| Gifts From Wills And Revocable Living Trusts
Jessen scholarships offer hope and possibilities to countless Stevenson students
Florence Jessen traveled the world during her long, rich life. But, for her, it was the treasures of the small, tight-knit community of Stevenson, Washington that held her heart. Here she was drawn to the haunting beauty of the natural landscape, the character of the people, and the limitless promise of the children.
The idea of the emerging, untapped potential of Stevenson’s newest generation connected deeply with Florence’s own passion for education and life-broadening experience.
And, during the quiet twilight years of her life – as she watched the flocks of Canadian geese alight on the water near her home, and listened to the sound of children playing in the park across the street – she nurtured a vision for the future that would become a legacy of rare proportion.
When Florence died in July, 1998, this vision came vibrantly to life. She left her entire estate, valued at over $1 million, to the Community Foundation – thereby creating a permanent scholarship fund for graduating seniors who wanted to further their education. This, she determined, was how she could most powerfully and permanently contribute to the community she loved.
Bill LaCombe, teacher and sports coach at Stevenson High School, never knew Florence but frequently drove by her home as she tended her garden. “She watched everything,” he remembers. “She saw kids who weren’t making anything of themselves, kids who had nothing, and wanted to give them a chance. I wish I could have known her because, to tell you the truth, her legacy is pretty powerful up here. We can never repay her for what she’s done.”
For Kaitlyn Richards, a freshman at Washington State University, a Jessen scholarship was the difference between living at home while going to the local Community College and venturing into a bigger, more challenging educational environment. “I’m really thankful for this chance to be more independent and around people who have the same passion as I do,” she says. “Now I’m really sure about my career path and I am setting my sights higher as I realize what the possibilities are.”
Sawyer Rockowski knew from the start that he wanted the best, and to find that he would need to go out of state for his college years. Jessen scholarship funds made this possible and, now a freshman in mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological Institute, he’s already thinking about graduate studies in aerospace. He’s pretty curious about Florence Jessen and why she would leave her life’s worth to kids she’s never met. He’s deeply grateful too. And his ambition and curiosity are exactly the qualities that Florence hoped to nurture with her legacy gift.
Each year between 40 and 60 high school seniors apply for Jessen scholarships, and almost all of these applicants are successful. As Bill LaCombe points out, Florence Jessen wanted every child in high school to be able to benefit from her trust, to have a chance to experience a bigger world through the gift of education. “Some of these kids have nothing and Florence’s legacy is offering them a way out of here. We are so blessed to have these scholarships.”
Anna Gavenas, a Western Washington University freshman, found inspiration and encouragement in the very idea that someone she didn’t know would want to help her. “It made me feel that all my hard work in high school was being appreciated, and it encouraged me to keep working hard,” she says. And, overall, she’s thankful that her Jessen scholarship has helped her to learn and to be more focused.
Such a thought would be music to the ears of Florence Jessen. Quick of wit, lover of music, dancing and riddles, and traveler of the world, Florence valued above all else the children of Stevenson and the lifelong gift of learning. Quiet and private in life, her simple act of generosity became a legacy that throws a broad beam of bright light throughout the community, offering promise and hope to each new generation into the limitless future.
Gifts From Wills And Revocable Living Trusts
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