07/19/22
By FHSU Basis
HAYS, Kan. – On an attractive spring afternoon in Downtown Hays, Joseph Boeckner met together with his kindergarten instructor, Marilyn Davidson, to shock her with information that he had began a scholarship in her title.
Though he was a pupil in Davidson’s class almost 30 years in the past, Boeckner, who now owns a number of Hays companies, stated it was Davidson’s instructing fashion and persistence that led to his success later in life.
Davidson, a lifelong Hays educator, is a beloved presence in her classroom and to those that know her in the neighborhood. From an early age, Davidson mirrored her dad and mom, each lecturers, in giving classes to her stuffed animals on the steps of her childhood house. She later mixed her ardour for schooling, music, and dealing with younger kids to form her profession.
Davidson first attended Southwestern College to check music and later pursued her grasp’s diploma in elementary schooling at Fort Hays State College over the summers whereas elevating her household till her commencement in 1971. Boeckner met Davidson in 1992 and describes her as “a really engaged and considerate instructor. She genuinely cared about her college students, and it confirmed.”
Davidson’s creativity and musical means influenced her studying setting. She usually spent her summers crafting kimonos, igloos, timber, and castles to encourage her college students to study different cultures and have interaction with studying key ideas. She then tied studying with music to develop rhythm and different sensory and studying expertise.
After a number of years of instructing kindergarten, she moved on to first grade. Since her retirement from schooling, Davidson continues to volunteer her time and teaches studying and music at Wilson Elementary. Davidson’s care and a spotlight to her younger college students exemplify the dedication to instructing Boeckner hopes this scholarship instills in future educators.
“Educating is with the ability to see the development from not figuring out something to figuring out the best way to learn. And studying is a giant piece of individuals’s lives,” Davidson stated.
Boeckner fondly remembers his time spent with Davidson and their relationship. “She was a fantastic function mannequin along with being a fantastic instructor. We’ve stayed in contact over time, and I often went again to her classroom to assist with initiatives. She believed in me at a younger age. There was by no means any query about who my favourite instructor was,” he stated.
After highschool, life grew to become busy for Boeckner, who joined the army and later started beginning his companies, which triggered a disconnect with Davidson. When Davidson’s husband of 57 years, Harvey, handed away in December 2021, Boeckner started to mirror on the influence she had on him and needed to pay it ahead. It was then he started planning the institution of the Marilyn G. Davidson scholarship.
The endowed scholarship seeks to assist college students pursuing a level in instructor schooling. It’s obtainable to on-campus and on-line college students, full or part-time, majoring in instructor schooling.
Whereas desire is given to college students who’ve expressed an curiosity in working in Ellis County colleges, different college students should obtain the award if that desire isn’t met. College students are welcome to use annually for the renewal of this award.
Davidson hopes the award encourages college students to pursue instructing and that it’s going to assist college students in want afford their schooling.
“Academics will at all times be wanted. Nonetheless, passionate and impactful lecturers like Mrs. Davidson will not be a dime a dozen. We want lecturers who actually care in regards to the college students and respect all that Hays has to supply. Hopefully, this scholarship helps take away a barrier to entry for a number of lecturers who can step into these massive footwear,” Boeckner stated.
Boeckner is a serial entrepreneur with a number of Hays companies, together with Joe Bob Outfitters, HaysTees, New Age Companies, and, most lately, Blackhawk Motorsports. He and his spouse, Jodi, additionally put money into a number of different companies round city. On high of their many enterprise ventures, Joseph and Jodi have two kids, Michael and Hadley.
To study extra about how one can make a distinction in your group by establishing a scholarship, please contact the Fort Hays State College Basis by e-mail at basis@fhsu.edu or by cellphone at 785-628-5620. You can too go to https://basis.fhsu.edu.
