College Tuition

Since I lived at home during my two years at junior college, and had no expense for the ride to and from school each day, my expenses were quite low — being just the tuition (which was quite modest) and my books. During the first year I think my parents provided the tuition and perhaps the books. During the second year I worked under a New Deal program and I think I earned enough for the tuition.

I recall doing typing work for Harris Dickey who was the dean of the junior college staff. The college itself was an integral part of the Fort Dodge school system. Later on the county formed a community college district and I presume the college as I knew it went out of existence. It was due to Mr. Dickey I am convinced that after I finished the second year of junior college that I was awarded the small scholarship that enabled me to continue at the university of Iowa.

I had taken a course in history from Mr. Dickey so he was familiar with me from that angle also. That may have influenced his recommendation. The scholarship was specifically for the university of Iowa — for me it would have been preferable had it been applicable to Iowa State college at Ames, which was the main state-supported engineering school in the state. But the engineering department at SUI did include chemical engineering and it was accredited so it served me well.

The scholarship was $125/school year — this was sufficient tuition with a little left over. It was awarded for one year initially but was renewed for the second year (perhaps based on satisfactory scholastic performance). In later years I have been quite cognizant of the importance of the scholarship I received as to my opportunity for schooling.

Several years ago I contacted the Fort Dodge school district and ascertained that the Alice Granger Scholarship Fund still existed. I decided that what I should do to acknowledge the help I received was to contribute to the fund, for two years, an amount which was the current tuition at the university. I did this and it is one of the few contributions of this type I’ve made over the years that was really personally satisfying and meaningful to me. I have ever since the 40th anniversary of my graduation made a contribution to the engineering department at the university, perhaps motivated by the fact that Shell would more than match my contribution. I have at least that much loyalty to my alma mater.

As a result of my contributions I have been made a member of the dean’s club in the engineering department and a member of the President’s club of the university at large. Currently I receive mailings from the university to allocate part of my estate to the school but these have fallen on deaf ears as far as I am concerned. I may contribute when I am still alive but when I am dead that ends it.