IRWA Gives $16,000 in Scholarships
By: Mycah Glover
Updated: August 4, 2011
As young men and women from across West Texas head off into the world to begin their first year in college, several will be getting some much needed financial help. While there are many scholarships available to high school graduates, there are a number of things that make the Doug Damron Memorial Scholarship a special one for a lot of people. It's all thanks to IRWA Chapter 35.
"Education has always been important to the International Right of Way Association. We've had a scholarship program about ten years in our chapter," says Doc Weathers, IRWA Chapter 35 president.
IRWA Chapter 35 hosts a golf tournament every fall to raise money for the scholarship fund. It started ten years ago as a $500 scholarship, but over the years it's grown. "This year we gave two $2,500 (scholarships), one $1,000 and eighteen $500 scholarships. We gave 22 scholarships totaling $16,000. We're real proud of that," says Weathers.
And they're going to graduates from all across West Texas. Wink High School graduate Lyndi Shackelford was one them. "It's the biggest scholarship that I've received. $2,500. So, it is just..I can't imagine I'm gonna have it in my hands. It's way more than I've ever had," says Shackelford.
And according to Weathers, grads have to have a lot more than brains to receive it. "We wanted our scholarships not only to go to kids with good academic records, but also kids that are active in their community, their church, in their schools and kids that exhibit a need."
And for Lyndi, who's heading to Angelo State this fall, a big need was met. "This scholarship finalized that I would have a whole year of not paying for my college tuition, so this was huge to me. Like I said, my mom and I were in tears."
Also making this scholarship special is the name behind it. "Doug Damrom was a long time IRWA member. He was an employee here at University Lands for many, many years. Just a sweet-spirited man. He was from Crane, Texas," says Weathers.
And according to those who knew Doug best, he would be thrilled to know that education is one of the ways his memory is being honored. Betty Damron, Doug's wife, says, "He always said...any education you get is very beneficial to you. And he would be quick to tell you it took him 17 years to get his degree, but he got his degree. So education was very important to him. He would be so honored. "
IRWA Chapter 35 will be hosting this year's tournament on Thursday, October 6th at Nueva Vista. If you would like to sponsor a hole and help another student go to college, you can call Doc at 432-631-7646 or send an email to dweathers@utsystem.edu. You can also learn more at WWW.IRWACHAPTER35.ORG.
"Education has always been important to the International Right of Way Association. We've had a scholarship program about ten years in our chapter," says Doc Weathers, IRWA Chapter 35 president.
IRWA Chapter 35 hosts a golf tournament every fall to raise money for the scholarship fund. It started ten years ago as a $500 scholarship, but over the years it's grown. "This year we gave two $2,500 (scholarships), one $1,000 and eighteen $500 scholarships. We gave 22 scholarships totaling $16,000. We're real proud of that," says Weathers.
And they're going to graduates from all across West Texas. Wink High School graduate Lyndi Shackelford was one them. "It's the biggest scholarship that I've received. $2,500. So, it is just..I can't imagine I'm gonna have it in my hands. It's way more than I've ever had," says Shackelford.
And according to Weathers, grads have to have a lot more than brains to receive it. "We wanted our scholarships not only to go to kids with good academic records, but also kids that are active in their community, their church, in their schools and kids that exhibit a need."
And for Lyndi, who's heading to Angelo State this fall, a big need was met. "This scholarship finalized that I would have a whole year of not paying for my college tuition, so this was huge to me. Like I said, my mom and I were in tears."
Also making this scholarship special is the name behind it. "Doug Damrom was a long time IRWA member. He was an employee here at University Lands for many, many years. Just a sweet-spirited man. He was from Crane, Texas," says Weathers.
And according to those who knew Doug best, he would be thrilled to know that education is one of the ways his memory is being honored. Betty Damron, Doug's wife, says, "He always said...any education you get is very beneficial to you. And he would be quick to tell you it took him 17 years to get his degree, but he got his degree. So education was very important to him. He would be so honored. "
IRWA Chapter 35 will be hosting this year's tournament on Thursday, October 6th at Nueva Vista. If you would like to sponsor a hole and help another student go to college, you can call Doc at 432-631-7646 or send an email to dweathers@utsystem.edu. You can also learn more at WWW.IRWACHAPTER35.ORG.
