According to her husband, Scott, Kimberly Todd-White was a classic over-achiever. President of the National Honor Society in high school, and an alumna of Kent State where she received her B.A. and Master's degrees in English.
She stayed at Kent, and followed her passion for teaching for 20 years, guiding students through Honors English and Pan-African Studies, making herself available to them day and night. When she tragically lost her life in an automobile accident in July, 2010, her family, friends and fellow faculty members agreed that the best way to honor her memory would be through a named scholarship.
The Kimberly Todd-White endowed scholarship will be available this fall to any student with a major or minor in Pan-African Studies who maintains a 2.8 GPA and can show financial need. Why Pan-African Studies? Scott White says it's because Kimberly really cared about the subject. "She saw some inequality in the neighborhood she grew up in and it bothered her from a young age. It was a subject that she felt needed to be approached and talked about in an educated way. She was a very strong believer that education was the key to solving a lot of problems."
Kimberly was awarded "Favorite Teacher Recognition" several times and in 2010 received the "Honors Faculty of the Year" award. Says her co-worker, Christina McVay, "Kim was a wonderful colleague and friend and an exceptional teacher, who cared deeply about her students. She was taken from us way too early, but I know she would be proud of everyone who made this endowment a reality, so that more Pan-African Studies majors and minors have access to assistance on their way to graduation."
For more information on supporting a scholarship through an outright or planned gift, contact the Center for Gift and Estate Planning at 330-672-0421 or email giftplan@kent.edu.