Troy Lee Rowden was born February 14, 1928, in Delta, Arkansas and raised in Willisville, Arkansas. He was a very strong willed person. Being raised in the home of sharecroppers, he had to drop out of school in the eight grade to help the family with the farm. This did not prevent him from living a successful life. His determination as he moved to Houston, Texas and married the late Lela Mae Rowden, was instrumental in raising a family of five while working for Monarch Paper Company where he later retire.  Troy taught his children the value of a good education and lessons far beyond academia. He taught love of family, the value of friendships, hard work, responsibility, and how to love unconditionally. Troy Lee Rowden went from his labor to his reward September 29, 2001. The values of love he taught will never be forgotten. His vision and focus on his children getting a quality education remains to be one of his greatest accomplishments. His loving and caring attitude toward all people and his hope for the best in us is a shinning light that will never fade away. The Troy L. Rowden Scholarship will help give a student a chance to pursue higher education and to keep their dreams alive. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you”

Jeremiah 29:11

Scholarship Criteria & Information:

Objective

The primary objective of the Troy L. Rowden Scholarship Program is to encourage and support qualified high school applicants–irrespective of color, creed, religious affiliation or nationality–to attend college, specifically those students for whom financial obstacles would prevent them from pursuing their degrees.

Application Deadline:  First Friday in April each year.

Scholarship Eligibility Criteria:

(1) Must be a current senior high school. (2) Must demonstrate financial need, e.g. be a student from a single-parent household or a low-income family. (3) Must plan to enroll as a full-time student at a four-year college or university. (4) Must have a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative unweighted GPA.

Amount

$1,000 towards billable institutional costs (tuition & fees, room & board) during freshman year

Total Scholarship: $1,000 over four years

Disbursement of Funds

(1) Students awarded the scholarship will not personally receive any money their freshman year; instead, the scholarship award check will be mailed directly to the college/university the recipient has enrolled in. (2) The award recipient must be enrolled as a student in the college/university prior to submitting an invoice for payment.

For more information or questions, please contact coordinator at: (910-520-1954)