Page 21 - Considering College

The community, Gruver ISD and the foundation all want to create a brighter future for students.
Panhandle pragmatism is at work in Gruver. The foundation also wants to attract families from
afar to live in Gruver, a place that cares for its families and students and works to provide

educational opportunity beyond high school in a variety of educational settings.

Farmers volunteer equipment and time; students, teachers and staff help; and all begin to
understand an agricultural way of life. They thought they were just planting corn, but they were
growing community. The yield of corn challengingly coaxed from the land funds scholarships.

Graduates of Gruver High School have the opportunity to attend college or vocational training
tuition and fee free.

Truckloads of graduates like those from Gruver would bring honor to WT. They know how to work. They

know how to succeed. They expect a reward when success is achieved. These are the students that make a
place like WT successful. Leadership at every level, committed faculty, resources to support students and

faculty and facilities that offer excellent places to work and study are all important.
When Karl Nielsen donated 410 acres of land to help Gruver ISD, the school set it up as a cash
lease. Although the yield was modest, about $25,000 per year, the good folks of Gruver thought

they could do better. Volunteers, farmers and townsfolk did do better. They raised corn as a
community. They sold corn. The proceeds are fueling postsecondary study. Students are awarded

funds based on a combination of merit and participation. Yes, test scores and grades are
important—the foundation recognizes that, as does the Gruver ISD; but community participation,

belonging to something larger than itself, is also a critical factor.

Truckloads of graduates like those from Gruver would bring honor to WT. They know how to
work. They know how to succeed. They expect a reward when success is achieved. These are the
students that make a place like WT successful. Leadership at every level, committed faculty,

resources to support students and faculty and facilities that offer excellent places to work and
study are all important. These elements allow a university to turn dreams into reality for students

who have aspirations for themselves, their families and the places they call home.

When a student is looking for a university experience, I would advise them to diligently seek out a
place that values and champions the free exchange of ideas, puts the needs of others first and

applies what is learned for the betterment of communities. Seek an institution that embraces
better ways to shape the future and treats others with a dignity that flows from the humanity of a
place where each individual promotes citizenship and being part of something larger than oneself.

That’s not a field of dreams for a university or a student, but a focus on real mission that becomes

an institutional reality.