Foundation Scholarships

W. Parks Smith   1 for $500.00
This scholarship was established in 2012 by W. Parks Smith. A native of Winfield, Mo., Parks graduated from Truman State University (then Northeast Missouri State Teachers College) in 1964 with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Physics. He was a member of Blue Key, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Kappa Delta Pi. Parks started his career by teaching high school Mathematics and Physics, and later in life he taught Telecommunications courses at Florissant Valley Community College. He spent three years in the Navy as both Enlisted and as an Officer. Following his military service, he continued his career at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, where he worked in planning, engineering and field operations for 23 years. The last ten years of his working career he had his own telecommunication technical training company. Parks is an avid biker, loves to sail, and to travel. Best of all he likes to spend time with his wife and family. He is involved with the Oasis group in St. Louis and frequently leads Oasis bike rides. Parks has been a volunteer in the Parkway School District working with adult ESL students for the past six years. Education has had a profound influence on his life, and he credits Duane Norman for influencing his love of learning. This scholarship has been established with the hope that it will provide needed support for students who have a passion for teaching mathematics and physics at the secondary school level.


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