Joslyn Spears, a 2016 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kansas City, Missouri, is the first recipient of Missouri Western State University’s First Ladies’ Legacy Scholarship.
“As I complete my bachelor’s degree in nursing, I am very thankful for this scholarship,” Spears said. “Because of your gift I will be able to further my career and pursue my goal of becoming a clinical instructor and patient advocate.”
The First Ladies’ Legacy Scholarship is an endowed scholarship fund created in 2015 in memory of Dorsey Looney and Lauren Scanlon. The scholarship, established by a gift from Dr. Robert and Dr. Laurel Vartabedian, is awarded to nontraditional students through the Missouri Western Ambassadors scholarship committee. Other private donors have given to the fund as well.
“This scholarship seems a fitting way to remember and recognize the many contributions Dorsey and Lauren made to Missouri Western,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president.
Dorsey Looney
Dorsey Looney was Missouri Western’s first lady from 1967 to 1983 while her husband, Dr. M. O. Looney, served as president. In an effort to build community support for Missouri Western, she helped organize the Faculty Wives, which evolved into what is now the Missouri Western Ambassadors. Dorsey Looney died in 2011.
Lauren Scanlon
Lauren Scanlon was Missouri Western’s first lady from 2001 to 2008 while her husband, Dr. James Scanlon, served as president. She was a member of the Ambassadors, and she and her husband established the Blake K. Scanlon Applied Learning Presentation Grant to support Missouri Western students presenting research, exhibiting art or performing in national and international professional venues. Lauren Scanlon died in 2015.
Students eligible for the scholarship must be a non-traditional (25 years or older) student in good academic standing with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.