Then . . . For 37 years, Beverly Atkinson (English MA 1971) counseled English majors on what classes to take and when to take them, what to do after graduation, and how to keep going when circumstances conspired against their plans. She did so with kindness, generosity, and wit.
And now!
In 2008, a fund to support English majors was established in Bev's honor, the Beverly Atkinson Scholarship for Outstanding Non-Traditional English Majors. Scholarship recipients are those who, in her words, "seem to have more barriers that make it difficult to have the time to develop their skills and talents": students such as Sam Anderson (below), first in his family to attend college, and Alysha Bohanon, who deals with a chronic health condition. More here.
Bev and her husband Steve have been so pleased with the positive impact of the scholarship on student lives that this fall they put up $1000 to challenge more giving to the fund. Twenty people have stepped forward with a gift, and we'd like to include you. Help us get to 40 donors contributing scholarships for English!Please make your gift by year's end at http://giving.umn.edu/giveto/atkinson.
