PENHOLD – In 2013 the Ford Family Scholarship was set up by Stewart and Eileen Ford to support the highest achieving students at Penhold Crossing Secondary School.
The scholarship, valued then at $500,000 and managed by the Red Deer & District Community Foundation, was designed to give each worthy student $5,000 to achieve their post-secondary dreams.
But after several years the Fords realized a change had to be made.
“We always recognized that while a $5,000 scholarship was a wonderful thing, having two grandchildren in the education system, Laurel Autumn going for a degree in medicine and Jordan Alexis going into the dental field, we realized $5,000 wasn't doing it anymore,” said Stewart. “We increased the original fund by doubling it four years ago so it was able to produce a greater amount of return.
“And that has allowed us to do the five $10,000 scholarships.”
The five young beneficiaries at the Penhold school this year are Kassidy Meding, Sage Holland, Alivia Beuker, Nathen Young and Lauren Bichel.
“It means everything to those students. They all thought it (scholarship) was still $5,000 so we shared information it was up to $10,000 and there were tears,” said Clark Peters, school principal. "I just think this scholarship is the most amazing thing Stewart has ever done for kids in this town.
“It's impressive forward thinking beyond what most people would ever consider to do.”
The inspiration behind creating the scholarship came from Stewart's parents, who were both school teachers, as was Eileen.
He also had admiration and respect for the public school system.
Stewart noted Penhold was chosen more than a decade ago to be the location of a new rural high school in the region.
It was their belief it had to be an institution that would not only serve the town with the highest educational standards but outside it as well.
“Fine, let's make sure this school is exemplary and supported in a way that it will attract students, perhaps from areas outside the Red Deer County's catchment basin,” said Stewart. “We've been in this district as a family since 1884 and the wealth we acquired was made within this district.
“And it was in our minds the best way to give back to the district was something that would support education and go on well after the time we're gone.”
While the backstory may be interesting, Stewart and Eileen absolutely believe it’s secondary to what’s really important.
They note five outstanding young people are going to benefit and have a meaningful opportunity to chart a course for the rest of their lives.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” said Stewart in referencing a famous quote by Winston Churchill. “These kids have earned this by their intelligence and diligence.
“And here they are. The school educated them. They got their education at school in Penhold.”
