Enterprise Story

Outline:
I. Introduction
A. Who is Del Teade?
B. What is the Colfax Schools Foundations?

II. Where did CSF come from?
A. Where does the money come from?
B. How many high school students benefit?

III. What are the issues?
A. Funding?
B. Advertising?
C. How are awardees selected?

IV. The Plan
A. what are the ideal circumstances?
B. How can the community help?
C. Why is it important to keep?


Since its start in 2002, the Colfax Schools Foundation has delved out 12-15 scholarships per year for Colfax High School’s students seeking higher education, but the funding is still struggling, according to Del Teade, 75, who is president of the foundation.

“It’s been frustrating,” Teade said, “You try to set up something good for the community and think it’s this great idea, and then it becomes a slow progression.”

Teade, who was born and raised in Colfax, attended Central Washington University and graduated in 1958, he now continues farming wheat, canola, and mustard with his son nearly full-time. But Teade also remains active by giving back to his community.

Teade became affiliated with the Colfax Schools Foundation in order to fulfill a long-standing tradition in Colfax. That tradition is to give something back to the community upon reaching the 50 year mark since graduating Colfax High School. Along with friend and post-peer Juanita Morasch, Teade decided giving something back to the schools was only appropriate.

“There was a small scholarship fund back in the 1940s, and that way we had some seed money of about $1,500, so we decided to bring that back.” Teade said.

But it hasn’t been easy to raise the funds anticipated by the people involved in the foundation. Depending on donations mostly from alumni, it has been difficult to bring in enough money for adequate scholarships, Teade said. The Colfax School Foundation competes with other foundations including those for the library and hospital. Even the Whitman County Golf Club has a foundation, and everyone is fighting for the buck, Teade said.

The foundation is also affiliated with Parent Teacher Organization for Colfax High School as well as the Rotary Club to combine other scholarships to be handled by the foundation. The local Les Schwab Tire Center also contributes to funding for the foundation. However, Teade said he would still like to see more contributions made by alumni.

“We send out about 500 letters each year to alumni requesting donations, but the turnout has been very disappointing” Teade said.

The foundation recently added a link on the Colfax School District website in order to both promote the foundation as well as simplify the donating process. The website link includes paperwork for both applicants who want to receive scholarships as well as donation paperwork. Anyone can donate whatever amount they wish to the foundation, and a paw print with the donator’s name will appear on a special wall within the high school in appreciation, differentiating depending on the amount donated.

The scholarships range from $500 to $1,000 for recipients, and the foundation makes every effort to assure equal evaluation for selecting awardees. We try to understand “late bloomers” in school, Teade said. We take into consideration students who may have problems at home or maybe haven’t had the best grades but make an honest effort to do well, Teade said. But we also take into consideration students who have accelerated in school as well as being involved in their community, Teade said.

The scholarships are made out to both the student and the secondary school they have selected to attend. The scholarships can be used for any secondary education including trade schools, community college, and four-year universities. We understand that not all students are interested in attending a four-year university, Teade said. But if we can students motivated to attend any secondary-education, that’s great, because those skills will go far, Teade said. And with the economy struggling and cost of tuition rising, there’s more need for financial aid, Teade said. But it is difficult to fund when everyone is watching their spending, Teade said.

Although the Colfax Schools Foundation is still struggling to reach the status members of the board hoped for, Teade remains optimistic.

“It’s taken a few years to get the steam rolling for this, but any extra attention we can get for it is great.” Teade said.

Source:
Del Teade: 509-307-3132 (wife’s name is Merna, sweet lady)