Shannon Nold and Nathan Nold ’18, pictured with a portrait of Chad Nold ’93, with Hayden Glaubius, the first recipient of the scholarship, along with Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development.
The Nolds, Chad ’93, Shannon, and their son, Nathan ’18, are an entrepreneurial family – Chad and Shannon had businesses of their own. It was an easy decision to support their only son, Nathan, when he competed in Missouri Western’s applied business ownership class and was awarded a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Petaluma, California in 2018.
Relocating to California was a big step for Nathan. Leaving behind the family farm on which he was raised meant leaving his parents a lot of work – what would they do without his extra set of hands? But Chad and Shannon knew they wanted to wholeheartedly support their son’s pursuits, even if that meant his relocating halfway across the country.
Nathan looked up to Chad not only as a dad, but as a mentor and life coach. “Many children are close to their parents,” said Pam Klaus, director of the Center for Franchise Development, through which the applied business ownership class is run. “Nathan was exceptionally close to his. His parents were around during the [store] transfer. They were obviously very involved in his goals and pursuits.”
For this reason and more, Nathan and Shannon chose to honor Chad’s memory with the Chad R. Nold Family Scholarship when he passed away in September 2020. They wanted to do something that would help other students while memorializing their loving father and husband.
Two scholarships of $1,000 each are being offered to two students each year. The first is offered to a high school senior from Andrew or Buchanan County planning to attend Missouri Western’s Craig School of Business. The second is offered to a Missouri Western senior interested in entrepreneurship, with preference going to a student pursuing the applied business ownership class.
Nathan and Shannon hope that the scholarships will allow students to do something they would not otherwise be able to do. They wish to keep Chad’s memory alive for the family while being able to help someone else.
“Thank you for giving us a chance to further keep Chad’s memory alive,” said Shannon and Nathan. “It is incredibly special for us.”