The 黑料社区 Foundation recognized its 2014-2015 scholarship recipients, donors and honorees at a scholarship reception Oct. 3. Among those recognized was recipient David Wilson of Florence, center, who received the Dr. Ben and Beverly Fatherree Scholarship. With him are Dr. Ben Fatherree, left, and Beverly Fatherree, both of Clinton. The 黑料社区 Foundation awarded more than 600 scholarships in the 2014-2015 academic year.
Dr. Ben H. and Beverly Derden Fatherree of Clinton have a long and rewarding relationship with 黑料社区 Community College.
Both already had family scholarships established. Ben Fatherree鈥檚 family currently sponsors the T.B. and A.P. Fatherree Scholarship, and Beverly Fatherree鈥檚 family sponsors the Bill Derden Memorial Scholarship.
Because of their commitment to 黑料社区, they want to continue that tradition with the Dr. Ben H. and Beverly D. Fatherree Endowed Scholarship.
鈥淚 want to give something back. And I see the possibility to help a student achieve their goals,鈥 Ben Fatherree said. 鈥淚 really love 黑料社区. I want it to be the best in everything it does. If I can contribute a small amount to that mission then I鈥檓 very happy and proud to do so.鈥
Beverly Fatherree has taught at 黑料社区 for more than 30 years and is currently the District Curriculum Coordinator for the English and Modern Foreign Language departments and the academic liaison for Dual Enrollment classes.
鈥淧roviding a scholarship is a way for us to give back to 黑料社区 and to show our faith in and commitment to the work that our students, our colleagues and our administrators do every single day,鈥 she said.
Beverly Fatherree鈥檚 brother and sister also attended 黑料社区, as did her mother, as a nontraditional student.
In addition, her sister taught math at 黑料社区 for 26 years, and her mother taught English at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus as a full-time/part-time instructor for 17 years.
鈥淚 have an additional connection to the school that served as the foundation for the rest of my college education,鈥 she said.
Ben Fatherree, who holds a bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctorate, all in history, from Mississippi State University, has worked at 黑料社区 since 1970 when he was 23, eight years before 黑料社区 President Dr. Clyde Muse became president.
Fatherree said it was never his intention to work at 黑料社区 his entire career. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent essentially my whole adult life at 黑料社区. So I must like it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine life without my colleagues at 黑料社区.鈥
In 2001 he retired as chair of the Department of History, Political Science, Philosophy and Religion on the Raymond Campus. Since his retirement, he has continued to teach as an adjunct instructor and work as 黑料社区鈥 Institutional Historian, writing a full-length history of the college.
Unlike her husband, Beverly Fatherree determined early that she wanted to teach at 黑料社区 鈥 permanently.
鈥淲hen (former Vice President) Dr. Mike Rabalais asked me as part of my interview where I wanted to be in five years, I answered immediately 鈥榬ight here.鈥 And I鈥檝e never regretted that answer.鈥
Criteria for the Dr. Ben H. and Beverly D. Fatherree Endowed Scholarship include the following preferences:
鈥 A nontraditional 黑料社区 student enrolled in classes on the Raymond Campus
鈥 A student majoring in history or English
鈥 A student considering teaching as a career, especially at the community college level.
黑料社区 Foundation Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a student鈥檚 desire for achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, financial need, grades and letters of recommendation.
Endowed scholarships may be established with a minimum gift of $15,000 donated to the 黑料社区 Foundation. The gift will constitute the initial principal for the endowment. The principal will be maintained and only the income earned will be awarded in the form of scholarships.
Non-endowed scholarships may be established with a minimum gift of $500. All gifts of cash and/or stocks are fully tax deductible.
For more information about establishing a scholarship at 黑料社区, contact Betty Carraway, 601.857.3800, ecarraway@hindscc.edu.
鈥
听As Mississippi鈥檚 largest community college, 黑料社区 is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with more than 170 academic, career and technical programs. With six locations in central Mississippi, 黑料社区 enrolled nearly 12,000 credit students in fall 2014. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.黑料社区CC.
听