Bradshaw Trust Transfers Family Scholarships to Angelina College

When former Citation employee Chad Becker realized he’d need to return to college in order to land a new job, he was secure in knowing he’d receive enough financial aid to pay his college costs. His former employees and several local officials worked to qualify displaced workers for financial aid through the Federal Trade Adjustment Act – federal money guaranteeing the cost of a two-year degree. Chad’s classes were set, allowing him to pursue his degree in Management Development.

Helping his two college-aged children, however, would be a different challenge altogether. With his income slashed following his layoff, there would be little to no extra cash to pay tuition for his kids, step son Stephen Burnett and daughter Jenna Becker.

Yet thanks to the beneficence displayed by a longstanding East Texas family, Chad’s children, each of whom plans to major in nursing, will attend Angelina College at the same time as their father.

For years, employees of Texas Foundries knew their children would have an opportunity to attend college thanks to the Bradshaw family, which established the R.S. Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship designed specifically for children of employees.

R.S. Bradshaw moved to East Texas from St. Louis in 1937 as part of the group that opened Texas Foundries in 1939. Mr. Bradshaw became a leader in the community, offering his services to various organizations, including Memorial Hospital. His idea to set aside monies for employee family scholarships carried on after his death, becoming the R.S. Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship and continuing to do its part to change lives.

Saundra Renfro served as corporate secretary for Texas Foundries; she said she and so many others were benefactors of Bradshaw’s benevolence.

“A lot of us who were employees were reimbursed by the foundry for any classes we took,” Renfro said. “There are so many of us the foundry have helped; not just families, but the employees as well.”
Times and economic situations changed – Texas Foundries evolved into the Citation Corporation, which announced its closing this year – but the generosity offered by the Bradshaw family still remains.

These family scholarships have been transferred to Angelina College, guaranteeing that despite this year’s layoffs, employees will still see their wives and children off to college.

“The Bradshaw scholarships are helping so many kids of Citation employees,” Becker said. “We’re all trying to finish school and find jobs so we can get back on our feet; it’s hard enough handling that, so paying for kids to go to college would be impossible, unless you just happen to have a lot of money stashed somewhere.
“This scholarship is such a big help for all of us.”

“It’s so great that the Bradshaw family had the foresight to find a way to continue what they’d established so long ago,” Sue Jones, Director of Student Financial Aid at Angelina College, said. “They wanted their gift to continue, a gift that has for years been such a benefit to their employees and families and the community in general.

“When you look at typical scholarships, most are designed to help individuals. The Bradshaw Foundation is designed to assist families, which makes it a very special donation indeed. Their thoughtfulness will continue to change lives.”

Jones said the scholarship, which totals $500 per semester, will help at least 20 students with their college costs.

In addition to its obvious generosity, the Bradshaw family also exhibited great foresight in anticipating the need for high school students wishing to enroll in AC’s concurrent classes. Becker’s daughter Jenna, who attends Hudson High School, began concurrent classes at AC’s Summer II sessions.

“This is a very progressive approach,” Jones said. “Many donors don’t think of those high school students taking college classes, but it’s becoming more and more common throughout our area.”

Becker said another benefit of attending college with his children is having them around to help with his homework.

“The kids have been helping with stuff like memorizing slides for my Art class,” Becker said. “They’ll hold the book for me and let me know if I’m right or wrong on my answers.

“This is turning out to be an even better experience than I thought it could be.”