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August 17, 2008

Langston Scholarships awarded at reception

By Deanna Brown The Corsicana Daily Sun Sun Aug 17, 2008, 10:13 PM CDT

Eight years after she passed away, Tressie Lacy Langston is still making a difference in the lives of young people.

Langston, who served Navarro County as an extension agent for 33 years, retired in 1992, and passed on in 2000. Following her death, a foundation was established in her honor, the Tressie Lacy Langston Memorial Foundation, which awarded two scholarships of $500 each this year.

A reception was held Saturday evening at La Quinta Inn, where Courtney Vandiver and Donald Ray Lawrence were recipients.

Scholarships were presented by board member Irvin Yarbough, formerly of Elm Flat. Vandiver, who was in attendance, accepted her scholarship and stated she would be a student at Navarro College, studying pre-dentistry.

“After Navarro College, I plan to go to Texas A&M; University, and become an orthodontist,” Vandiver said.

Vandiver is the daughter of Kerry and Karen Vandiver, and the granddaughter of Wayne and Marlene Morgan of Emhouse. She lives between Emhouse and Ennis, and graduated from Ennis High School, where she was a cheerleader and softball player, and also showed goats for 4-H.

“We were absolutely thrilled,” said Karen Vandiver. “This was very unexpected. The timing was perfect, because Courtney is going to live on-campus at Navarro, and this paid off her first semester. She is a third generation Navarro College student, and will move in Wednesday to the honors dorm. We are very excited.”

Courtney was very appreciative of the Tressie Langston Scholarship, and said she has wanted to be a dentist since she was in the fifth grade.

“The interest in orthodontics kind of evolved from that, because I like kids a whole lot, and to be able to give them a beautiful smile is my dream.”

Lawrence was unable to attend, but board member Shirley Black accepted on his behalf. She said Lawrence is a Gold Star winner with 4-H from several years ago, and had moved to Houston. He is now attending Navarro College, majoring in accounting, and living in Corsicana.

Former scholarship winner Chastity Colbert spoke at the reception about what the Tressie Langston Scholarship meant to her when she received it in 2003. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, earned a math degree, and is now beginning her second year teaching math at McCallum High School in Austin.

“I know Tressie made a huge impact in my Mom’s life, because she talks about her often,” said Chastity of mother, Pam Colbert.

“We always welcome former 4-Hers to come participate with our board,” Shirley Black said. “If Mrs. Langston was instrumental in your life, we encourage you to participate. This could not have happened without the support of time and donations. I knew Tressie all my life, and Wallace Langston, her husband, wanted to give scholarship money to Navarro County students in her honor.”

Students from Navarro County are eligible to apply for scholarships, and applications are available at area high schools and in area churches. Applications are accepted from December through June 15, when they must be postmarked.

Ruby Williams, councilwoman from Precinct 2, spoke about her long association with Tressie Langston.

“Tressie came to town when I was an eighth grader,” Williams said. “She made you talk, she made you cook, she made you sew, she made you garden. She taught me many things, and even after I became an adult, she still wouldn’t let me quit.

“We’d load up every car we could find to go to out-of-town sewing or cooking competitions, and she was adamant about kids knowing everything possible, and knowing the Lord, which is essential.

“Tressie would do anything for any child,” she said. “No child was ever left behind.”

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Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com

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