GHS Educational Trust Announces Recent Gift
Ardis Parke Fuhrman Memorial: GHS Educational Trust Announces Recent Gift
To all who knew her, Ardis Parke Fuhrman, GHS alumna of the Class of 1967, epitomized all of the qualities that a woman should possess. Blessed with equal measures of intelligence, compassion, and integrity, she brought enthusiasm and commitment to every endeavor she pursued throughout her lifetime. It is with honor and gratitude that the trustees of the Glasgow High School Educational Trust announce the gift of $100,000 in her memory from her brother and sister-in-law Jim and Shirley Parke of Weston, Connecticut.
The daughter of Audrey and Arthur Parke, Ardis excelled in both academics and extracurricular activities at GHS, participating in National Honor Society, student council, band, gymnastics, and cheerleading. In the fall of 1966, she was elected homecoming queen. She continued her education at ConcordiaCollege graduating in 1971 cum laude in elementary education and math.
While a student at GHS, she met and later married Dennis Fuhrman, who also graduated from ConcordiaCollege. They made their home in Fargo, North Dakota, where she taught for three years before “retiring” to devote herself to raising their three children and supporting their activities for the next 17 years. In 1991, after earning an accounting degree through night school, she began her career as a CPA with a Fargo firm, a position she thoroughly enjoyed while maintaining a full schedule of community service. Although travel was always a keen interest, her happiest times were spent celebrating life with her large extended family.
Since its inception in 1964, the many donations made to the GHS Educational Trust, both large and small, have enabled it to award a total of $1,122,650 dollars in financial aid to GHS alumni pursuing post-secondary education at colleges and trade schools across the nation, from Hawaii to New York. All donations to the trust (which are tax-deductible) are invested, and the interest earned on them is awarded through a semi-annual application process administered by the trustees. To date, hundreds of different students have received awards; the majority of them have been helped several times over their courses of study. The primary criteria is need, and all GHS alumni who have completed at least one year of college or one semester of trade school as full-time students and who are in good academic standing may apply. Recipients are eligible to receive aid for a total of eight semesters or the quarter equivalent.
In addition to the gifts awarded to students, the trust also purchases materials and equipment for GHS that cannot be financed in whole or in part within the regular budget. These gifts, ranging from improvements to the auditorium sound and light systems to the track surface, enhance the lives of not only GHS students but also the culture of the greater eastern Montana area when concerts and other regional events are hosted at GHS. Every department of GHS has received awards; their value to date totals $139,725.
Whenever donations totaling $500 or more in the name of a specific individual are received by the trust, a gift is given in honor, memory, or recognition of that individual. Donations to the trust in the amount of $10,000 or more entitle the donor to an annual naming opportunity in honor, memory, or recognition of a particular individual or family in perpetuity. All donations in any amount are deeply appreciated and together carry forward the mission of the trust to promote and strengthen the educational fiber of our community and nation. The first gift in memory of Ardis Parke Fuhrman will be awarded next July. Her name and her memory will be an inspiration to generations of future Scotties.
At its November 2009 meeting, the trustees awarded the following gifts for the Spring 2010 semester. These gifts are in addition to those awarded last July for both semesters of the 2009-2010 academic year. In total, forty-nine students attending 18 different schools were awarded gifts in 2009.
Melissa Dale, MSU-Bozeman, IRO Herb and Lucille Friedl Family;
Nathan Dale, MSU-Bozeman, IMO Cecil and Chloe Toftness;
Mary K. McIntyre, CarrollCollege, IMO Benjamin Lewon;
Whitney Beil, MSU-Billings, IMO AdelaideFystrom;
Danny Hagfeldt, MSU-BillingsCollegeof Technology, IMO Maxine Fiedler; Katelyn Thompson, MSU-Billings, IRO Beatrice Trites and Family;
Sarah Waarvik, UM-Missoula, IMO O. E. Markle;
Misty Heringer Raup, SalvationArmyCollegefor Officers Training,
IRO Tom and Flora Coghlan Family.
Cassidy Nelson, UM-Missoula, IMO Dr. F. M. & Bernice Knierim.
More information about the trust, applications, and donation forms are available at www.glasgowedutrust.org or by contacting: Jeanine Markle (406) 228-2858; Danielle Anderson(406) 228-2403; Doris Leader (406) 746-3432; or Linda Allie (406) 228-8561.
