Alumna's gift funds scholarship, piano purchase

Beverly Holt Shelton, a 1946 Northwest Missouri State University alumna, recently made a $31,000 donation to the Northwest Foundation.

Shelton, her late husband, Edward “Ed” Shelton, and their two daughters, Linda and Joyce, graduated from Northwest with degrees in education. Ed graduated in 1942. Linda and Joyce earned their degrees in 1969 and 1976 respectively.

Growing up near Maryville on adjoining farms near Quitman, the Sheltons attended Northwest and decided to become teachers. Beverly majored in music education and taught music for several years in public schools and also gave private piano lessons. Ed majored in business education and worked as a teacher, coach and principal before retiring in 1982 as an assistant superintendent of the Independence Public School District.

Beverly Shelton acted on a suggestion from her son in setting up the scholarship fund through the Foundation in memory of her husband. The majority of her $31,000 gift was used to establish the Beverly J. and Edward J. Shelton Scholarship, which will be awarded to continuing students pursuing education degrees, preferably in music or business education. Students with diplomas from the Independence Public School District will be given first preference followed by students who graduated from Nodaway County high schools.

“Ed and I both felt that we received a very good education and had some outstanding professors at Northwest,” Beverly Shelton said. “We attribute much of our professional success to Northwest, and this is a way for us to thank the University and also Nodaway County and the Independence Public School District.”

Shelton directed $5,000 of her gift to be used to purchase a baby grand piano for Northwest’s Department of Music.

“This gift couldn’t have come at a better time because the music department is in the process of renewing accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music, and one of the requirements is for a baby grand piano to be available,” said Andrea Wagner, a development officer for Northwest’s College of Education and Human Services.

For more information, call 660.562.1248 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/alumni/giving.

Mitzi Lutz
Advancement Communications Specialist
Office of University Advancement
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Dr., Alumni House
Maryville, MO 64468
660.562.1248 (phone)
660.562.1990 (fax)

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