EDUCATION
ENTERPRISE AREA CHAMBER FOUNDATION, INC.
GLORIA SESSIONS VENTRESS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Gloria Sessions Ventress, the daughter of Mary and Lewe Sessions, was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama. She attended the local public schools and went on to graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in education. She taught in the Enterprise school system. Gloria later left the area to focus on raising her family, but she returned to Enterprise in 1979, where she lived for the rest of her life. A devoted member of First Baptist Church throughout her youth and in her later years, Gloria had a strong passion for the education of young people in her community, and the teachers who educated them. She shared this interest with her father, Lewe, who served for many years on the Enterprise School Board.
In memory of Gloria Sessions Ventress, her children have endowed a scholarship through the Enterprise Area Chamber Foundation, Inc. The Gloria Sessions Ventress Memorial Scholarship, funded by an endowment of approximately $100,000, is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior residing in Enterprise, Alabama, who will be attending a four-year college.
The amount of the scholarship will be determined by the interest earned during the previous tax year, which has historically averaged between $3,000 - $4,000. *The annual dollar amount will be provided to the Enterprise High School Guidance Counselor on a year-to-year basis.
The scholarship application is now closed. The selected scholarship recipient will be notified after the Ventress family reviews all applications.
The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce Workforce & Education Partnership Committee had an exciting morning at Dauphin Junior High School on May 20, 2024.
Committee Chairman, Angela Brockman and ECoC Executive Director, Erin Grantham, along with committee members, surprised this year’s Innovative Teaching Project Grant recipient, Ms. Ryanne Watson, at DJHS field day with a check in the amount of $2,350. Ms. Watson teaches 7th grade science and plans to use these funds to help update the school’s lab equipment to enhance the students learning experience.
Ms. Watson stated, “Students remember hands-on learning activities for a long period of time and sometimes even a lifetime. When students are actively engaged in the learning process, they tend to learn more and retain information. This type of learning and activity also sparks an interest in the subject matter and could possibly help someone know what career field they may or may not be interested in. Even if students do not enjoy dissections this helps them mark off possible careers and learn more about themselves.” We can’t wait to see the positive impact that these funds have on students for years to come! Congratulations, Ms. Watson, and Dauphin Jr. High School!
This grant is available to all instructors of the Enterprise City Schools, and awards up to $2,500 each year. The grants are based on creative and original ideas that promote innovative activities and motivate students. Applications are made available in January, with a submission deadline of March 31st.
For More Information, please contact the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce at (334) 347-0581.
