FORGING FUTURES
"Planting Seeds in a Garden You Never Get to See"
BY MIA CROSS M'03
Frostburg State University began 125 years ago as a teacher's college, training young adults for a career in education. College is one of the biggest investments a student will ever make. But not everyone can afford to pay for a higher education.
Thankfully, there is an array of scholarships available at Frostburg State University to help student realize their dreams of a college degree. Profile highlights three special scholarships that keep education professions accessible for eligible FSU students.
The Suzanne P. Himmler '68 and Charles J. Himmler '74 Education Scholarship
The Suzanne P. Himmler ’68 and Charles J. Himmler ’74 Education Scholarship was established in 2022 by the couple to honor each of their teaching careers. Suzanne earned her bachelor’s in liberal arts and sciences, majoring in English. Charles earned his bachelor’s in liberal arts and sciences, majoring in social science. Both Himmlers are first-generation college graduates.
Charles attended FSU after earning his associate degree from Allegany College of Maryland, which coincidently is where he landed his first job, teaching sociology and psychology and assisting veterans with education eligibility. He went on to have a lengthy career, coordinating vocational support service programs for students with special needs at Northern and Southern high schools in Garrett County.
“My father only went to school until the third grade and my mother went until the fourth grade,” said Charles. “I was the only one of my siblings to go to college.”
Suzanne’s father had to quit school in the seventh grade after his father passed away. “He delivered newspapers, and that’s how he and my grandmother survived. So, there was no question in my father’s mind that I would go to college,” said Suzanne.
Suzanne taught reading and English at what is now Washington Middle School in Allegany County. “I quit teaching for about five years when our second son was born, but I went back to teaching after that.” She remained an educator in the Allegany County Public School System her entire career until her retirement in 2005. “After I retired, I taught classes off and on at ACM and I taught three years of freshman composition at FSU.” Suzanne also taught evening reading classes at FSU for a short time.
“Education has been very important to both of us,” Suzanne added. “And we can help others now and that’s the reason we wanted to establish this scholarship. To help others who might also be the first in their families to be able to go to college.” Charles echoed those sentiments. “We felt it necessary to pass on the fortunes we have gained over the years.”
“All of our experiences at Frostburg were good, and graduating from there was a big step in our careers,” recalled Charles. “College changed our lives immensely, and it could change someone else’s life, too.”
Eligible recipients of The Suzanne P. Himmler ’68 and Charles J. Himmler ’74 Education Scholarship must be enrolled in the Department of Educational Professions and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Visit frostburg.academicworks.com for more information.
The Betty Wendelin Memorial Elementary Education Scholarship
The Betty Wendelin Memorial Elementary Education Scholarship was established by Betty’s daughter, Jane K. Wendelin ’75, to honor her late mother.
“My mother was an only child and a first-generation Italian,” recalled Jane. “My great grandmother was illiterate, and my mother grew up during the depression and WWII.”
Betty Wendelin was “very intelligent” remembered her daughter, who said she graduated third in her high school class. Betty had dreams of going to college to be a teacher, but those dreams never came to fruition.
“My mom’s grandfather sent her instead to Robert Morris Business School where she studied typing, bookkeeping and stenography,” Jane said. “When I was a senior in high school, my mother went to work for Montgomery County Public Schools, first as a library aide and then as a school secretary. … She thrived there, but always said she should have gone to college to be a teacher.”
Jane’s parents both retired from the Montgomery County Public School System, her father as an industrial arts teacher and her mother as a secretary. After her father’s passing, Jane and her brother were the beneficiaries of the Wendelins’ hard work and savings.
“At that time, I decided I wanted to pay it forward, and since my mom could not be a teacher, I thought it might be right to try to help another Maryland student become a teacher in her name.” Jane continued, “Since Frostburg is my alma mater and is a school with great teacher training programs, I felt it was the perfect place to set up the funding.”
The Betty Wendelin Memorial Elementary Education Scholarship has been established in such a way to help the recipient for multiple years. Jane also has plans to endow this scholarship so that it will continue to be available for students in years to come as they pursue their own dreams of becoming teachers.
Applicants for this memorial scholarship must have a major within the Department of Educational Professions, with a preference for students studying elementary education. Visit frostburg.academicworks.com for more information.
The Frances Ann Shaw Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers
The Frances Ann Shaw Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers was created in 2022 by her family to honor her teaching legacy, while supporting aspiring educators pursuing their own goals and dreams at her alma mater.
Shaw assisted in several elementary schools while her children were young. After raising her family, “Frannie” chose to further her own education, enrolling at FSU as a nontraditional student. Her family recalls that she “recognized that her true calling and passion were for teaching.” Shaw graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in secondary education and then later earned her master’s in English and administration and supervision. She went on to have a successful 35-year career as a public educator and supervisor in the Allegany County Public School System.
“It wasn’t always easy for her going to college in her 30s,” said David, Shaw’s husband. “But it was always easy to see that Frances Ann was meant to be a teacher.”
Shaw, who passed away in 2021, touched the lives of so many students during her career. “There aren’t words to adequately describe what it is to have known and loved Frances Ann Shaw,” remembered former student Jennifer Porter ’02. “She came into my life when I was an awkward middle schooler and somehow managed to continue to foster my love of reading and writing.”
Shaw’s daughters, Stacey Weimer and Shannon Green ’95/M’01, shared via email: “It brings a smile and feeling of pride when a former student of our mom will share with us a memory or message that Mrs. Shaw was the reason they came to school, the reason they loved school or the reason they were able to graduate.”
The Shaw scholarship was also a popular one on Giving Day this year, raising $2,850 during the 24-hour fundraising campaign. “My husband and I knew that we wanted to be a part of Giving Day efforts, not only as FSU alumni and proud parents of a current Bobcat, but also as a cheerleader for Frannie’s scholarship and legacy,” said Porter.
Shaw’s husband added, “We are grateful for the support that we received in making this scholarship possible in her memory.”
For Porter, honoring Shaw’s legacy by creating a scholarship rewarding future teachers is the perfect way to pay tribute to her. Quoting the musical Hamilton, Porter said, “Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. … If that’s the case, Frances Ann Shaw planted a garden that will bloom in perpetuity.”
To be eligible for this memorial scholarship, students must have a major within the Department of Educational Professions and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Visit frostburg.academicworks.com for more information.