great importance to them was the education of our youth as valuable assets for the future.
Three scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded to graduating seniors who are planning to pursue further education at technical schools or 2- or 4-year colleges or universities.
Humphries Family Scholarships
These scholarships were established by way of a gift from Mary Hawkins of Taos, New Mexico. She named the scholarship in honor of her first husband’s family—the Humphries. She graduated from Clifton High School in 1948. Growing up during the Great Depression, opportunities to attend college were difficult to come by. She has established this fund in hopes that it will provide others with opportunities that were not available to her. Mary started working at a variety store in Clifton when she was still in high school, and she continued to work throughout her life. She was careful with spending, and was enthusiastic about saving, which has allowed her to be in the position of making such a commitment. The amount of these scholarships will vary from year to year. For 2023 there were three $12,000 awards made based on financial need and a strong plan for career advancement.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED THROUGH THIS APPLICATION
BUT NOT FUNDED BY THE CLIFTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Rogstad Scholarship
The Rogstad Foundation gives a single $5000 scholarship annually. It is awarded based on financial need and scholastic achievement, with an emphasis on students who have demonstrated a high level of integrity, community service, and academic success. Involvement in the school agriculture program or 4-H is helpful, but not required.
The Raymond and Mary Grace Rogstad Foundation was established in 1996 to benefit many organizations in the Clifton community, and of great importance was the Rogstad Scholarship. Being both business owners and farmers/ranchers, they had a great love of the community, which is evident by their generosity.
Buck Ludwick Scholarships
The Vernie Derrell “Buck” Ludwick Trust awards a varying number of scholarships every year to students with plans to attend a technical school or a 2-year or 4-year college. The student is required to demonstrate need and a realistic plan and goal for future achievement.
This scholarship was established in 1999 by Mr. Ludwick who made a sizable donation to establish an endowed trust that was to be available to assist graduating seniors at Clifton with an opportunity to further their education after high school.
Additional Scholarships and scholarship links may be found at: www.cliftonisd.org
Reminder: Completed application must be submitted no later than April 5, 2024.