Scholarship Endowment Announced by the Education Foundation
Betty Stevens-Frecknall always talked about the importance of education and that we, as information systems professionals, had an obligation to encourage and support the students that will be the future of our profession. To those that knew Betty, it came as no surprise that when she passed on, a significant portion of her estate was designated to continue her personal involvement in supporting students.
Betty’s will provided $165,000 for her Chapter, the Washington DC Chapter, to set up a scholarship fund to assist deserving men and women who are pursuing an education in the field of Information Technology at a university in the United States. Betty was president of the Washington DC Chapter in 1972 and also served several years as the Chapter’s association director. She later was elected Region President for the Mid-Atlantic Region. Throughout her long career, Betty was always a staunch supporter of AITP and the opportunities it afforded for continuing professional and personal growth. She took the lead in establishing new professional and student chapters in the Washington DC area and was always willing to give of her time and money to support our Association. She rarely missed a Chapter meeting, in fact, she was a regular attendee at several different local Chapter’s meetings. Betty is a significant part of the long and proud history of the Washington DC Chapter.
The Board of Directors of the Washington DC Chapter asked AITP’s Foundation for Information Technology Education to accept the funds from Betty’s estate and establish the Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship Endowment which will be administered by the Foundation.
The intent of the Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship Endowment is to provide scholarship funds in perpetuity. The principal assets of the endowment fund will be kept intact and only the income from the principal assets will be used to finance the scholarship. The scholarship program will be established as an academic scholarship. Recipients must be full-time students pursuing a degree in Information Technology. A selection committee will choose the scholarship recipient on the basis of scholastic ability, leadership potential and financial need. The Foundation is currently developing the procedures and application and plans to formally announce the scholarship program at the AITP National Collegiate Conference in Tampa this March.
AITP and the Foundation, on behalf of all our members wish to thank the family of Betty Stevens-Frecknall for allowing AITP to honor Betty and carryout her wishes through this scholarship program. We also thank Jack Roof, president of the Washington DC Chapter, Peter Frecknall, executor of Betty’s will and all members of the Washington DC Chapter for their efforts and for their support in establishing the Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship Endowment. It is our hope and desire that the Information Technology profession will benefit from Betty’s generosity for years to come and that her spirit and dedication will be instilled in the students she touches through this gift and through her memory.
If you would like more information or would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship Endowment, contact AITP
headquarters or e-mail the Foundation president,
Mr. Kevin Jetton.