MU College of Education receives $1 million gift; will create scholarships for elementary education students
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
MU alumnus pledged a $1 million contribution to the University of Missouri’s College of Education during National Teacher Appreciation Week.
Gary J. Coles and Patricia McIntosh Coles's gift will be used to establish scholarships for MU students preparing to become elementary school teachers.
“We are extremely grateful for the Coles entrusting the MU College of Education with their legacy and generously expressing their love of education by assisting generations of future teachers,” said Erica Lembke, interim dean of the MU College of Education. “Their passion for education really shines through and their commitment to our college will support our students both now and in the future.”
Patricia Coles is a longtime school teacher and administrator, including several years of teaching at Columbia Public Schools in the 1980s.
“Investing in education is investing in our future,” said Patricia Coles, who earned the National Parent Teacher Association Life Achievement Award in 2004. “The student-teachers we have at the University of Missouri are going to be teaching the children of the future and we want to give them any kind of help that we can.”
A junior from Colorado, Shelby Johnson, is the first scholarship recipient.
“I am honored to accept this scholarship, and it will impact me by reducing financial stress and the worries of additional student loan debt,” Johnson said.
