David Rogers Memorial
“To somehow influence others.” That was the goal of David Rogers as stated on his college application to St. Joseph’s College in 1993. In his brief life, David influenced the lives of many, as evidenced in the tributes paid to him by his high school and college classmates upon his untimely death at the age of 19 from a congenital heart defect.
This past December marked the 29th anniversary of David’s death. In those 29 years, David has continued to influence the lives of others through a scholarship fund created in his memory by friends and relatives. David’s parents, Judge Richard Rogers and Sophie Rogers, later moved the scholarship fund to Marion Community Foundation, where it remains as a permanent legacy to David. The scholarship is awarded to students who graduate from any Marion County high school, but with special consideration for students who are active members of St. Mary Church, where David attended. Most importantly, the scholarship also gives special consideration to applicants who demonstrate exemplary character, a requirement important to David’s parents when they established the scholarship. “By character we simply mean an individual who shows consideration for his/her schoolmates and are appreciated by that group as a genuinely friendly, courteous, and caring person, someone who is simply fun to be around,” stated Judge Rogers.
David’s exemplary character was evident on the Marion Catholic High School football team where he was a leader in both his athletic prowess and as a model student. At St. Joseph’s College, where he had only just completed his freshman year of football, the program created the David Rogers Positive Mental Attitude Award to recognize players on the team who exhibited the kind of powerful personality and attitude that David demonstrated. I only knew David as the son of Rich and Sophie, but I wish I had known him better. As the steward of David’s scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation, I somehow feel I do.
Students can now apply for the David K. Rogers Memorial Scholarship at Marion Community Foundation, as well as the 146 other scholarship funds available at the Foundation, by completing a single, common online application before the deadline of February 15. Many of our scholarships at the Foundation are created by friends and family in memory of loved ones who have gone before us. These endowed scholarships create a permanent legacy to these people and I have found they serve as a blessing to the families of those we have lost.
People often ask me if they can contribute to an existing endowment fund we have at the Foundation, such as David’s. Yes! In fact, we often see a small flurry of donations to particular endowment funds around the time of holidays and birthdays. Giving to an existing endowment fund is a wonderful way to remember a special person. With your gift by check or online, simply note the name of the fund and the person you wish to honor or memorialize. “Gone, but never forgotten” is certainly true at the Foundation.
In addition to scholarships, another way the Foundation supports education is through our Teaching, Educating, And Classroom Help (TEACH) Grants Program. Heading into our fourth year for the program, TEACH has already awarded $35,000 for classroom initiatives by Marion City and County educators. The program is supported by Pillar Credit Union, the River Valley Teachers Fund, the Ray & Charlotte Balduaf Fund, the Dean & Sue Jacob Fund, the Robert & Dorothy Wopat Fund, and several generous individuals. Among the 38 educational programs and projects that have been supported thus far is the Family Career and Community Leaders of America program (FCCLA) at Ridgedale High School. In an effort to help end the cycle of poverty, this program gives leadership opportunities to students who are financially or academically at risk. Career Based Intervention teacher Lori Grieshop wrote the successful grant application that awarded her class $2,500 so their new program at Ridgedale could provide conference registration fees, team polo shirts and blazers that would give the group of students a professional look at the state FCCLA retreat. “These at-risk students have never been given the opportunity to dress professionally or attend a state-wide conference,” says Grieshop. “The feeling of pride and confidence was palpable among the students who attended this year’s retreat in Columbus as they wore their bright red blazers with the FCCLA logo embroidered on the breast.” The students participated in career exploration competitions and team-building experiences. As new leaders, the FCCLA students are starting initiatives at Ridgedale High School that include solar powered school zone signs, student safe driving practices, and encouraging students to reach out for mental health needs.
“For You. For Marion. Forever.” is the refrain at Marion Community Foundation, whose mission is to continually improve the Marion area community through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement. The Foundation works hard to achieve its vision of a generous, educated, healthy, collaborative, and vibrant community. Through the generosity of our donors, the spirit of people like David Rogers, and the innovation of teachers like Lori Grieshop, we get closer to that vision every day.
Dean Jacob is the president & CEO of Marion Community Foundation, which celebrates its 25th year in 2023.
